Well .... this could prove interesting. I accepted a challenge from a friend yesterday. We're both supposed to try to feed our husbands and ourselves for one week with $50. (The winner will take the other one to lunch, which kinda defeats the purpose, but what the heck. It starts tomorrow because I'm going to the Ottawa/Buffalo game tonight and we always eat at The Works before a game.)
If we use anything we've already got (potatoes, carrots, onions, milk etc.) we're supposed to calculate the cost and include it in our summary.
I found a half price, six pound, grade A roasting chicken in the discount meat area of the grocery store this morning so I've already spent my first $8.37. He/she will be Sunday and Monday's dinners and then chicken soup/sandwiches.
I guess sticking with traditional "winter" vegetables (carrots, parsnips, squash etc.) will be the most economical ..... we'll see!

Hey Cousin I hope you win!!!!

Interesting challenge CJ.... Best of luck to you for the win!!!!!

Yup .... we started breakfast with an orange and cooked rolled oats with a sliced banana and skim milk. Lunch will be egg salad with lettuce on whole grain bread plus an apple .... dinner tonight will be roasted chicken with potatoes, carrots and half a bunch of broccoli. I'm keeping a running total of the costs. Next Friday and Saturday may be pb and j days, for sure!
(I told my DH about it during the game last night. I got the "one raised eyebrow" smile. Lol)

This is fascinating Jessie. Will you be serving fish at all? I have no doubt that you'll be able to provide a balanced diet for a week for $50. You are a well versed cook and I enjoy your ideas and recipes.

Whatever's on sale Mappy! I noticed in this morning's grocery flyers that salmon is on sale (3 cans for $5) so I see a salmon loaf in our immediate future. I should be able to make two dinners out of that.

Inky - reading about your navy beans, ham hocks and Jiffy
cornbread-this was exactly the same meal my mom made for us growing
up...it was one of my favorites. She was a wonderful cook,
nothing fancy, but her meals were made with love.
She passed away a few years ago and I miss her soooo much - thank you for bringing back a childhood memory.....
Nancy

I love beans and ham hocks.
The ham hocks are cheap and so are beans and i can buy a box of cornbread for 60 cents!

it usually lasts for 1 mean , plus lunch the next day.

another great soup that is cheap is a ground beef soup , with all the veggies, like tators, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, and cabbage!!!

I used to make homemade powder biscuits........ YUM

It's going just fine but I've overspent. I made roast chicken Sunday and then stripped the carcass and set aside the meat for Tuesday's dinner and sandwiches.
I made chicken soup Monday (stock, onions, carrots, celery and beans) and I'll be having that with an apple every day for lunch. (Actually, I made enough soup for an army!)
My DH is having chicken or egg salad sandwiches plus an apple for lunch this week. (I hope he's not buying anything else at work!)
Breakfast is an orange and then cooked oats with skim milk and a banana.
I braised the roast last night with oven roasted parsnips, potatoes and carrots. We can get two meals out of that. I'll be using the salmon for a salmon loaf and we can get two dinners out of that. That just leaves one dinner and I guess I'll use the rest of the eggs and any left over veggies to make some kind of frittata.
I'm dying to know how my girlfriend is doing!

Protein:
6 lb. roasting chicken $8.37 (Half price)
2 1/2 lb. round roast $6.89 (Half price)
2 tins salmon $3.34 (3 tins for $5.00)
1 doz. free range eggs $1.99
1 lb. bag mixed dry beans $.75

Fruit and Vegetables:
4 lb. bananas $2.98
4 lb. bag McIntosh apples $3.99
3 lb. bag navel oranges $3.89
1 bunch celery $1.49
5 lb. bag red potatoes $2.99
3 lb. bag carrots $1.49
1 lb. bag onions $.79
1 Butternut squash $1.96
2 lb. parsnips $2.29
1 head broccoli $.99
1 bunch leaf lettuce $.99

Grain Products:
I loaf whole grain bread $2.00
2 lb. pack steel cut oats $2.49

Other:
1 liter skim milk $1.99

Total $56.15

Ya, I'll see what I have leftover Sunday morning and deduct it from the total.
(However, I forgot to add in the coffee I've used so I'll have to do that as well.)
My friend isn't giving me any hints about her menu, darn it!

Oh, I don't think coffee should count towards purchases. That's like paying for the air we breathe

Ramen noodles-2 packages for $1.00

Final report ...... I ended up at $53.12. (I deducted a couple of dollars for unused food and added a couple for coffee.)
I just got off the phone with my girlfriend and she won, damnit! (She spent $46.79) She told me her menu and I just said "Dude! That sucks." (She hates it when I call her dude ..... I hang around too many males, I guess.) They had peanut butter toast and coffee for breakfast, grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch and spaghetti for dinner every night. I told her it sounded like a prison menu. Ha.
(Wait, that sounded unseemingly competitive for a sixty year old woman ..... I'd better take it back!)
Lunch on me tomorrow. I told her I was going to force-feed her fruit and vegetables.

You won in my book Jessie. Well balanced meals. You rock!

You're a true friend! She'll love you for the fruits and vegetables.