/ck/ - Food & Cooking

$35 isn't terrible. Not great, but you'll live.
Going by Walmart prices (get used to it, you'll be there a lot):
>15lbs brown rice: $9.50
>8lbs dried pinto beans: $5.88
>18 large eggs: $2.20
>10lb russet potatoes: $4.45
>2lbs carrots: $1.00
>3lbs yellow onions: $1.54
>celery: $1.28
>1lb broccoli: $1.88
>20oz spinach: $3.08
>1lb butter (NOT MARGARINE YOU FUCKSTICK): $2.04

That's $33.85.

The first week is going to be rough. You won't have meat (doesn't seem like you've been getting much of that anyway...), but the brown rice, beans, and eggs will provide your protein.
Assuming you don't have spices either, use the remaining $2 or so to pick up a spice blend like Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning (a /ck/ budget favorite).

And you won't be using all of this in one week. Unless you're eating for five, you'll have rice, beans, and potatoes for next week too, so you have an additional $20 next week to spend on meat and spices.

For meat, you want something with a good dollar:pound ratio. Look for sales, but don't settle for some grey "manager's special" thing that's been sitting there since last week. Chicken is a good option, as is pork. Avoid pre-seasoned shit and never pay more for a brand name.

Spices are a buy once, replenish as needed item. You might have to wait until next week and save for them, because they're not terribly cheap depending on quantity. You'll want black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, garlic (minced or dehydrated), salt, oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary (ESPECIALLY if you eat chicken, and you will be), and chili powder. Don't feel obligated to get it all at once, these are just what people would consider essentials. Ideally the herbs would be fresh and you'd be grinding peppercorns yourself, but ideally you wouldn't be poor either so... Once you get money, you can get fancy.