LOL, I just wrote the longest reply and hit quit when I went to copy what I had written to make sure I didn't lose it. Oh well, here we go again :)
truboyblue, I don't live in Philly (I know you aimed the question at Philly folks but figured someone from another high-cost-of-living area could still help/jump in) but I do live in the SF Bay Area where I imagine our cost of living is very similar.
Maybe you could grab a reciept from your last trip to Whole Foods and list out what you got, sizes and costs? That would be a lot easier to pick apart. In the interest of fairness, here are the highlights from my last Target trip:
2 x Tortilla package: $1.59 x 2
3 x 25oz Tyson frozen chicken breasts: $10 (3.33 each)
Avocados, Onions, potatoes, carrots, and other produce totalling about $10
Market Pantry Peanut Butter, 16oz (the big one): $3.79
42oz Market Pantry Oats (the big tub!): $3.04
2 x Market Pantry whole wheat bread loaf: $1.59 each
24 oz Nestle chocolate chips: $4.04
8 oz Nestle cocoa powder: $2.49
5 lb Gold Medal flour: $2.29
Market Pantry whole milk, 1/2 gallon: $2.09
Market Pantry Eggs, 1 dozen: $1.69
Market Pantry cheese (not sliced, just the big block of cheddar), 16 oz: $4.04
Market Pantry butter, 16 oz: $2.49
My bill totalled (after the target card 5% discount) $48.73. There were a few toiletry items I didn't mention here too. From this, we'll get:
2 weeks oatmeal breakfasts (made tolerable by adding something different every day-- maple syrup, cinnamon, brown sugar, etc)
10 days PB&J or sliced chicken breast sandwich lunches
4-5 batches of oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies
10 or so servings of French onion soup (we already had beef broth at home)
6-7 dinners with chicken breast involved, being a bit creative to vary it
Grilled cheese one or two dinners
Mashed potatoes a few nights
3-4 batches of brownies
Some homemade baked tortilla chips and guacamole (a few snacks worth)
fruit or veggie sides at most meals
And probably some other meals that we throw together by looking in the pantry and being a little creative. I won't argue that it's the most inspired menu in the world, but we don't go hungry either. And we're saving a lot of money that goes straight into investments :)