High protein on a budget - what actually works
Trying to hit 180g protein daily on a budget with a family of 4. Chicken breast prices are insane right now. What are your go-to affordable high protein sources? Need practical ideas not "just eat more quinoa" type advice lol.
My budget protein staples:
- Eggs (dirt cheap per gram of protein)
- Cottage cheese (underrated, 24g per cup)
- Canned tuna (bulk buy at Costco)
- Ground turkey (usually cheaper than chicken breast)
- Greek yogurt (Aldi brand is great)
- Protein powder (cost per serving is actually really good)
- Lentils/beans (not complete protein but good supplement)
I hit 200g daily for probably $8-10/day in food costs.
Rotisserie chickens from Costco. $5 for like 3+ pounds of cooked chicken. I buy 2 a week and shred them for meal prep. Family eats dinner off one and I use the other for my lunches and snacks.
Don't sleep on whole chickens either. Way cheaper per pound than breasts and you can make bone broth from the carcass. Sounds old school but one whole chicken feeds my family dinner plus gives me lunch meat for 2-3 days.