First Walmart Trip - What Meat to Buy?

[chowder]

I broke down and ventured out to the Super Walmart today to see what they have in the meat department. It was rather gross, but I took notes! I wasn't sure exactly what is okay to buy and what is not so I thought I'd ask first.

I was able to get a "chicken variety pack' that had breasts, wings, thighs, and backs in it for really cheap so I got three of those. I've never seen chicken backs in a store before.

Then they had all the following and I"m not sure if the dogs can eat any of this or not?

Pork neck bones - large package of small bones- didn't seem to have a lot of meat on them
Tripe - really cheap package of white looking stuff - is it even healthy?
Cow Cheeks - ????
Cow Tongue - I assume this is a muscle meat ?
Whiting Fish - Have no idea what kind of fish this is but it was cheap

They had no liver or kidneys or anything like that and no beef for any good prices. This super Walmart doesn't even have a butcher . I'm going to try another grocery store next week but I just thought I'd ask about those foods. Most of it grossed me out except for the fish so I'm not sure I could even feed a cow tongue but you never know what you'll do for your puppies!

I even ended up talking to the cashier about feeding the dogs the chicken and she said she may try it for her dog because someone else in the store does it!

[DaneMama]

Skip the tripe, its bleached and has no nutritional value.

Beef cheek meat is good, so is the tongue.

Pork neck bones are a decent buy, but they are very bone heavy...

The fish is ok, probably doesn't have much in the ways of omega fatty acids. But still a decent source of fish.

[bdb5853]

Whole chickens are usually a good buy. foster farms is a brand mine carries that doesn't have any additives such as salt solution.

Keep sodium at 100mg or less, read the label. A lot of the meats at walmart are injected with a tenderizing solution, so keep an eye out.

[Ania's Mommy]

At Walmart, the liver is sold in the frozen meat section. So by the frozen chickens and turkeys. My Walmart has both beef and veal sold in clear plastic shrink wrap. The chicken liver is sold in a little Foster Farms tub.

Without bringing up the ol' tripe debate (there's other threads on that), I wanted to give you a little more info about it. Most (if not all) tripe sold in grocery stores is bleached and therefore useless. What you want (if you choose to feed tripe) is green tripe. It looks like... well, what you would expect a cow's stomach to look like, I guess. Sort of brownish green with lots of nasty chunks.

Being the canned food guru that you are, if you decide to feed tripe, I might suggest that you buy it from the pet food store. I think a good brand is Trippett (or something like that). BG used to make a good 100% tripe, but in their efforts to make their food more "complete", they have ruined it. Another way to buy it is online.

[chowder]

Whole chickens are usually a good buy. foster farms is a brand mine carries that doesn't have any additives such as salt solution.

Keep sodium at 100mg or less, read the label. A lot of the meats at walmart are injected with a tenderizing solution, so keep an eye out.

I did have some chicken in the cart and then realized it had chicken broth and other stuff added to it so I put it back. I had just assumed it was plain old chicken like I buy at my regular store. I was surprised that some of the prices really weren't that good. The chicken quarters and the beef ribs were actually more expensive then I spend at my 'deluxe, fancy ' grocery store when I get them on sale. Plus, the chicken was in a big sack and had stuff added to it.

I did get a decent deal on the chicken variety pack with the backs in it. I didn't look in the frozen meat section. I'll have to check there next time for the livers and stuff. I almost got whole chickens because they were a good buy but I really have to clean out my little chest freezer first . It's easy to get carried away once you start with this stuff! My husband was getting jealous of the 'dogs food' so I had to buy him some chicken breasts for the grill (and a box of Twinkies for a Labor Day treat!).

Thanks guys!

[Ania's Mommy]

Yeah, buying meat has become almost a full-time hobby for many of us. LOL! Wherever I go, I always check out the meat prices. It's comin', Chowder!!

I have found that the more intact the animal is, the cheaper it is. So I almost exclusively buy whole chickens.

On another note, it's strangely easy to find Twinkies at Walmart, huh? They're, like, at the end of every isle....

[chowder]

Yeah, buying meat has become almost a full-time hobby for many of us. LOL! Wherever I go, I always check out the meat prices. It's comin', Chowder!!

I have found that the more intact the animal is, the cheaper it is. So I almost exclusively buy whole chickens.

On another note, it's strangely easy to find Twinkies at Walmart, huh? They're, like, at the end of every isle....

I can't believe how much time I spent in Walmart!!! As a general rule I used to boycott that store. Look what my dogs have done to me! First I get a motor home just so they can travel with me, now I shop at Walmart just for them.

Next thing you know I'll belong to one of those online forums where they talk about their dogs all day long

And, it's true, there were more Twinkies in people's buggies then meat when I was checking out of Walmart

[DaneMama]

One of the only reasons we step foot into walFART is to buy meat for the dogs. And every single time we check out the cashier asks if we are having a party or BBQ without fail!

[Jodysmom]

I can find pretty decent deals at Super WalMart but I do better when I watch the grocery store ads. Right now, Price Chopper has bone-in split chicken breasts for .88 cents a lb. Then, one of the other grocery store, Hyvee will have chicken quarters at 33 cents a pound every few months. I just watch those Wednesday ads and visit the stores online to find those meat sales.

If you can get to the grocery stores fairly early in the morning they will have some of their meat marked down.

I really need to look into some meat wholesalers in the area because I can get it for much cheaper.

Tami

[BrownStandardPoodle]

We don't have a Super Walmart here. Our Walmarts do not sell meat. Sounds like I'm missing out on some deals!!!

Carol