I am a red meat and potatoes kind of girl. So giving up all meat for Lent is one of the healthiest – and cheapest – decisions I have made in a long time.
I’m not really religious but I think it is important to remember what it feels like to want something you cannot have. My deprivation is artificial, but reminds me of all I have in my life.
I have already slipped up twice – chicken wrapped in bacon! – but I hope to win a few brownie points with God by highlighting the virtues of practicing sacrifice. This particular sacrifice has the added bonus of saving me money. Wahoo!
My grocery bill in February was $364.96. In March it was just $157.78. Not all of that drop is because of meat, however. I was out of town for two weeks last month, so I’m guessing when I was gone Hubby took most of his meals at work (they bribe the employees with grub to work longer).
A more accurate comparison is the cost of vegetarian protein v. the cost of animal protein. A 14-ounce can of black beans that provides 3 meals cost $.89 at Trader Joe’s. A 19-ounce pack of organic tofu that will generate 5 meals cost $1.19 at Trader Joe’s. Total cost for protein in 8 meals: $2.08. Protein cost per meal: $.26.
Before I gave up meat I bought a whole chicken for $7.48 ($.99/lb) at Albertsons that would have made 6 meals. A pork shoulder for $6.88 ($2.99/lb) would have made 5 meals. Total cost for 11 meals $14.36. Cost per meal: $1.30.
Meat is expensive! To be exact, meat costs $1.05 cents more per person per meal. For a family of four that eats meat 7 nights a week at dinner, going vegetarian could save you $29 per week or $1,522 per year. If you buy pricey cuts of meat, you will save even more.
I could never give up meat – I am already planning how to break my fast – but now that I know how much eating vegetarian saves me, I’m going to pass on meat more often.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Meat is a big part of my diet too. Choosing to give meat up for some meals can indeed save you money. Whenever I see London Broil on sale for $1.99lbs or less, I stock up. I do the same with whole chickens when they are on sale for $.69lb or less. This way, I can sort of have my cake and eat it too. Keeping my freezer well stocked also helps lower my energy consumption in my already energy-efficient model.
The lowest I’ve seen whole chickens is $.89/lb. Where do you get them for $.69/lb???
I do the same thing with London Broil and chicken. When chicken was $.69 a pound, I bought quite a few and I had the butcher cut it up for me. With the London Broil I buy some and use as whole steaks, but then I have the butcher grind up about 20 pounds for ground beef. It is less in fat than ground sirloin and, at $1.99 a pound, a heck of a lot cheaper. I can use that for everything except burgers (which we don’t do that often).
Just my two cents…*s*
The last time I bought a whole chicken was at Jons for .79; it was Foster Farms brand.
Sometimes Ralphs will have them on sale for $.69lb or even $.59lb. Other places, such as Albertson’s, will have a special 8hr sale where prices are in the similar range. I just keep checking the weekly ads and take advantage of them as I see them. I also buy an extra turkey or two in the weeks prior to Thanksgiving when the stores are practically giving them away, so I can make cheap, tasty and abundant meals for later use.
Sounds like a few of us have the same ideas about economizing on meat. Last time I roasted a whole chicken, I got more than 4 meals out of it, as I used the bones to make broth, then made a chicken noodle soup with veggies. When I make pasta sauce, I make vegetarian, and in large quantities so some can be frozen. When I crave meat, I can always add a bit of chicken or turkey sausage (TJs has great varieties), or use meatballs that I’ve made using ground turkey when it’s on sale. And on and on…
Ya got guts girl for giving it up. I am not near that dedicated. We get a half beef per year from a local rancher, taken in trade for some mechanic work. It really makes a difference in our monthly grocery bill.
I heard today that no government agency checks chicken butchers for humane treatment. It’s another reason to give up meat.
Great post! In our house, we try to eat 1-2 meals weekly as meatless. This definitely saves us some money while helping us be a little more healthy. Beans are not too expensive!
Interesting post. I’ve dramatically cut down on my consumption of red meat. I was particular concerned about the hormones and antibiotics used in raising beef.
But recently a National Cancer Institute study found that Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer.
“Over 10 years, eating the equivalent of a quarter-pound hamburger daily gave men in the study a 22% higher risk of dying of cancer and a 27% higher risk of dying of heart disease.”
Being a vegetarian for Lent is a great idea. But, remember that protein is a very important part of what you eat. And, meat protein supplies important amino acids that you will not find in beans, etc. You don’t have to eat more than a “deck of cards sized” portion per meal. Also, cheaper cuts of meat, such as ground, supply the same amount of protein as, for example, a New York steak. One more thing…The consumption of too many starches and sugars in your diet leads to all kinds of health problems, including heart disease.
Hey, great post. We are mostly vegetarian, and heading more and more down the vegan path. It has saved us a lot of money.
I think that everybody has different genetics. A vegan diet can be *very* healthy, but maybe not so easy to follow if you are allergic to soy and gluten. Some people have problems tolerating certain carbs also.
Chris- While animal products are the only truly complete proteins (meaning they have all 8 essential amino acids), it is still possible to meet your protein requirements and get all your essential amino acids on a vegetarian diet by choosing complementary proteins (such as beans and rice). It does however take a fair amount of effort and dedication to your health.
The best deal I got at the nearby grocery store for a whole fryer chicken was $1.59 per pound. Did I mention I live in Hawaii?
Oh! A reader in Hawaii, how exciting. I’m guessing $1.59/lb for a whole chicken is a very good price (for Hawaii). I remember on my honeymoon in Poipu, regular milk was double what it cost on the mainland!
I completely agree. My husband and I are relatively new to vegetarianism and my grocery bill thanks me. I grew up a meat and potatoes girl who ate beef 4-5 nights a week because we had to eat the whole steer we got from my grandparents every year. So, giving up meat really changed how I cook, but that was the hardest part. I make sure we get enough protein, but it’s not hard to do eating beans, quinoa, lentils, tofu, etc. And Cory is right, beans and rice are a great source of complete protein. We eat variations of that once a week or so.