The meat counter is consistently the most terrifying destination in the entire supermarket. You can easily navigate the produce section and the center aisles while staying perfectly on budget, only to watch your final receipt explode the moment you add a few packages of premium beef or fresh seafood to your cart. Protein is absolutely vital for a healthy, satisfying diet, but paying $10 a pound for steak is simply not sustainable for a normal household. To protect your wallet, you must pivot your cooking strategy away from premium cuts and embrace ingredients that are both highly affordable and incredibly versatile. Here are the most flexible proteins you should be building your cheap meals around.
