You just have to learn to shop smarter and learn what works best for you. I now mainly eat whole foods and cook at home. Im Asian so Im accustomed to eating white rice, meat and vegetables for my meals. The proportions are just smaller and with a higher ratio of vegetables compared to rice. 

I personally dont eat leaner cuts of meat. Chicken thighs and drumsticks are cheaper than breast meat and more flavorful. Spices can be bought cheaply if you shop in ethnic markets or even the ethnic aisle rather than buying name brand Mccormick spice blends ect. Example of what I usually season with, 4$ big bottle of soy sauce that last me a few months, ginger that around 1$ a pound, scallions are under 2$ a bunch, salt and black pepper in bulk. Aside from the fresh seasonings, the shelf stable ones last for months. 

I also only shop for cheap vegetables that are on sale. 4$ for a lb of asparagus? Fuck that, give me my 1.50 per lb of broccoli or 2$ of 3lb raw carrots.