Our Meat Ranked by $/gram of Protein

Why Protein Matters—and How to Get It Without Breaking the Bank

Protein is one of the few nutrients your body needs every single day. It builds and repairs muscle, supports your immune system, stabilizes blood sugar, and keeps you feeling full and energized. Unlike fats or carbohydrates, your body can’t store much protein—so regular, reliable intake really matters for long-term health.

That’s true for athletes and growing kids, but it’s just as important for busy adults, aging bodies, and anyone who wants steady energy and resilience.

Why Protein Costs More

There’s a simple truth in farming that mirrors human nutrition: protein is the most expensive part of the diet—no matter who you’re feeding.

For livestock, the protein portion of their feed is always the costliest. Grains provide energy, but protein-rich legumes are what drive growth, strength, and health. You can’t create high-quality protein without growing high protein forages.

The same principle applies to people. Whether it’s eggs, meat, or dairy, producing real, nourishing protein requires time, care, and protein-rich feed going in. There’s no shortcut around that basic math of biology.

Eating Quality Protein Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

Here’s the part we’re passionate about: eating high-quality protein can be affordable.

So to help you out, we've put together a list of the lowest-cost ways to eat quality protein—without compromising on how the animals are raised or how the land is cared for.

These are mostly straightforward, but for the whole chicken items I also included the value with and without making stock from the leftover bones.  The items listed as "stock" are assuming that you buy the bones separately.  And I included comparable quality milk and eggs for comparison's sake.