Oh agree ...... I used to snack on popcorn, salt butter etc and then someone told me to not add butter and salt for a few weeks of consuming my daily snack ! The popcorn alone was (is) actually kind of sweet. The popcorn alone is very very good , no need to alter the taste but it is just as good with or without.
Processed food is indeed different. We try and never use such. But we have canned goods, like soups and chili’s and stews on the shelf as emergency cache but we use it for lunches at work as it nears it’s shelf life and replenish with fresh. We buy cornmeal, all purpose flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, spices, cooking oils, tea, coffee in bulk a few times a year yet really try and stay out of the stores as much as possible. Saves fuel.