If you can, really try to find a different way to lower your budget, food should be one of the last things to sacrifice.

If you must cut back on your food budget, buying in bulk, looking for sales and proper planning can go a long way.

Don't forget that quality must be considered, not just quantity.

If you've done everything else, and you still must sacrifice something, cut back on carbs and fats before cutting back on meat. Most people eat far too much cheap carbs and fats that are otherwise nutritionally empty.

Something like Hamburger Helper or Chef Boyarde ravioli might be really cheap at first glance, but if you compare actual useful nutrition vs. just a plain chicken breast, the chicken breast will be more bang for your buck, even if the amount of food is less by volume.