What's with the shakes?

I'll have to start drinking shakes soon to increase my protein intake, as it's a little low for my goals. Lentils are a pretty good way of getting more in though, if you haven't already added them.

If you don't like eggs, cottage cheese is decent or low fat yogurt. Not going to get near the amount but can definitely help. What you are going for and what I are going for are so far apart that you can probably get away with small things like that.

I eat yogurt and cottage cheese, but 12 isn't adding up to 120...

You sound like me where I don't like eggs except if they are hard boiled, nor do I like peanut butter, yogurt, milk, or nuts for that matter, but I get 120+ g of protein a day. I do have one protein powder smoothie a day, when I don't use the powder I use greek yogurt and almond milk for protein. Meal two is where I have a boiled egg and turkey bacon w/ low-fat cheese on a whole wheat bagel thin, meal three I have at least 4 oz of lean meat with veggies and whole grains, meal 4 I have at least 4oz of lean meat with veggies, meal 5 (post workout/dinner) I have anywhere from 6-8oz lean meat/fish with veggies. Oh sometimes my proteins come from beans/legumes. You can def eat your way to 120g of protein.

Cartons of egg whites are fantastic, I mix that with a whole egg for omelettes and stuff. I also mix the whites with half a scoop of protein powder and make a pancake. That's a pretty common post-workout breakfast for me because it's not super sweet. Ground turkey is the bomb diggity for lean protein as well, I make a bunch and throw 'er in everything.

I always wondered this - like, I really don't want to be drinking protein drinks forever. If I can't get it by comfortably eating it, then tough my little muscles, tough.

I average about 90g of protein a day.

I have about 2 eggs a day for either breakfast or lunch, I have some kind of meat for lunch (tuna, chicken etc...), I have an iced coffee quite often (milk protein), and meat for dinner. Plus bits of cheese here or there.

That's all I can do. Sometimes I may have bacon, but I'm really not prepared to do more then that. I've got to be sustainable in my diet, and be able to afford it.

I did see some 'protein flakes' at the store the other day - anyone tried them? I was intrigued, I could shove them in lots of my meals. Is it necessary?!

$25 a week isn't very much but I know exactly where you are coming from. I was there at one point having about that much per person in my family. I wasn't aware that the 1 gram of protein per body weight was the body weight that we are supposed to be at. I thought that it was the body weight that we are at now, which for me is very discouraging- I can't see myself eating over 200 grams of protein per day without blowing my calorie goals. I have just started focusing on protein and am usually hitting about 90 grams per day. That is with eggs and chicken though. One thing that is helping is some homemade chili or lentil stew that I made using dried beans. Neither has meat in it but has a decent amount of protein in it. I used a crockpot to put it together. There are some awesome recipes on allrecipes. One way we have been able to eat meat on a limited budget is to look for the pink tag specials. We have found chicken, ground turkey, ground beef, and even small steaks on sale this way. Frequently you have to go early in the morning to get in on this. I haven't been drinking any protein shaked, but have thought about it. Some of my online friends drink them but usually only once a day. I have never seen anyone who was drinking all shakes all day- that seems a little preposterous to me.

I have 2 shakes a day, one post workout and one before bed.. Just a preference, and also I have the best tasting whey's ever :P

I drink protein shakes as snacks and post-run workouts.

I need to chew my main meals.
I ate nutritionally balanced meals but I never came close to my protein goals before I got my shakes.

^ Me. Right here. I eat pretty well (I have bad days of course, but I'd rather eat a bad day then listen to the mother threaten to kick me out for a week,) but I get MAYBE 30g of protein a day when I'm aiming for 100-125g.

Ditto to this. Protein shake as a post-run or snack (chocolate flavor sometimes helps stave a craving for sweets).

Also, protein on a limited budget is helped by some stockpiling at a warehouse store like Costco/Sam's Club. My friend lets me tag along on her membership and I big bags of frozen chicken breast and fish (tilapia is the cheapest, but sometimes I spring for salmon).