Making your own food 

There are several reasons to make your own foods. They range from cost savings, to quality, to sheer joy. 

Much of what you should be eating on a regular daily basis takes little in the way of preparation. Very little has to be " made" if you are eating whole foods from the list of fruits, vegetables and proteins. Processed foods from the middle aisles of the grocery store are oftentimes what you should be avoiding. Having said that, there are exceptions, especially for holidays, parties and gifts. 

Here are some of the things that, in my opinion, are worth making on your own : 

Bread, since it is fun to make, and you can use whole grains and flavorings like raisins, nuts, and herbs. 

Pickles and krauts of all kinds, since veggies are cheap in season so is vinegar, pickling is easy and safe, and store bought pickles are darned expensive. 

Salsa since in summer the ingredients are easy to come by, the canning is easy and safe, and in the off season salsa is pretty expensive. 

Yogurt- since store bought yogurt is little more than the price of milk and is so much better than store bought. 

Fruit ice creams, sorbets, and gelatos in season- since they are divine and you can control the ingredients 

Gift and holiday foods like cookies, cakes, pate de fruit, preserves like jam and chutneys and candies - since they are personal 

Jerky and dried fruits if you have a dehydrator. 

As you see, several of these are sweet carbohydrate laden foods you will not want to be eating on a  regular daily basis. Nonetheless, I think they are ok for celebration and giving. 

If you hunt, grow your own food or forage, there are many more things you can do. Here are some examples:  

Dry or freeze  many types of common herbs and spices in profusion. Among them are basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, sage, rosemary, chives, etc. You can also keep garlic a variety of ways. 

Make apple or pear sauce 

Freeze fruit for smoothies and pies

Freeze veggies when there is surplus. 

You should always consult with a reliable source. There are proper procedures for each and everyone of these things which ensure food safety.