How much meat should I allow?

moments_of_sanity

Hi everyone,

We are tightening our belts even more now as DH has just got a job after being made redundant 18 months ago (not or lack of trying) and i am being made redundant from tomorrow :eek:

If I use meat that I have bought whole, so steak etc I will allow 200grams for DH and 100grams for DD but if I buy things like a whole chicken I never weight the meat out, just tend to fill up the plate and today I got 8 chicken thighs for £2.99 (not very good with prices but think that's quite good?), these have been frozen as 8. That would give DH 4 and DD and I 2 each.

Am I allowing to much meat per person? I find working out the meal prices to be really difficult, the meat side is easy but it's the other things like rice/potatoes etc.

Any help/advice you can give would be greatly received.

Thank you

MrsRogers

Hi Op

Sorry to re your job situation I hope something comes up.

Personally I think you are over optioning meat. Eaten as thighs DH and I only have 2 each ( we love meat and have good appetites )

Taking the meat off the bone and put into a curry / casserole will make them go even further. Bulk out with lentils & veggies

Mince we have 250g for 2 adults

Whole chicken - we share a breast & a leg between us the other half feeds us another meal eg stir fry. I then use the carcus to make stock for a soup or a risotto.

Might be worth also doing a couple of veg only meals or cheaper meat meals eg tin salmon fish cakes / corn beef hash.

Hth

happy35

it all depends on what you are having with them, if you want to eat less meat you have to increase the rest of the stuff on the plate

My OH and DS eat similar portions to you OH but if I was cutting down then they would have less.

I find I can make chopped meat go frther as will pad out with lentils and veg so can made braising steak, mince, diced chicken thigh go a lot further

Depending on where you live and what you think about it ethically you may find an halal butcher is much cheaper for meat. I have on near me that sells beef brisket for £3.50 per kilo and 5kg of chicken breast for £18 or 5kg of chicken thighs boned and skinned for about £11

We also have things like tuna pasta bake where you dont miss meat, is healthy and cheap

moments_of_sanity

My DH is 6ft 2 and about 13.5 stone so does eat quite a lot of food but he would be very put out if I were to serve him a dinner without very much meat. Tonight we are having steak and peppers so I have used 400 grams of meat, 1 whole pepper and 1 whole onion. I have also used a cup of rice for the three of us.

My DD and I don't mind a veggie meal or two a week but I would never be able to serve anything like this to DH, he isn't fussy but likes to have a good quantity of meat with his evening meal.

I need to find a way to cut this down so maybe the option is for my DD and I to reduce the amount of meat we eat and leave DH's as it is?

meritaten

tbh - my OH would revolt if I only gave him two measly chicken thighs! I think you have to balance what is a 'normal' portion against other factors. OH loves his meat and would prefer more meat less veg while I prefer more veg less meat. also my OH is used to eating larger portions than the norm - as he used to have a highly physical job and needed the extra protein. you have to think of an individuals circumstance too. manual workers require more calories and especially protein and carbs.

I also think recommended portion sizes are a bit mean and assume that the person will be having a starter or a dessert or both with the meal.

happy35

what about casseroles, I use 400g of meat and then add onions, carrots and potatoes and a handful of lentils

If they are particularly hungry I will make dumplings and crisp them off in the oven. I get 3 portions out of this as I dont eat meat but DS will take leftovers for dinner then next day.

I also find toad in the hole is a cheap meal, I skin 8 sausages and roll into 16 sausage balls, brown in a large tin. I make batter with 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of eggs and pinch of salt.Is quite cheap and filling

Corned beef hot pot and chicken and leek pie using chicken stripped off the carcass after a dinner are also cheap an no one will think you are trying to stretch meat futher

MrsRogers

Op up to you how you manage it but to me it doesn't seem fair you and DD compromise in hard times and your DH isn't willing to.... Should this not be something you tackle as a family?

An observation we would never have steak as a week night tea that is a special occasion / sat night supper for us (our date night). It's far to expensive serving prime cuts in the week.

Why not use cheaper cuts you would then get more quantity.
Stewing / braising steak, chicken thighs, pork steaks, diced chicken as apposed to chicken breasts, lamb neck / shoulder etc
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/529584

moments_of_sanity

MrsRogers wrote: »

Op up to you how you manage it but to me it doesn't seem fair you and DD compromise in hard times and your DH isn't willing to.... Should this not be something you tackle as a family?

An observation we would never have steak as a week night tea that is a special occasion / sat night supper for us (our date night). It's far to expensive serving prime cuts in the week.

Why not use cheaper cuts you would then get more quantity.
Stewing / braising steak, chicken thighs, pork steaks, diced chicken as apposed to chicken breasts, lamb neck / shoulder etc
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/529584

It's not really me and DD compromising, more that we are happy to have a plate full of vegetables rather than meat piled high but understand where you are coming from.

The steak was £3.57 but I am guessing that is too much to allow for evening meal, tis is where I fall down as no real idea what I should be allowing?

jackyann

Usual portion is 100g of "pure" meat per person, 200g if on the bone. Obviously it varies, but that's a rough guide.

Pub & restaurant portions of steak are huge!

I think you need the conversation with DH, and ask what he is happy to eat in smaller portions with lots of veg etc.
I would add:

Some people really only enjoy steak if they have a nice big one, so make it an occasional treat.
Roast meat can be sliced thinly, and most roasts can be made to stretch (see lots of ideas on here)

I find that a lot of blokes can put up with less meat if there is a decent amount of spice.

Things like steaks & chicken thighs, chops etc. are already in "portions" so are less able to be stretched. Loads of stuff on here about cheap stews, casseroles etc.

Jacket / wedgy potatoes can be useful.

lostinrates

moments_of_sanity wrote: »

My DH is 6ft 2 and about 13.5 stone so does eat quite a lot of food but he would be very put out if I were to serve him a dinner without very much meat. Tonight we are having steak and peppers so I have used 400 grams of meat, 1 whole pepper and 1 whole onion. I have also used a cup of rice for the three of us.

My DD and I don't mind a veggie meal or two a week but I would never be able to serve anything like this to DH, he isn't fussy but likes to have a good quantity of meat with his evening meal.

I need to find a way to cut this down so maybe the option is for my DD and I to reduce the amount of meat we eat and leave DH's as it is?

I live with two men, one is old, but bigger than your DH, one is in his thirties and smaller in height but goes to the gym two or three times a day five days a week ATM and does lots of manual work the other two days. Both would get two chicken thighs here, or one chicken breast.

Meat portion guidelines are about 3 oz (sorry only know in oz not gr!) which is a pack of cards for meat and a check book for fish, so I think my portions are generous for them, and that two chicken thighs, bones considered, are a pretty normal portion.

Also, it sounds like you might have the sort of husband who wants meat most days? If so portions might be especially worth keeping an eye on, and more veg for bowel health and heart health etc are not just his taste but his long term health!

unimaginative_user_name

If you have a slow cooker you can cook cheaper cuts of meat in casseroles and they are delicious.

Do you make your own soup? I use my slow cooker for a variety of vegetable soups which are cheap and filling and make a large meat-heavy main course less necessary. Even chicken soup make from the leftovers of a roast would help.

I think your OH is going to have to cut back a bit on the meat as it has gone up in price so much in recent years.