How to Shop for Food Wisely.

The Ideal (and Elusive) Center:

The goal for many people is to find food items that strike a good balance in the middle of this triangle – reasonably priced, adequately nutritious, and enjoyable to eat. This often involves:

Cooking at home: This gives you control over ingredients and preparation, allowing you to prioritize nutrition and often save money compared to eating out.
Buying in season: Produce is generally cheaper and fresher when it’s in season.
Utilizing sales and discounts: Stocking up on staples when they’re on sale.
Considering frozen or canned options: Frozen fruits and vegetables, and canned beans or fish, can be just as nutritious as fresh (sometimes more so, as they’re picked at peak ripeness) and often more affordable and convenient.
Meal planning: Reduces waste and helps you stick to a budget while ensuring nutritional needs are met.

While you might not always get perfection in all three areas, understanding this “triangle” can help you make more conscious choices about your food purchases based on your priorities and budget.

You’re describing a classic type of trade-off model, often visualized as a triangle or trilemma, where three desirable attributes cannot all be fully achieved at once. In the case of food purchasing, the triangle with Cost, Quality, and Nutrition at each point is both intuitive and widely recognized, even if not formally codified under that exact name.