Giving Up Red Meat...

I actually just don't eat much red meat for no apparent reason. I mean, ground beef is about it. I can't remember last time I had a steak before this most recent one, and that was just cause i got a new cookbook and it sounded good. That was a week ago and before that I can't find any in my diary so there's that.

I don't find that my natural inclination towards seafood and chicken has had any noticeable difference in whether I meet my calories or not, or on my general health. I'm generally healthy when I don't eat it, and feel no different when I do. I have yet to see any convincing scientific evidence that red meat is the devil. Which isn't to say I wouldn't be convinced if such evidence existed, I just have't seen it yet, so I'm withholding my concern until I do.

I will say that not eating a lot of red meat is MURDER on the budget. I like chicken and seafood in part because they are so cheap comparatively. I mean $21.99 for new york strip? $5.99 for 85% lean ground? You're out of your minds. I think I'll gladly stick with $3.49/lb chicken breast or $7.99/lb salmon so I can afford to eat something WITH it.

ETA: No offense people with money, if you have the cash, please feel free to eat as much new york strip as makes you happy. I don't say these things to disparage you, only because I can't possibly be the only person on here for whom money IS a concern.

CoffeeNCardio wrote: »

I actually just don't eat much red meat for no apparent reason. I mean, ground beef is about it. I can't remember last time I had a steak before this most recent one, and that was just cause i got a new cookbook and it sounded good. That was a week ago and before that I can't find any in my diary so there's that.

I don't find that my natural inclination towards seafood and chicken has had any noticeable difference in whether I meet my calories or not, or on my general health. I'm generally healthy when I don't eat it, and feel no different when I do. I have yet to see any convincing scientific evidence that red meat is the devil. Which isn't to say I wouldn't be convinced if such evidence existed, I just have't seen it yet, so I'm withholding my concern until I do.

I will say that not eating a lot of red meat is MURDER on the budget. I like chicken and seafood in part because they are so cheap comparatively. I mean $21.99 for new york strip? $5.99 for 85% lean ground? You're out of your minds. I think I'll gladly stick with $3.49/lb chicken breast or $7.99/lb salmon so I can afford to eat something WITH it.

ETA: No offense people with money, if you have the cash, please feel free to eat as much new york strip as makes you happy. I don't say these things to disparage you, only because I can't possibly be the only person on here for whom money IS a concern.

Our money tree died a long time ago. Shopping at Sams or Costco is a lot cheaper than $21.99 for NY Strip.Maybe around $9-11/lb depending on what day it is. You might want to check it out if you have not done so already. We can buy a whole ribeye for about $8.00 a pound. Trim the fat, render it and use it for cooking. Still, it used to be that fish was more money than beef, now it is the other way around. We eat a lot of seafood (love it) and I worry about Mercury, but at 60 years of age, how many years do I have left to build it up in my body?

You heard wrong, sorry.

Set reasonable calorie goals, reasonable macronutrient goals, and fill it however you wish.

I eat a lot of chicken thighs, skin on, baked, then take the skin off, ground turkey for tacos, meatloafs, chili, spaghetti (when I dare to eat pasta). I am now eating more rotissiere chicken cause it's quick and easy. I even take a whole one to work cause lunch meals from where I work is almost at the $10 level (sandwiches are like 8). Easy to pair with veggies. As to red meat. I love it but I don't eat it often because of cost. When I do buy it I will get a leaner cut, then add olive oil and seasonings on top before broiling. Makes it tender and flavorable. Olive oil is better than fat in a steak. It's a treat that I have once or twice a month. I make pot roast about once a month, Sunday dinner.

I love chicken, but it's the thighs that I love, so sort of defeats the object if I were to stick to chicken to shave a few calories off.

Looking over the past couple of weeks or so, my major protein sources have included slow cooked beef, lamb leg, lamb shoulder, cod, haddock, farmed salmon, all of the chicken, prawns, eggs, venison, pork sausages, ham, cheddar cheese....

