In a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, 39% of participants say they ate less beef in 2013 than in 2012. More than half of those people say the move is due to health reasons, and many also say it’s economics—58% of consumers have noticed prices creepy upward over the last year and 36% say it’s too expensive to buy as often as they like.  One nutrition expert isn’t surprised. “The most expensive things on grocery lists are alcohol and meat,” says Dawn Blattner, RDN, author of The Flexitarian Diet. And meat prices are likely to rise 3%-4% in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In short, many of us are starting to see beef as an indulgence rather than an everyday food—90% of those surveyed said they ate red meat at least once a month, and when they do eat it, many buy beef that’s higher quality. Most likely that means organic considering that organic meat gained the most in sales out of all organic food categories in the last decade, reports the USDA. “It’s more expensive because the animals are fed 100% organic feed,” Blattner says. “They aren’t given antibiotics or growth hormones, so extra precautions have to be taken so animals don’t get sick. The average size of the animal is also smaller, so there’s a smaller yield,” she says.  Still, there are plenty of ways to stretch the pricier meat you do buy to build meals that are flavorful, less costly, and really good for you. Three ideas are: Make friends with mushrooms. Like beef, the fungi are packed with savory umami flavor and meaty texture, Blattner says. Instead of an all-meat ragu or bolognese sauce, swap in half the ground beef for finely chopped cremini mushrooms. Love legumes. Packed with protein and fiber, they’ll help you stay satisfied even with less meat. “If you’re making tacos, do half ground beef and half black beans. Or half ground beef and half lentils for burgers,” says Blattner. Save up for steak. You don’t have to say goodbye completely. Instead, splurge on the best organic cut you can find, then make up the cost difference by eating vegetarian proteins or less expensive animal proteins, like poultry, the rest of the week. More from Prevention: 5 Delicious Vegetarian Meals