Eating healthy, basic foods gets you more value when shopping

I was grocery shopping earlier this evening, thinking about the things I typically buy – basic ingredients like flour, eggs, milk, bananas, frozen strawberries, frozen fruits and vegetables. Both quite nutrious and affordable, they are items that have some of thinnest profit margins:

• Milk and Eggs: These are the most common loss leaders and are frequently sold with little to no profit. For instance, a dozen Grade A large eggs saw a price decline of 16.6% between 2024 and 2026, costing roughly $2.50 in early 2026.
• Bananas: These are widely considered one of the healthiest and cheapest foods with very low markups; stores rarely make a significant profit on them. 
• Grains and Pasta: Items like rice, dried pasta, and flour typically fall into the low-margin category (roughly 30%–40%) because retailers rely on high volume and fast turnover for these staples. In 2026, the price for a pound of spaghetti or macaroni averaged around $1.32.
• Canned Goods: Standard canned vegetables and shelf-stable proteins like canned tuna generally have low profit margins compared to fresh or prepared foods. Canned tuna prices saw a 3% decrease in early 2026
• Shopping the Perimeter: The lowest-margin products like dairy, meat, and basic produce are typically found on the store’s perimeter, whereas more heavily processed items with higher markups are located in the middle aisles.
• Bulk Purchases: Buying large quantities of staples like rice (e.g., 20-pound bags) remains one of the most effective ways to lock in lower prices.