# What's a meat to eat if your poor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238 "2013-12-01T21:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tci707](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@tci707](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tci707)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/1 "2013-12-01T21:54:00Z")
I’m way short on rent this month and meat is very exprensive, What’s a good meat to eat if your poor. What should I look for at the store. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/2 "2013-12-01T22:11:26Z")
Fish has a lot of good nutrition and canned tuna is pretty affordable. I also ate a lot of fish sticks when I was poor but don’t know what the price is like now. Good luck and I hope your finances improve. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/3 "2013-12-01T22:12:13Z")
Eat lots of Ramen noodles, rice and beans. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/4 "2013-12-01T22:13:50Z")
Sorry you’re in tight circumstances tci. Eggs and beans are good, cheap sources of protein. TVP (texturized vegetable protein) is also cheap if you have a store close by that sells bulk products loose. Look at actual meat cuts more as a garnish rather than the main course ( ie stir fries, pasta dishes etc.) Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/5 "2013-12-01T22:14:00Z")
A little meat can be stretched far when mixed with rice, beans, and frozen veggies. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/6 "2013-12-01T22:17:32Z")
Beans. 😉 If you are really short on grocery funds, make a few vegetarian dishes. Protein is usually the most expensive part of your meal. Cut it out, and you save a bunch. But if you must have animal protein, look for chicken leg quarters. they are super cheap usually and can be prepared easily. Another way to cut down on costs is to make sure you are eating 3 oz of meat. Most people go way over the recommended serving size and that adds to your grocery budget. Things like stir fry, spaghetti sauce, etc. where the meat is mixed in with vegetables and other ingredients stretch the meat without making you miss it so much. (If you do cook a stir fry use either frozen or in season veggies to keep costs down.) Watch for sales and cook what’s on sale. I very, very rarely spend more than $2/lb on meat. Right now pork and chicken are the cheaper proteins. Watch for those on the sale page. Beware of “buy one get one free” sales because they often aren’t nearly as good of deal as you think they are. Make sure you do the math and be sure the BOGO price still keeps you under that upper limit you want to spend. Chicken breasts are cut into cutlets so one will serve two people. Roasts I plan to use for more than one meal. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/7 "2013-12-01T22:19:29Z")
This soon after Thanksgiving, check to see if they have packages of turkey on sale. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/8 "2013-12-01T22:32:28Z")
As mentioned, chicken leg quarters or, in my area, chicken drumsticks are hands-down the cheapest chicken around. Ground beef/turkey/pork/whatever can be browned in a skillet then added to sauces, casseroles, put into tacos, and all sorts of other things of that sort. Look for specials - this time of year, discounted turkey is a possibility. Also, specials on various types of sausages, including hot dogs. Tilapia seems to be an inexpensive fish these days, as are types of whitefish (like cod). As mentioned, portion control is important. 4 ounces of meat is a dietary portion, and if it’s in something like a casserole or stir fry it will be plenty adequate. Eggs and beans, as also noted, are also sources of protein. You can also mix eggs and beans with things like ground beef to extend to meaty portion of the meal. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/9 "2013-12-01T22:54:33Z")
As said above, chicken legs quarters. I don’t know where you are, but here in the Chicago area, they can get to around $0.59/lb. That will go a long way. Even bone-in thighs (my favorite part of the chicken) can often be found for $0.99/lb if you look around. The turkey at Target got to as low as $0.39/lb, I think. The frozen turkey breast was $0.99/lb and I believe still is until January 4. For me, meat is often cheaper by the pound than the vegetables I buy. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/10 "2013-12-01T22:59:26Z")
My favorite poor man’s dinner with cheap protein is to scramble a couple of eggs into top ramen. Plus it tastes really good to me. Can’t get much cheaper than that. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/11 "2013-12-01T23:00:06Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > This soon after Thanksgiving, check to see if they have packages of turkey on sale. Packaged, sliced turkey meat is more than 50% off at my grocery store this week. Thank you America! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/12 "2013-12-01T23:04:52Z")
No meat. Go vegetarian for a few weeks and eat lots of beans, rice and pasta. ---
**Author:** ![austerity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@austerity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/austerity)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/13 "2013-12-01T23:08:11Z")
8 pack of hot dogs are usually 12oz for 1 dollar at the 99 only cent store. Those are good for 8 hot dog meals if you also buy a loaf of bread for $1. So that would come out to 23 cents for a 300 calorie hot dog (13 cents for the 150 calorie hotdog and 10 cents for the 150 calorie bun if you use 2 slices of bread in a $1 20 slice loaf). But I consider meat a luxury. Sure it tastes good, but you can get far more calories per dollar eating carbs like rice, pasta, and flour. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/14 "2013-12-01T23:09:20Z")
Some grocery stores will also discount meat on the day of the expiration date. I got a big package of boneless chicken thighs for $3 off just this weekend. I stuck them in the freezer. It was like 14 thighs for $4. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/15 "2013-12-01T23:26:42Z")
> [@austerity](#): > > But I consider meat a luxury. Sure it tastes good, but you can get far more calories per dollar eating carbs like rice, pasta, and flour. I don’t know about “far more.” When meat gets to around $0.50/lb, which you can find here, it’s actually pretty close. I’m constantly surprised at how cheap meat gets here compared to vegetables and starches. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/16 "2013-12-01T23:29:22Z")
Well, according to Democrat scare ads seniors resort to eating cans of pet food when real meat is too expensive. Just make sure you have a can opener if you go that route. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/17 "2013-12-02T00:12:14Z")
Cold rotisserie chicken (i.e. yesterday’s hot rotisserie chicken) is often deeply discounted, and you can pay for it with food stamps too. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/18 "2013-12-02T00:23:19Z")
Tuna loaf or noodle casserole, with less tuna and more bread/noodles & eggs/veggies than called for makes a tuna-ish meal for pretty cheap. Don’t knock canned tuna mixed with undiluted canned cream soup and rice or noodles for basic cheap meals. The way to eat meat when you’re poor is to use it for flavoring and get more of your protein from cheaper sources like legumes or eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/19 "2013-12-02T00:25:41Z")
Liver! Liver and onions. Bacon to me works out pretty cheap and a bargain tastewise if you just use a couple of strips at a time. Fry your bacon, mix with an egg and dash of milk, salt and pepper then pour the mixture over the hot pasta and that will cook the egg. Poor mans carbonara. ---
**Author:** ![amorali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@amorali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amorali)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238/20 "2013-12-02T00:28:56Z")
Cheapest meat I would guess would be what you catch/kill yourself, if you already have all the necessary tools. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-meat-to-eat-if-your-poor/675238.md?page=2)