If you feel like the price of beef has been going up and up, it’s not your imagination. Between drought and increasing costs of feed, beef cattle are selling at higher and higher prices. Shoppers are looking at other meats and types of protein to help the food budget. Beef, it’s what’s NOT for dinner in more homes.
Chicken, turkey, and pork can be made in so many ways that it doesn’t get boring. You can mix ground turkey with ground meat or just use ground turkey in dishes like chili, spaghetti, and tacos. Textured Vegetable Protein, TVP, is a soy product high in protein that can be mixed in with ground beef or used on its own in those kind of dishes too. Fish is a nice change, but my favorite is Tex-Mex. Most of the ingredients are inexpensive, but there is plenty of flavor. Yum! Meatless Mondays are becoming more popular, but having vegetarian dishes twice a week can save even more. We usually don’t have meat for breakfast or lunch, so that saves quite a bit too.
Chicken prices have been fairly low during this winter (2011-2012), but they are expected to rise in 2012. If you see a good sale on chicken you might want to stock the freezer. I’ll be making room in our freezer for this and other meats on sale as much as possible, since meat is one of the most expensive items in the food budget. Other things in the freezer will be showing up on our menus for a while to make room!
Click on any of the labels below this post for recipes and ideas to save on your food bill. Enjoy exploring these tasty, but lower cost options!
Are you eating less beef these days? What are your favorite alternatives?
Update: thanks to Squirrelers for reminding me that tofu is a great source of protein. It’s made from soybeans, as is TVP, and tofu can be used in many ways. It’s great it stir-fry!
Maggie says
Squirrelers, that’s a good point about the carbs. We like vegetable proteins too, especially beans combined with other vegetable proteins. Thanks for reminding me of tofu. I definitely need to make more dishes with it!
Squirrelers says
I’m trying to eat less meat in general, though I’m not giving it up entirely. I’ll probably have meat 3 to 4 days a week in one meal on those days, usually chicken. I don’t think I’ve had a steak in over a year.
I’ve had more veggie protein type meals, tofu, etc. One key is to make sure that cutting meat doesn’t mean an increase in bad carbs.
Maggie says
Money Infant, Thai beef might be fed on different things. I’ve noticed that grass-fed beef in the US doesn’t taste the same as other beef cattle. Most US beef is fattened on corn while they are on feed lots just before slaughter. The corn adds fat marbling, and fat adds a lot of the flavor. It makes me think twice before eating corn! Those prices would keep me away from beef for sure!
Money Infant says
We’ve been eating waaaayyyy less beef since we moved to Thailand. Thai beef just doesn’t have the same flavor as US or Australian raised beef. And the beef imported from Aus or the US to Thailand costs around $50+ per pound! So it’s been chicken, pork and duck for us. I still crave a nice thick T-bone from time to time though 🙁
Maggie says
Joe, I think you’re right about the after-dinner effects of a bunch of meat. Who needs that snoozy feeling? We haven’t had much snow either; we might have to take vacations to see snow! I love chicken soup for when I have a cold, but it’s soooo good any other time too. No wonder they called that book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”–it really does feel like it soothes the soul!
AverageJoe says
Chicken soup is awesome when it’s cold outside…and this winter thing is just a vicious rumor, so we haven’t had much of that this year.
We’re moving toward less beef also, although it’s not to save money as much as to feel healthy. After a huge meat-filled dinner I just feel rotten. Today I had a simple soup & salad lunch and my usual afternoon “nap” feeling isn’t nearly as severe.
Maggie says
Michelle, we often buy the family packs for lowest price, even though it’s just the 2 of us. We just freeze the rest in meal sized portions.
Michelle P says
We’re eating the same amount (maybe even more), I just try to buy at the lowest possible price.
Maggie says
Miss T, you are inspiring me with your vegetarianism. A few veg meals a week are definitely do-able and very yummy. We are moving in that direction & enjoying it. Thanks!
Maggie says
Emily, we actually love chicken more than beef. With mushrooms it can taste pretty beefy. We love it in stir-fry. And you are right–there is nothing like a bowl of chicken soup! Wish I had some right now. Might have to make that tonight!
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter says
I went vegetarian a couple years ago and not only do I feel and look so much better but it has also saved me money. I definitely recommend a few veg meals a week to help with costs.
Emily Hunter says
We’ve been fighting the urge for beef by eating a LOT of chicken. I found out that you really can get a bunch of servings out of a single chicken with the broth and the other stuff. And, well, who can really deny the allure of a steaming bowl of chicken soup? Thank you for this post. 🙂