Any expert in diet and nutrition will tell you that protein is essential for your wellness and wellbeing. The problem with protein, is that it tends to have a considerable price tag associated with it.
Protein is important because it helps to aid muscle repair and recovery after a bout of exercise. A high protein diet tends to be more expensive than a high carb diet, however, but there are ways around this. If you are a savvy shopper, you can make some sensible choices to help bring down the cost of the protein on your weekly menu.
Liver, for example, is a very out of fashion type of food, but it is cheap and is packed with protein. Ox liver is one of the cheapest sources of protein that you could possibly buy and, like other offal, it is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Due to the fact that the liver is used for detoxification, it can also harbour certain toxins, so you need to steer clear of livers from older or bigger animals, especially non-organic ones. Chicken or lambs liver is your best bet, and be sure to buy organic if you can. Liver is packed with vitamins, including A, iron, B12 and the full range of B vitamins, as well as that all-important protein.
Mussels are also protein rich. They are a little more expensive, but still great value, and contain lots of minerals such as selenium, iron, zinc and vitamins C and B12. They’re also very delicious, especially when cooked with garlic, wine and chilli.
Quark is another excellent source of protein, and very cheap at 34p per 100g. This is a rich, creamy cheese that is very high in protein as well as being a great source of B vitamins and calcium. You can use it to thicken sauces (even that garlic and wine sauce for the mussels to double-dose on your protein if you want!)