I used to spend $12 per person per WEEK to feed my family.  We ate nothing processed except a loaf of bread each week and peanut butter, bought about once a month.  (Kid favorite!)  We did not eat out at all. I spend more now mostly because I'm lazy.  But I still spend less than the food stamp allowance. I'd like to know what she was spending her "$20 every two weeks" on and what else she was eating.  Because "healthy foods" are only more expensive even PER CALORIE than crap processed foods if you pick the more expensive healthy food and the least expensive crap foods.