The Changing Price of Food

This graph is presented in this NY Times article by David Leonhardt
illustrates how subsidies in the food industry have drastically changed the food prices since the 1980's (real price that is, adjusted for inflation).
Blogging in the 'Good' magazine article The Changing Prices of the Stuff You Eat sums it up well:

Meat and corn get huge government subsidies. Vegetables do not. And the soda companies have figured out how to make soda more and more cheaply. But the overall picture is clear: The stuff you should not be eating is getting cheaper and the stuff you should be eating is getting more expensive.

It's hard to argue against the fact that healthy food is more expensive, but the truth is that if you buy and prepare fresh fruit & vegetables (locally grown helps) you can still reduce your food bills - especially considering how filling and nutritious it is compared to any processed foods.