> they’re not available in food deserts
This highly depends on location
If you buy fresh vegetables, I don't necessarily think they're pricier but they do require more planning. You need to buy what is in season, which means planning meals around what is in season and cheap to buy, which changes on the season.
For certain staples, buying frozen is extremely cheap, can be cheaper than fresh, can be better than buying fresh as frozen as soon as picked, and extremely easy to cook. I've always got frozen broccoli, carrots, peas, green beans, spinach in the freezer. Three minutes in a microwave steamer and it's an easy side, or add in to meals near the end of cooking.
I also always have a bag of potatoes in the house, cheap, keep well, easy to steam in microwave, can mash, can bake, pop in the airfryer etc.
This highly depends on location
If you buy fresh vegetables, I don't necessarily think they're pricier but they do require more planning. You need to buy what is in season, which means planning meals around what is in season and cheap to buy, which changes on the season.
For certain staples, buying frozen is extremely cheap, can be cheaper than fresh, can be better than buying fresh as frozen as soon as picked, and extremely easy to cook. I've always got frozen broccoli, carrots, peas, green beans, spinach in the freezer. Three minutes in a microwave steamer and it's an easy side, or add in to meals near the end of cooking.
I also always have a bag of potatoes in the house, cheap, keep well, easy to steam in microwave, can mash, can bake, pop in the airfryer etc.