Calculating Cost

 Photos right now are from my phone, so please bear with the fuzziness.

So, I have to share that during G's deployment I am trying really hard to save all of my grocery receipts.  I'm interested in seeing how much I spend on food at the store when it's just me.  Now, some things like my pricey bottle of olive oil will be in use long after G gets home, but for the day to day I'm really curious as to how much the meal planning might help save me money.

And I want to talk chicken.  Organic, free-range chicken.  Yes, it's pricey, but I truly believe the quality of the animals life, the texture of the meat and the knowledge that you aren't pumping excess hormones into your body is worth it.  Last night I bought a chicken for $10.68.  To some of you that price is insane and you would never spend that much.  But here's the breakdown:

* One breast combined with the wings will be used for dinner last night, dinner tonight, and with two helpings of the goat cheese tart which is 4 meals.

* 1/2 of one breast combined with one thigh will be put into the chicken and veggie soup, and I'm estimating that will be enough for minimally 6 meals.

* 1/2 of a breast will be shredded and frozen for later use to be used to make chicken tacos, for a minimum of 2 meals.

* One thigh and the two legs will be shredded and frozen for later use in pesto pasta, resulting in minimally 4 meals.

Even when just calculating the minimum (and many of those are low estimates), that is a total of 16 meals from one chicken.  Meaning each serving of good quality meat is less than $1 a serving.  Chances are I'll actually be able to stretch it to closer to $.50 a serving, which in my opinion is phenomenal.

That also doesn't include the fact that I boiled the giblets and ate the liver for iron, and will use the carcass to make the stock for my soup.  

I'd rather eat less meat and fill up on a variety of healthy veggies (keep in mind I'll still be getting the recommended amount of protein) and be able to buy a better quality meat than eat more and have to buy meat I don't feel comfortable with.  Last night I had a decent portion of chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, beet greens (covered in hot sauce), smashed potatoes, a beet, and steamed broccoli.  My plate was colorful, satisfying and decadent.  And totally worth the cost.