Bacon and Bologna

This is my first thread here on MDA. There will surely be more to come as I've been fiddling with the Paleo diet for a little over a year now.

I'm in college now, living on my own. With money as tight as it is, I have been less religious when it comes to my grocery shopping. It can be tough to find meat that possesses all of the primal qualities (high in fat, grass fed etc), so I've stooped to picking up meats that come close to these criteria- all while maintaining a low price/lb.

Clearly bacon, bologna, and meats of this sort are not the ideal paleo meats. But just how UN-paleo are they? Has anyone maintained primal diet success while eating foods like these? All input/comments are welcome

I'm in my fourth year of college. I can relate. Bacon is NOT unpaleo, it's like the mascot food. It is the central gloating point of our diet.

But, to answer your question: yes. While you aren't eating optimal meats, you're still eating real, whole foods and no grains, refined sugars, or flours. In the end, though, it's essentially energy intake versus energy output. I am seeing awesome progress from LeanGains, and most of my meat is from WalMart.

P.S. I wouldn't touch bologna with latex gloves on.

Okay, I confess. About once a year I fry up about a quarter pound of bologna with some eggs. But it ain't no way Primal. It's got fillers and dyes, etc.

Bacon depends on the quality you buy.

Following the spirit of primal (avoiding processed foods, eating lots of veggies, meat, and some fruit) is still better than following CW SAD. Keep up the good work! :)

Ground pork is a very cheap meat without additives. Try that as an affordable meat option.

[QUOTE=EyeOfRound;1011226]Ground pork is a very cheap meat without additives. Try that as an affordable meat option.[/QUOTE]

Tuna fish is inexpensive as well (I pay 60-80c per can here) :)

Bacon is fine unless you've got a problem with nitrates. Bologna is not meat. It's full of fillers and chemicals. Eat bacon in moderation and try to avoid the bologna.

Keep an eye out for things like liverwurst. It may take a bit of an adjustment period, but after trying it a few times you might just find you start craving it as the best thing ever. Liver and kidneys are both options that are usually cheaper than a lot of other meats.

Ground meat of any kind is fairly cheap.

My favorite go-to, especially when time is short, is a rotisserie chicken from the grocery. I believe even Walmart sells them now. If you want more fat, add butter.

Best bet is to start looking at "price per pound" when buying your meat. That'll tell you what the best deal is. For example, you can get a chicken for about $5. Not gonna get that much bologna or bacon for $5.

I am loathe to suggest the bland chicken breast and ground turkey as options, but...

For those on a tight budget they can work well. Just make sure to cook them in plenty of coconut oil or butter. Or you can create marrinades using coconut milk for them. Or... Create a fatty sauce (heavy cream-based if you tolerate dairy or coconut milk or olive oil-based if not). Finally, you can simply pour a little olive oil on them after they are done cooking to boost fat content.