Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

5

1

I am blessed to live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I can get 52 varieties of organic lettuce, raw milk, and beautiful grassfed beef wherever, whenever, or so it seems.

The downside? All the things that books, blogs and people tell me I should be getting "dirt cheap or even free" are anything but.

For example: I just came home from the butcher (with whom I'm a regular shopper and rather friendly. Not sure I've yet "made friends" with him, as the books, blogs and people advise if I want the good deals, but still). I spent $1.29/lb on chicken feet for broth. A great deal for sure. But I also spent $10.93 on a beef heart. All my online and literary sources tell me beef hearts should be throwaway parts to be had for a song. Yikes.

I get my grass-fed beef from a meat csa at a consistent $7.99 a pound. Meats that are unusual or generally regarded as less expensive, such as goat, are equally pricey.

My question: What, other than going broke trying to feed two adults and a toddler, am I doing wrong? Are there secret offal sources, secret cheap, good meat sources that everyone knows about except me?

Anyone else in a big metro area struggling with the same thing?

Thanks! Koko

flag	asked Sep 3 2011 at 23:37 Koko 708●4●9

Well, all things considered, I want to continue supporting my local meat farm so I will keep doing my csa rather than doing mailorder. It is good to know the mailorder companies exist though. They are a lot less expensive. – Koko Sep 5 2011 at 2:13

Sara · Answer 1 · 2011-09-04 00:49:56Z UTC

3

Brandon natural beef delivers grass fed to your door for $5/lb ground. $9/lb steaks. They send them in 10lb packs on a monthly subscription. I'm switching to them soon, I currently get 1/4 steers elsewhere.

answered Sep 4 2011 at 0:49

Sara
2,573●4●16

Thank you, Sara. I'll check them out. – Koko Sep 4 2011 at 3:52

JS Paleo · Answer 2 · 2011-09-04 00:07:15Z UTC

2

You can try shopping online. I use US Wellness Meats at www.grasslandbeef.com. You can sometimes get good deals in the sales sections. The offals (liver, kidneys, and heart) are priced pretty well too.

answered Sep 4 2011 at 0:07

JS Paleo
945●1●10

Thank you, JS. I will check them out. – Koko Sep 4 2011 at 3:52

Rogue Nutritionist · Answer 3 · 2011-09-04 00:43:11Z UTC

2

San Francisco is a super trendy foodie place...I live five hours north and was just down visiting my brother...restaurants are serving goat, offal, etc. for top dollar, so you're going to be hard pressed to get good meat deals in the city...I would shop around outside the city for deals straight from farmers if I were you.

answered Sep 4 2011 at 0:43

Rogue Nutritionist
11.8k●1●6●23

2

eatwild.com – Rogue Nutritionist Sep 4 2011 at 1:30

Thanks, Rogue. I belong to a meat csa from a farm up north and get nearly everything we eat daily from them. I love the meat but it doesn't seem any less expensive than if I buy it at the chi chi meat counter in the chi chi Ferry Building foodie paradise. I should comparison shop. Thanks for the link. – Koko Sep 4 2011 at 3:52

Forgive me, I looked around for how to send a message direct but couldn't find anything. Rogue Nutritionist, I'm in Ashland and have been wondering if there are others around these parts. I wish I could figure out a way to get some contact info to you... – Karen P. Sep 4 2011 at 4:26

Karen~ EatWild has listings geographically for the US & Canada. – Dragonfly Sep 4 2011 at 10:40

Sorry Dragonfly! I actually meant that I think Rogue Nutritionist and I are in the same area and it would be nice to know other Paleos! :) – Karen P. Sep 4 2011 at 23:41

show 1 more comment

The Loon · Answer 4 · 2011-09-03 23:41:51Z UTC

0

You aren't doing much wrong, its just the place where you live. One thing you could try is to find Asian specialty stores that have better prices on fresh fish. Sometimes you can get weird cuts and end pcs. for cheaper. It might take some digging.

answered Sep 3 2011 at 23:41

The Loon
8,442●6●26

Drat. I was hoping there was something I wasn't hip to. I go to Asian markets for veg and eggs, never have for fish or meat. Thank you for the tip. – Koko Sep 3 2011 at 23:48

Hack the Unintended Consequences of My Awesome Local Food Culture

4 Answers