I just ran through the online grocery shopping service we use (Peapod) which is not the cheapest way to go.
For less than $21.00, we got 3lbs chicken, 12 eggs, onion, broccoli, kidney beans and red beans, rice, head of garlic, 1/2 gal milk, 1/2 lb cheese, carrots, green beans, spaghetti, tomato sauce.
Not gourmet, but adequate, and this is food stamps not a Vegas buffet. What do they expect?
With a bit of time and creativity, your grocery list could be turned into gourmet far easily.
The problem today is most people can not be bothered.
Every few weeks I devote most of a weekend to cooking and then package it in meal size portions for the freezer, this way when we find ourselves in a hectic cycle, something is already to be popped in the oven or crock pot.
It sure beats fast food in that it is both healthier and cheaper.