Small town, small budget meal replacement/protein issues.

hahah. Elk is farther west and caribou is farther North. Good fishing though, and deer and moose if you can get 'em!

Mmmm. Moose and squirrel.

protein powders/meal replacements are either non existent or VERY expensive.

And that si a great thing IMO. 

as other said - meat, fish, eggs, dairy...non starchy veggies, good fat...(i.e. olives, bacon, bacon fat, butter)

Skip starches and even fruits... Home cooked meals are the best..

but when eating out - grab a burger with a side of lettuce, tomato, pickles.. skip the bun. 

snacks: pre-measured servings of nuts like almonds, walnuts, macadamia, brazil..Some peanuts are OK also..; string cheese.. etc.. 

Protein shakes are a great way to add calories if you want to gain.

can you order the shakes off the internet? I find them to be cheaper on web sites.... 

just a thought

Lots of great advice.

I know that everyone says dense protein - but I have done well with addition of protein drinks, esp for breakfast or snack.  If you are also one of them, get some. All the major players - GNC, vitamin shoppe, walmart deliver free for over a certain amount (usually $50).  Vitamin shoppe has a store card program that is free, GNC;s has an annual fee, Walmart is, well, Walmart.  You can compare nutrion values on line.

BTW: pressure cooker or slow cooker can make cheaper less tender cuts of meat very nice. You don't need expensive food. Non starchy veggies - fresh or frozen, adding beans to increase volume and reduce cost is another idea. 

If you have a freezer - driving once in a while to a larger city to get supply.  Then just put them in a pressure cooker or slow cooker - make a batch, then divide into small containers.. 

I do that all the time. 

Non starchy veggies - like cabbage, broccoli, califlower, green beans, greens (like spinach, kale can by bought frozen and makes into a side dish) 

Making stew or chilli.. In my way to maximize $$$. Some of those meals may have too much liquid after done - I simple place that on a strainer overnight - making it more dense option for me. I use the leftover liquid to make other dishes or just drink it as "favored broth" if I want something more spicy.

I.e when not too hungry - I may make homemade egg drop soup - using that liquid and just 2 eggs.. (boil the broth - add eggs and mix. Removed from stove - eat... I use that if my pouch is swollen or sensitive and I can't - don't want the Dr we proteins... Adding some herbs (grow them on a window sill) adds flavor... 

Eggs - are often low cost option - 2 HB eggs with some pickles... Is a full meal for me... Even 7 years post op. I use NSA (no sugar added) pickles... 

I second the pressure cooker option. and Instant Pot (the fav around here) is made in Canada so you wouldn't have to spend a ton to ship it, don't know about the exchange tho.

Cheap sources of protein: eggs, tuna, chicken thighs (WAY CHEAPER than breast meat). Do any of your discount stores (we have Dollar General here) sell food? Do you have an Aldi/Lidl someplace close by?

No, we don't have any of those things here unfortunately. and I do have a pressure cooker but even "cheap" cuts of meat aren't cheap right now. I'm going to try my best to get what I can in terms of protein, and have shakes and skim milk powder on hand for when I can't find them. 

I would say like the others that lean meats and non starch veg are the way to go. I like buying the tuna in a can and instead of adding mayo, I add 1 tbl of hummus.

I also live more 'remote' but can find tuna, eggs, chicken, etc at the store.

I'm trying not to rely on protein shakes as much. Do don't stay full on them.