What are nutritious cheap protein sources? (not supplements, normal food)

rubadub

In dunnes you can get frozen ready cooked chicken breast pieces or strips, 400g for €3, which works out at €7.50 per kilo. Very low in fat (I think 0.2%) and very handy since it is cooked, much cheaper than fresh ones. It is not minced up reformed chicken either.

Dunnes and tescos do cheapo processed ham, about €2.20 for 400g so €5.5 per kilo, but it usually has 20-30% water added.

I was thinking of getting fish fingers, in tescos it is only about 42cent for 250g, I think they are about 50-60% fish. I was thinking I could boil/poach them and the nasty batter breadcrumbs would fall off, I could then take out the fish sticks and add them to curry sauce or something. Has anybody tried this?

Any other ideas for protein on the cheap?

LegacyUser

egg whites - cheap enough and versatile.

cottage cheese, on ryvita - handy healthy protein snack, cheap too.

what's wrong with suplements, i think you'll find whey protein works out cheaper and handier than food.

Degsy

rubadub wrote:

In dunnes you can get frozen ready cooked chicken breast pieces or strips, 400g for €3, which works out at €7.50 per kilo. Very low in fat (I think 0.2%) and very handy since it is cooked, much cheaper than fresh ones. It is not minced up reformed chicken either.

Dunnes and tescos do cheapo processed ham, about €2.20 for 400g so €5.5 per kilo, but it usually has 20-30% water added.

I was thinking of getting fish fingers, in tescos it is only about 42cent for 250g, I think they are about 50-60% fish. I was thinking I could boil/poach them and the nasty batter breadcrumbs would fall off, I could then take out the fish sticks and add them to curry sauce or something. Has anybody tried this?

Any other ideas for protein on the cheap?

Avoid the processed ham,it consists largely of fat and chemicals,you'd have to eat an awfull lot of it to get any protein at all.Fishfingers are terrible value for money,when teh crumb falls off you're left with a tiny sliver of unidentifiable reconstituted fish paste or something,nasty.
If you have a local butchers you can buy round steak(very little fat) quite chepaly and it'll taste better than a supermarket,you can also get your chicken fillets there and as you become known they'll probably chuck you in the occasional freebie as well.Turkey Minec from the supermarkets is pretty good too,you can mould it into burgers and stick them on the george forman if you have one or lightly fry t hem if you dont,its about three quid a packet and it goes a long way.Tinned tuna is always good too,if you live near Dunnes they're the cheapest for the decent stuff(own brand is 69c a tin in sunflower oil),in brine is pretty awfull imo.Eggs are good too,you can make ommeletes,scramble or boil them its all good.Its a good idea to combine your protein sources whn you eat,for example instead of having a pound of steak,have a half pound of steak and some scrambled eggs,or some steak and a chicken fillet.This is because they provide different amino acid profiles and you want to get as close to 22 amino acids in each meal for muscle growth.

g'em

stp wrote:

what's wrong with suplements, i think you'll find whey protein works out cheaper and handier than food.

there's nothing wrong with supplements persay, but thats all they are supplements.

The amino acids (little molecules that make up the protein) are reconstituted and processed and therefore weaker than proteins in whole foods. IT's viably argued that the protein you get from whey may not be as biolgoically active as whole foods.

Whole foods are more thermogenic and satiating than liquid shakes too. Don't get me wrong- suplements are fantastic, but as additions to your diet when you sut can't eat enough to make up your quotients, not as replacements for eggs, lean meat, plant proteins and dairy.

rubadub

stp wrote:

what's wrong with suplements, i think you'll find whey protein works out cheaper and handier than food.

Nothings wrong with them, I take whey shakes myself everyday. I just wanted the title not to attract people listing online stores with powders.

I like cottage cheese and ryvita. I have been making burgers and bolognese with chopped up rib mince after trimming off the fat.

Degsy wrote:

Avoid the processed ham,it consists largely of fat and chemicals,you'd have to eat an awfull lot of it to get any protein at all.Fishfingers are terrible value for money,when teh crumb falls off you're left with a tiny sliver of unidentifiable reconstituted fish paste or something,nasty.

The ham I see usually has about 4% fat, but it is so processed it looks nasty, I have switched more to the chicken though. Birdseye fish fingers are a rip off, these tesco ones are a fraction of the price, 42cent for 10. Tescos had been selling uncoated frozen white fish fillets but I have not seen it in a while. Donegal catch now do them but they are expensive. I do get cheap tesco prawns still.

Degsy wrote:

Its a good idea to combine your protein sources whn you eat,for example instead of having a pound of steak,have a half pound of steak and some scrambled eggs,or some steak and a chicken fillet.This is because they provide different amino acid profiles and you want to get as close to 22 amino acids in each meal for muscle growth.

Never knew that, I will give it a go.

ronbyrne2005

Mackrel is your only man and has efa's to boot. skimmed milk is also good for protein but has extra carbs in it which isnt too bad if you wanna bulk up

Placebo

skimmed milk has carbs?

ronbyrne2005

Placebo wrote:

skimmed milk has carbs?

yes all milk has a carb called lactose in it. theres 5 grams lactose for every 3 grams protein i think. Carbs arent that bad and especially when combined in milk with proteins.