It's not only that vegetables are expensive, a large part of the problem is access -- so called food deserts. People lack reliable transportation frequently when they're impoverished (taking groceries on a bus fucking suuuucks), and don't have the means to go where fresh produce is sometimes, which is a hidden cost factor. This compounds in certain geographic areas with population sparsity and lack of critical infrastructure.
I'm not sure what plant based oils or fats you have in mind, you can get canola or sunflower oil for cheap relative to caloric density for sure, I think rice and beans are just metonymic for cheap and dense readily available vegan options in general.
I have heard about food deserts, and also about lack of mixed development / zoning in the US. But both of these phenomenons are very alien to me, maybe that's why I cannot really understand how one would not be able to get hold of veggies or what other dieatary restrictions this can impose on a person. I don't know much about public transport in the US, but can understand that depending on circumstances, it could be very hard to transport large quantities of food. Also, some people cannot reliably afford public transport in the first place.
It's not only that vegetables are expensive, a large part of the problem is access -- so called food deserts. People lack reliable transportation frequently when they're impoverished (taking groceries on a bus fucking suuuucks), and don't have the means to go where fresh produce is sometimes, which is a hidden cost factor. This compounds in certain geographic areas with population sparsity and lack of critical infrastructure.
I'm not sure what plant based oils or fats you have in mind, you can get canola or sunflower oil for cheap relative to caloric density for sure, I think rice and beans are just metonymic for cheap and dense readily available vegan options in general.
I have heard about food deserts, and also about lack of mixed development / zoning in the US. But both of these phenomenons are very alien to me, maybe that's why I cannot really understand how one would not be able to get hold of veggies or what other dieatary restrictions this can impose on a person. I don't know much about public transport in the US, but can understand that depending on circumstances, it could be very hard to transport large quantities of food. Also, some people cannot reliably afford public transport in the first place.