CTLAWYER,
“Kosher milchiges is very expensive. If the fleisch is the flavoring to the meal (a bit of cut up chicken in a salad, or a meatball with pasta) it need not be more expensive than dairy or unhealthy.”
Do you keep cholov Yisroel? In my neck of the woods, ground beef costs $5.99/lb on sale, and $7.99/lb when not. Chicken legs are around $3.50/lb. A 2lb bag of shredded cholov Yisroel mozzarella is $8.99 at Costco, and a gallon of Pride of the Farm whole milk is $6.99. If you don’t keep CY, that gallon of milk is half that or even less. Both the dairy and meat are expensive, but the dairy goes much further to feed my family. The 2lb bag of cheese can make 3-4 pans of ziti, and the gallon of milk can serve quite a few bowls of cereal. Milk nearing its expiration date + vinegar on the stove makes ricotta cheese for lasagna. For us in general, the cost of meat for one meal would get us 2+ dairy meals.