We've always done that. When this village was founded in the 1700's, the houses all had a plot of approx 1/5 acre for the purpose of growing food and maybe keeping a chicken or two. Of course things have changed and a lot of the older houses have gone, but we still have an early 1800's house and a good garden. Mts.T is the real gardener - I mainly just do the spade work.
Each year we grow a variety of fruit and veges, outdoor or in the polytunnel. Generally we will grow leeks, garlic, kale, sprouts, chard, potatoes, parsley and celery outdoors. Tomatoes, courgettes, marrows and herbs in the polytunnel. We also have apple and crab apple trees, rhubarb, strawberries, gooseberry and black currants.
We make loads of jams, pickles and chutneys, so we're partly self sufficient - but it's a lot of hard work!
Too many modern houses don't have a proper graden, and of course, some people live in flats / apartments. However, I would recommend that even if you only had a window box or a balcony, to grow fresh herbs in pots to use for seasoning.