Looks like corn is not going to happen this year, which will drive up the cost of meat, dairy and processed foods. Not good--I need my shakes.  So, some alternatives would be?

Soy products like tofu and fish? Is that it? I hope I can at least afford eggs even though those will rise in price too. {sigh}

Mother Nature is not a happy girl and it's scary. :( 

--gina

TVP   I've been using it more often since I found the sausage and beef flavored ones.  There is a chicken flavored one that I haven't tried yet.  I used it last in the eggplant zucinni parmesan I made the other day.  I add it to tomato or spagitti sauce instead of meat and when it is all cooked, I can't tell the difference. I use it in Nik's Taco bake and soups.  I've never been a tofu fan but I would be happy with fish every other night.  With all the farm raised fish, I expect the price of it to go up also.  At least for the summer, I have my garden to eat out of. 

Going to ride Poppy this morning then this afternoon I have an appt with the personal trainer to get some new ideas of things to work on before TRX starts in August.  In between, work.

Soy based products are not good for dh and I...we have thyroid issues. Both of us on thyroid meds.

We will just have to stretch what we can as far as it will go with veggies and make up the difference in shakes.

I need to DRAG dh to the Farmer's Market...he HATES going. And yes, I could go by myself but I prefer having someone to go with me, it's more fun.

Liz

Liz: I too have thyroid - hypothyroid.. How problematic is it if I eat spy product three times a week? You would think GP or Endo would tell me not to eat soy!
Mikimi in Israel

Mikimi, I pretty much avoid soy but will indulge sometimes (Chinese food).

Here are some articles that may shed some light on the subject:
www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16571087
www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyperthyroidism/AN00454

The problem seems to be if you overindulge...my thyroid levels are stable so I must be doing it right. Not indulging too much but not avoiding it completely.

Liz

In Israel we used to have only Eltroxin but the company changed their medical ingredients and many people suffered. I now take Euthyroid and my TSH is to the left of the graph and basically Thank GD all is well.
Mikimi

I think our corn is done for the year.  My DD was telling me one day last week was the last day they were selling this wonderful corn at a little store where they live.  We always get some from there to put up.  DH loves it and has probably already eaten most of what we have put up already.

Tofu - one of the few things I have not tried.  I've eaten things since surgery that I had never tried before, but not that one.  I still like my meat!!

It looks like y'all got some really bad storms yesterday.  Hope everything is ok up there.  We are getting the heat related storms almost every afternoon around 6pm.  One came through again sometime last night because DH had to get up with Little Willie until they passed.

Work today - got to travel - so I get to go for a nice ride out through the countryside and haul books around!!  Sometimes a nice ride does me good!!

Hope everyone has a great day today.  It is my DS and DDIL's anniversary today.

Linda

Our corn is just beginning in our area.   We had some last week and boy was it good!  Our corn fields look beautiful around here.  Last year you had to pay top dollar for an ear of corn and it wasn't even good.  This year I'm going to buy enough to freeze for the winter.

I've never had tofu and soy gives me cramps.

We're cutting back on meat in recipes to try to cut the grocery cost. It's ridiculous. The down side is that DH is never full. He won't eat salad and veggies consistently so it's a struggle and constant eating! His Grazing drives me insane. I'm a psycho this week so everything is getting on my last nerve!!!! He just started working 3 12-hour shifts so maybe it's him being home more often????

I'm going to suggest we start going to the Y after dinner -- he can swim w our DD while I exercise and we'll swap. Thx for allowing me to think this through! LOL

Meg

I wanted to buy tofu but the grocery me did not have. However they have this flavored wet tvp in sealed bags. The manager doesn't like the tvp -he thinks it is gross and not many clientele for it but last week it was on sale and only three bags left but not the flavor I like. He offered to order for me but only on condition I buy the entire carton of twelve bags.
I do eat talipia, canned tuna, legumes ,etc but budget cuts are all around the world!
Mikimi in Israel

I've never seen it wet, only dry.  I would wonder what the shelve life was with it wet.  Dry it stays good forever (or almost).

Well maybe it's not tvp but it is soy-but wet like shwarma so even easier for the lazy cook like me. Stir fry and this stuff and maybe brown rice or kasha or bulghar.
I like meat but hate trying to buy it or cook it.
Mikimi

 There  are other  great tasting cheap proteins --  like  VERY filling , very healthy high fiber  rice n beans combos .   

