Dealing with Possible Rising Meat Prices and Shortages

Sometimes, we create the problems simply by believing them to happen.  Say there is going to be a toilet paper shortage and people panic-buy toilet paper, thus causing the shortage.  Lately, there are rumors that meat will be in short supply.  Is it a valid warning, or more fear-mongering that will drive up costs and actually create a shortage?  It is hard to tell.

In my minimal worldwide economic knowledge, I assume that our imports of eastern meats have slowed and we may have to rely more on American meats.  It is also wise to support our local farmers, regardless of the global situation.  My only issue with local meats is their price.  It is hard to justify paying nearly $20 for a whole chicken produced locally when I can get a whole chicken for $4.00 at the grocery store.  When you're on a limited budget and have a larger family to feed, you do what you can afford.  However, it may come to it that I have to shell out the price for the local meats, or grocery store meats become just as pricey as the farmers' market meats. 

While I am not jumping on the panic bandwagon, I do believe in being prepared for the possibility.  I'm not going to run to the store and hoard on-sale meats.  I am going to prepare a plan of making sure we get our proteins on a budget.

1.  Buy whole or bone-in when possible.  A whole chicken can last several meals and be far more cost effective than boneless, skinless breasts. 

2.  Rely on broths and make soups and stews. 

3.  Look into egg dishes for all meals and not just breakfast.

4.  Our dairy farmers are dumping milk.  Support them by creating dairy-based protein dishes.  To be honest, a custard pie is a fine breakfast and no more sugary than the leading boxed cereals.  Yogurt is great, too!

5. Sometimes ground beef isn't cheaper.  A cheap, tough cut of steak and easily be chopped up and used in place of ground beef in many dishes.

6.  Beans are the common alternative.  There are many recipes for bean dishes.  Call upon your vegetarian and vegan friends for ideas.

7.  Bring back the Sunday roast.  Go ahead and buy that roast.  Cook it up for an old-fashioned Sunday dinner.  Then plan to use the leftover effectively. 

8.  Consider growing sprouts for sandwiches.  Some dressing or mayo and cheese with mung bean sprouts is a hearty alternative to lunchmeats. 

9.  Seitan is a vegan meat alternative that you can make at home out of flour. 

10.  Look into organ meat.  I can't stomach liver or tongue very well, but both can be ground up and used to stretch ground beef.  I do, however, like heart meat.  Organ meat is often quite inexpensive.

Bonus:  If you know someone who farms or has land and is considering raising animals, talk with them about doing a share.