Another constructive response to rising meat prices is to simply buy less meat.  People may discover that they are better off without it.  

I find that eliminating all animal products, and by doing some home cooking (grains, beans, rice), I have cut grocery costs drastically.

As the price of grains go up, then we buy more fresh veggies, and beans. We are eating healthier, as the "poor" used to do. I would that all "fast food" outlets were too expensive for people... we'd all be healthier!

I was a vegetarian all my life, but then I went vegan. I compared my pre-vegan days with vegan eating. On average I save $186 per a month, since being vegan. Thats $186 x 12 = $2232. With my $2232 I plan on giving 10% to charity and putting the rest towards Roth IRA! Retirement will be early, sweet and secure!  

I cook every day, my husband and I have healthy and tasty meal for dinner, and I save some food for the next day lunch!

Oh, and because I am healthier for eating better, my medical bills will be lower in the future!  

Yes, I am very proud of myself, Thank you!

Here is a suggestion:-

"Instead of eating more dead animals, how about you actually help your fellow Africans, and feed them the grains. Stop feeding the grains to the animals that you eat! Help the millions of Africans that are starving every year because the food that should be going to them is being feed to animals! ... And maybe you'll be the "Kind Compassionate African", versus the "Angry African"!

At some point the US and European aid may not be  avaliable to give to your country, because most people will be trying to feed their own families!

So again, I suggest eating lower on the food chain. - but only if you care! or you can just carry on eating your dead animals!

Good luck with the angry issue!

it will save the world.

Consider buying a whole beef at a time direct from the farmer. Often this source will be a natural, grassfed (and ethically) raised animal. You can share the beef purchase among extended family or a few families, and get safe meat for less than $3.00/pound steaks and all. Because the animal is not fed grain, the input costs will not go up, unless the demand does.

You can do the same thing with other meats, buying direct from a farmer. Using less meat, eating more vegetables and legumes will help stretch those dollars even more. Many grains and legumes can also be purchased for less in the bulk aisle. Yeah, one catch, you do have to cook. But you get all the meals from your efforts, leftovers save a lot of money, too.

Excellent article, so I apologize for nitpicking, but surely you didn't just call E. Coli a virus...  

You are absolutely right about going to a local farmer for your meat and also poultry and eggs.  Not only that, the meat is processed at a small local meat processing plant where the farmer knows the owners and the sanitary conditions at the facility.  I have been doing this for 3 years and I will never make my purchases at the grocery store again.

I also shop at the local farmer's market and purchase ALL of my fruits and vegetables there.  There are also vendors who carry cheese, spices, beans, freshly ground flours and meals, wild caught fish from the Great Lakes and Canada.  A local turkey farmer has any type of turkey product which was processed in house.  

This year I have talked the neighborhood association into a neighborhood garden, and we can even apply for a local grant so that the garden space can be fenced in.  What we are unable to eat during the season, I will can and freeze.  

Years ago our family used to have family canning sessions with the assistance of the children.  My adult children still remember the fun and closeness of working together.

There are avenues for each of us to secure a safer source of food at a more reasonable cost no matter where we live.  It may take more work on our parts but personally I think the quality of the food is much better and it is worth the time and effort.

Javaearth,

It's great that you went vegan and were able to save $186 a month. But I think it's important to keep in mind that this article is talking about people who spend less than $186 per person a month on food to begin with. When I was eating vegan, I was spending around $100 a month on food, which meant eating a lot of potatoes and lots and lots of dried beans. So yes, you can eat very cheaply as a vegan, but let's keep in mind that not everyone has the time or energy to do so.

I was fortunate to live within walking distance to a grocery store, but a lot of people aren't, and don't have cars, which makes constantly going to the store to buy fresh vegetables and fruit a big inconvenience. Cooking healthy, nutritious vegan meals requires time and energy, which people who are just barely making ends meet often lack.

Just something to keep in mind.