U can make falafel for isntance just by buying a  mix ( make sure its fat free if U want to lose /maintain) , mix  less that U think U need with water , wait for it to soften and  make balls .  I bake em in the oven but even pan  frying doesnt break the calorie bank .   Put em in a  fresh flatbread with  fresh heirlom tomato slices  , lettuce , and fatfree tzaziki dressing (  greek yogurt , diced cucumber , mint ) - a sandwich to die for .   If you round out the plate with some lemony rice pilaf .. you  will find U wont get hungry again for many hours cuz u ate a TON of complete protein .  

I personally  love the SMART ONES sausage and  meat flavor  ( fresh veggie/ vegetarian  sections of most  grocerystores  )  no fat  tofu based  meat substitutes and a so  fatfree vegetarian " pepperoni"  and sausage .  I wouldnt begin to eat real sausage from pig parts ... but fake-o  I LOVE the peppery taste   " 

Also  try  European stir -fry   recipes .  These call for WAY  less than an American  6-8 ounce ( or MORE ! ) giant serving of animal protein.

 Because meat is like  16  bux a pound ( but much more safely raised ) in  Europe , people eat a lot less of it and are a lot healthier as a result .  I like to mix up mushrooms , fresh squash ,fresh diced peppers , frozen peas or fresh fava beans in most of my meat -based dishes too and again I often serve with brown rice or a brown rice and chickpea combo ... 

when I have freezer room I usualy make a HUGE  batch of delicious brown rice n chickpeas or beans by soaking, dicing  and cooking dried chinese mushrooms first (  about 1.49 for a big bag ), then I add  powdered chicken stock    ( goya works great )  spices ( again Goya  seasonings are SUPER for rice and beans ) , pre toasted brown rice grains  ( makes em cook way faster and also  gives em a delicious nutty taste )  and eventually either canned or pre soaked chickpeas or fava beans .  The pre soaked large fava beans and the toasted brown rice have about the same cooking time ( half an hour ) .  When its ready i serve my family some with  a fresh vegetable and meat sauce....and I freeze the rest in freezer bags which means I can pull out n microwave as i'm  making another fresh dish another day .  

Another  protein containing (  people don't know this ) and high fiber and very cheap  dish is  fresh mashed potatoes .   Takes 10  minutes  and really stretches meat dishes .   Put  4 or 5 potatoes into microwave and  cook on high 15 minutes or so  until soft .   Let cool , then  place skins and all in food processor with fat free  half n half and butter buds -  swirl and DONE .  

Extremely healthy food with lots of vitamins  - the Irish literally used to LIVE on the potato .  ( Men would  eat seven or so  potatoes roasted in the hearth overnight for breakfast and then go to work I've read  ) They do contain surprising amounts of protein , vitamin C .. they can be considered a complete food  suprisingly - and the evidence is there -  that single vegetable  grew a very successful  civilization for a hundred years or so  . until the famine .

U can also  grow Ur own organically simply by digging a trench in early spring when Ur eating potatoes  begin to sprout - and putting  them in .  As  the plants grow add more soil so the roots are always covered (  eventually they should be hilled up )  .  When the plants begin to die down ,plunge Ur hands into the earth and U will  feel a HUGE  organic harvest .  U can  take some and replant the rest for a second fall crop even (  in another place is best )

 Potatoes are  one of the crops they use the most pesticides on .... so definitely worth the trouble to grow Ur own or just buy organic (  its not that expensive ) .

Personally  I think not eating much meat means a lot less calcium leaching from our bones and teeth too !    Heres to great posture , easy weight mainenance , great health  and  wonderful ,complete smiles ! 

 Probably the best tofu dish I  know is  a Chinese dessert - silken fresh tofu (  warmed slightly )  with sweet ginger sauce  ( cook   fresh ginger in a bit of sugar syrup -  Im sure U could substitute  agave or even sugar free syrup too ) .

Ridiculously simple and high protein and  absolutely elegant n delicious .  Kind of like a very light , not overly sweet creme brulee ... a wonderful high protein ending to a light meal ... like a salad 

 One of my favorite snacks is soybleu  tofu cheese ... OH is it GREAT  and largely fat free ...

another one is  almond milk almost fat free  jalapeno jack  cheese " Almond " is the brand ...  

boy are these foods great ... and I never think of them as vegetarian .. just delicious and non- fattening !