CoffeeNCardio wrote: »

I will say that not eating a lot of red meat is MURDER on the budget. I like chicken and seafood in part because they are so cheap comparatively. I mean $21.99 for new york strip? $5.99 for 85% lean ground? You're out of your minds. I think I'll gladly stick with $3.49/lb chicken breast or $7.99/lb salmon so I can afford to eat something WITH it.

ETA: No offense people with money, if you have the cash, please feel free to eat as much new york strip as makes you happy. I don't say these things to disparage you, only because I can't possibly be the only person on here for whom money IS a concern.

And that's why a large portion of our red meat is venison! It winds up around $1.50/lb processed. I do watch sales around Memorial day and Labor day for whole ribeye roasts. Expensive as crap still because we have to buy the whole thing but $4.99/lb for ribeyes? Yes please! We have them cut 8 steaks and a 3-5lb roast for "prime rib." Lasts us the year for steak lol. I do occasionally order one out but DH prefers seafood out. I don't like it and have no clue how to cook it beyond fish sticks from the freezer. So he gets his seafood fix out.

CoffeeNCardio wrote: »

I actually just don't eat much red meat for no apparent reason. I mean, ground beef is about it. I can't remember last time I had a steak before this most recent one, and that was just cause i got a new cookbook and it sounded good. That was a week ago and before that I can't find any in my diary so there's that.

I don't find that my natural inclination towards seafood and chicken has had any noticeable difference in whether I meet my calories or not, or on my general health. I'm generally healthy when I don't eat it, and feel no different when I do. I have yet to see any convincing scientific evidence that red meat is the devil. Which isn't to say I wouldn't be convinced if such evidence existed, I just have't seen it yet, so I'm withholding my concern until I do.

I will say that not eating a lot of red meat is MURDER on the budget. I like chicken and seafood in part because they are so cheap comparatively. I mean $21.99 for new york strip? $5.99 for 85% lean ground? You're out of your minds. I think I'll gladly stick with $3.49/lb chicken breast or $7.99/lb salmon so I can afford to eat something WITH it.

ETA: No offense people with money, if you have the cash, please feel free to eat as much new york strip as makes you happy. I don't say these things to disparage you, only because I can't possibly be the only person on here for whom money IS a concern.

I find NY strip on manager special for $6 per lb (or less) on the regular. One of the benefits of the masses thinking red meat is the devil, lol. I refuse to pay more than $3 per lb for ground beef or chuck roast (and it typically isn't an issue). Now, seafood? That *kitten*'s expensive, lol. And have you noticed they are charging the same for boneless skinless chicken thighs as they do for boneless skinless breast??!! Outrageous! I'll take the $0.99 per lb bone in, skin on thighs and remove the bone myself (and use them for stock), thankyouverymuch!

/end rant

CoffeeNCardio wrote: »

I actually just don't eat much red meat for no apparent reason. I mean, ground beef is about it. I can't remember last time I had a steak before this most recent one, and that was just cause i got a new cookbook and it sounded good. That was a week ago and before that I can't find any in my diary so there's that.

I don't find that my natural inclination towards seafood and chicken has had any noticeable difference in whether I meet my calories or not, or on my general health. I'm generally healthy when I don't eat it, and feel no different when I do. I have yet to see any convincing scientific evidence that red meat is the devil. Which isn't to say I wouldn't be convinced if such evidence existed, I just have't seen it yet, so I'm withholding my concern until I do.

I will say that not eating a lot of red meat is MURDER on the budget. I like chicken and seafood in part because they are so cheap comparatively. I mean $21.99 for new york strip? $5.99 for 85% lean ground? You're out of your minds. I think I'll gladly stick with $3.49/lb chicken breast or $7.99/lb salmon so I can afford to eat something WITH it.

ETA: No offense people with money, if you have the cash, please feel free to eat as much new york strip as makes you happy. I don't say these things to disparage you, only because I can't possibly be the only person on here for whom money IS a concern.

We shop at Costco and get a whole side of rib eye for about $8/lb. Makes about 20 steaks which we deep freeze. *shrug* Not much of a budget buster.