How to feed a family of four dinner for a week for under $50 at Publix

Even though I tend to plan my meals around more than just one stores sale items for one week, I was interested to see what I would feed a family of four for a week if I had to.  Here's what I came up with using mainly sale items.  Although we won't be eating this meal this week, these are all things that we enjoy eating from time to time. I also tried to make sure each meal had a protein and a veggie and all that stuff.  I'm sure it is not the healthiest menu on the planet, but it will feed a family of four and help to meet all the food pyramid requirements!

Monday: Beef Tacos, refried beans
Tuesday: BBQ chicken, broccoli with cheese sauce, baked beans, cucumbers
Wednesday: Creamy Shrimp/Asparagus Pasta, breadsticks, salad
Thursday: Veggie Packed Tomato Soup with cheese sandwiches
Friday: Roast Beef Stuffed Sandwich , salad
Saturday: BBQ chicken Pizza, veggie, bread sticks
Sunday: Pasta Primavera, cut up veggies

This menu is taken from the Publix sale that starts 9/29.

Monday: Beef Tacos, beans, lettuce tomato (Total: $7.43)
Kraft  Shredded Cheese  2/$4, use the -$5/5 Kraft Cheese or Dairy Products Rolling ($1)
Old El Paso Refried Beans 4/$5, use the -$0.50/1 Old El Paso Product ($.25)
Old El Paso Dinner Kit,  BOGO $2.95, use the -$0.50/1 Old El Paso Product ($.50)
Tomatoes on the Vine, $2.49/lb-buy 1/2 pound to dice ($1.25)
Fresh Express Lettuce Shreds 8 oz bag, $1.69 use the -$0.55/1 FE Blend Salads Rolling ($1.14)

Ground Beef and Ground Pork for Meatloaf, $3.29/lb ($3.29)

Tuesday: BBQ Chicken, frozen veggie, baked beans, cut up cucumbers ($6.79)

Green Giant Frozen Broccoli/cheese  10/$10 use-$0.50/1 Green Giant Frozen Vegetables Rolling (free)

Kraft Barbecue Sauce,  BOGO $1.48 use -$.25/1 Kraft Barbecue Sauce Peelie ($.25) (use 1/2 bottle)
3 lb Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs, $1.29/lb-($3.87)
Bush’s Best Baked Beans 21 to 28 oz, 3/$5 ($1.67)
Cucumbers, 2/$1 ($1)

Wednesday:  Creamy Shrimp/Asparagus Pasta, breadsticks, salad ($7.81)
2 Knorr Sides-Alfredo,  BOGO $1.29 -use 2-$0.45/1 Knorr Item, Tearpad (add $.51)
1/2 lb XL White Shrimp, Previously frozen,  $6.99/lb ($3.5)
1 lb Asparagus, $2.49/lb ($2.49)
Use the extra lettuce/tomato from Monday and the extra cucumber from Tuesday to make a salad
1 (buy 2, use one)Pillsbury  Breadsticks or  3/$5 use-$1/2 Pillsbury Italian Meal Breads Rolling ($2.33)

(I would use any veggie I had around the house, garlic, onion, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms...what ever. I would also use plain pasta and make my own sauce with any combo of  butter, oil, cream, wine, milk, broth that I had in the house.)

Thursday:  Veggie Packed Tomato Soup with cheese sandwiches ($6.78)
2 Cans Progresso Tomato/basil Soup,  BOGO $2.29-use -$0.50/2 Prog. Soup 8/8/2010 GM Insert ($1.29)
1 Can Diced tomatoes (estimated: $1)
1 medium butternut squash (estimated $2.5)
6 slices of Kraft Cheese Kraft American Cheese Singles, 2/$4use the -$5/5 Kraft Cheese Rolling ($1)
Nature’s BOGO $3.49-use -$0.75/1 Nature’s Own Premium Specialty   ($.99)
Mix the soup, tomato, and boil and mash the squash and mix into soup, you can add any herbs or some milk/cream/cream cheese/Parmesan to make it creamier if you want)

Friday:  Roast Beef Stuffed Sandwich (adapted from Pampered Chef) and a salad ($9.75)
2 Pillsbury  Pizza Crust  3/$5-use 2 $0.35/1 Pillsbury  Pizza Crust 9/12/2010 GM Insert   ($1.92)
Hillshire Farm Deli Select Lunch Meats, roast beef, 3/$10-use $1/1 HF Deli Select Rolling ($2.33)
1 package of Kraft white slices (see Kraft deals above) ($1)
1 green pepper ($1)
1 small onion ($1)
(garlic, Italian seasoning,egg)
Premium Salad Kits, 2/$5 ($2.50)

-Chop up pepper, onion and saute with spices a few minutes.
-Roll out a pizza crust and layer half the beef, cheese, and pepper mix over the whole thing.  Roll up (the long way) to make a pinwheel like effect.  Then repeat with the other pizza crust and remaining ingredients.
-Set the two loafs on a pizza pan, connecting them at the edges to make a "wreath" shape.
-Brush with 1 egg white mixed with 1 T of water if desired and bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes.
-use some of the ragu from Sunday as dipping sauce

Saturday BBQ chicken Pizza, veggie, bread sticks ($7.58)
Mission Soft Taco Flour Tortillas, Medium, 10 ct, BOGO $2.59 ($1.30)
2 lb Split Chicken Breast, (cooked and shredded) $1.89/lb ($3.78)
Kraft shredded cheese (see Kraft deal above)-($1)
left over BBQ sauce
shredded carrots  (estimated $1.5)
green giant veggies (free)
breadsticks leftover from unused package on wednesday

Sunday: Pasta Primavera, cut up veggies ($3.69)
2 Ragu Pasta Sauce, BOGO $3.35 use-$1/2 Ragu Pasta Sauce 9/12/2010 RP Insert (exp 10/10/2010)
and $0.50/2 Ragu Pasta Sauce TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 9/30/2010) ($1.35)
1 Barilla Piccolini BOGO $1.27 use $0.55/1 Barilla Piccolini Pasta 8/29/2010 SS Insert ($.09)
2 Green Giant mixed veggies (free)
cucumbers 2/$1 ($1)
Tomatoes on the Vine, $2.49/lb-buy 1/2 pound to slice ($1.25)

Grand Total: $49.83 (you will have to buy 2 extra Kraft cheese items to use the coupon, so the bill will be $2 extra plus tax, of course)