Shreduary Post #5 - 11 Cheap Sources of Protein

We all know that protein is the key to getting shredded. This is from this posting on WorkoutBox.net, you can read it all here

1. Canned Tuna

2. Canned Salmon

3. Whole Eggs

4. Whey Protein (I get mine from BodyBuilding.com, best prices

5. Ground Turkey

6. Whole Milk

7. Frozen Chicken Breasts

8. Dark Meat Chicken

9. Cottage Cheese

10. Ground Beef

11. String Cheese

I am going to add ground pork to this list. If you get it from a butcher or grind it your self it is cheaper than beef and you can get it pretty lean.

When purchasing meat of any kind, the leaner the cut the more expensive. I made this mistake with ground beef; I would buy the 93% lean/7% fat ground beef and paid $4.99 per pound. I notice that the 80/20 is around $2.99 per pound. It cooks the same and you can drain the fat.

Buy meat on short sale. Fresh meat has a shelf life and stores have to sell it or throw it out if it goes bad. If meat is close to the sell by date, stores mark it down to help move the product. Finding meat marked down $0.50 to $2.00 or more is not uncommon and you can buy it all and freeze it. The closer to the sell by date, the more they will cut the price down so check frequently. Stock up on this meat when you see it on sale and freeze it.

Ohhh.thanks for this! I'm kind of in a rut with my proteins and want to mix it up a bit.  

I try to buy my lean ground beef when it's on sale. I can get it for $3.18/lb at my local grocery stores meat counter. They also regularly carry 90% lean ground pork.  Lean ground chicken can be cheap, too, especially when it's on sale.  I can get it for 2.99/lb regular price at one store in town.  I cannot stomach ground turkey at all, but love ground chicken (very comparable in nutrition, but a ton better in flavor IMO) :)

Draining & even rinsing browned 80/20 ground beef is something I do, too. After I rinse it I just add it back to the pan, then season it. Usually I only do this if I'm going to be making something like tacos or something else that will be seasoned heavily.

Pasture raised eggs will have more protein, as well as raw milk and grass fed meats.  (this stuff does cost a bit more but the nutrients and flavor are worth it if you can spare it)  The rarer the steak you can eat the more protein it has. 

I've been buying pig, lamb, and cow in bulk from a local farm for a few years and the prices work out very well.  Plus I know that the meat has been humanely raised without drugs, etc.