Price-y Protein!

Hey All, One of the problems I find with getting in enough protein is that it is just the most expensive food out there! With meat, I prefer to buy organic or from the local Amish because I trust they don't use chemicals and hormones. I just don't feel safe with a lot of the meat out there at the markets. How the animal lived and died matters to me too. What I buy is a bit more costly, but I feel better about it. Fish - I only buy from Whole Foods. It's absolutely fresh, they'll sell me as much or as little as I need, they use suppliers that restock the seas, and their people know their products. But they are far from cheap. Beans are cheap, but are as much or more carbs as protein. Natural peanut butter, cheese, and hummus also contain fat. Protein bars and such are very expensive. How are the rest of you getting in 60-80 gms daily of protein without breaking the bank? How much do you concern yourself with fat content? Lisa

I wish I could afford to buy whole foods. Well actually I probably could but the whole foods store we have here SUCKS and so there really isn't a good place to shop for organic *sigh*. Summer is great for it though as we have a huge framers market that I WILL be going to every Saturday this year. Our local Amish have AMAZING veggies and breads and stuff. SO YUMMY! I pretty much only buy meats from Costco. I find for here they have the best quality. It also allows me to buy a large quantity of meat at one time for a lower price and I can cook some ans freeze some to that helps on the budget. We eat a LOT of chicken thighs ( I don't do the breasts as I find my family doesn't really like them and they reallllly don't like me at all lol ). I am very much a shopper of the out side rim of the store type person. I try not to buy anything that is processed or in a box if I can avoid it and I AVOID protein bars at all cost. Hard enough to learn to eat right with out "ok" candy bars gumming up my thinking... I get in 90 grams of protein a day from foods but I do also use 1 shake a day that is 35 grams in, itself. I eat cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, various specialty cheeses, of course meats of various kinds. I find protein grams add up fast when I don't over fill on carbs. I do eat a LOT of veggies though but I make sure that the protein levels are where I want them first and then add them in along the way. I do not concern myself with fat. I do NOT eat low fat at all. Well except I do use Hoods Fat Free milk but not because its fat free I just like how it mixes with my shake. I use butter when I cook and I do not trim the fat off what little meat I can eat. There is no way I can over eat fat right now unless I was sucking on butter or some such thing. I had surgery so I could have a tool to help me with quantity not kill quality. I like the "good foods" in life. I may have to give up sugar and pasta and bread but I will fight for my fats LMAOOO Don't know if that helps with anything lol but thats my 3 cents on it. *huggles* Felicia =0)

Lisa, I buy all organic except for Milk and the milk I get the lower carb stuff. But other than that we are all organic. Your prices up there must be a lot higher than here. For Fred and I we spend between $250-$300 a month on groceries. We do not eat a lot of fish as he will not eat it so if it is just for me it is so little. But when I do buy fish I buy from whole foods as well. Except for shrimp I buy frozen from the reg grocery store. We do eat a lot of beef and chicken. Our grocery store here all have organic and hormone free meat so that is what I buy. Stop and Shop is great for organic veggies and fruits. Totally love that place. We do not eat any peanut butter so can not help you with that one. We are just not willing to add it into the plan yet. We both want to be at goal before we add stuff like that in. We do eat a lot of bean soups and cheese though but like Felicia we do not want the fat much in those. I do buy low fat mostly but with cheese I would rather have the real stuff rather than the stuff that has been altered. Our nut agrees. I do an occasional protein bar (I get them at walmart) but only if I am out and about and can not stop to eat. Anywho I am off on a tangent sorry. I am still on pain meds for the leg and back While hubby is able to get al his protein in with just maybe one shake added (he is 9 months postop) I still do two a day. When I do things like yogurt and such I add some crushed walnuts to it for added protein and a little crunch as well. A sample day for me is ( now keep in mind I do not have a schedule like most I eat when I can) B : Protein shake - 36 grms L : 1/2 cup cooked chicken breast - 20 grms S : Stonyfield Farm FF Blackberry - 5 grms D : 4 oz Tilapia fillet - 21 grms Total protein - 81 Total Fat - 12 (sat - 5) Total Calories - 542 Total Carbs - 23 (21 net carbs) Not sure if any of this helps. I also but bigger packages of meat they are usually less that smaller and break them up into smaller ones and freeze them. I grew up in a big family so I am all about saving money in any way I can. I hope this helps a little. Without a shake though i would never make it. Gotta have the shakes!!! big hugs, Melissa

OK forgot to put in there that Tofu is a GREAT organic protein source!

Nummy Yummy too! LOL *huggles* Felicia =0)

Hi Melissa, I em and organic girl too...your grocry bill is greta i have 2 kids and my bill is over 750 a month my son jeff eats a lottttttttt and hes only 1HE IS ALSO ONLY 27 POUNDS ,NOT FAT LOL ...... Lots of love Maria