If the weather is getting colder, and you know that the snow is coming in soon, it may be time to stock up on all of your winter needs. If you live in the country away from stores, or if your area tends to see heavy snow storms that make it difficult to leave your home, it is a good idea to stock up on the things that you will need. Before the weather turns, you will need to get to a butcher shop and stock up on the cuts of meat that you need for the winter. Here are three steps to picking up the right stock for the winter. 

Get good cuts of steak

One of the reasons why you may want to skip the regular grocery store and go to the butcher shop is to be able to get the right cut of steaks. You can get thin steaks or thick steaks, depending on your families likes and appetites. Have your family write their preferences for steak cuts on the list. You can purchase the cuts by the pound. A butcher can get you as many of a particular cut as you need. 

Stock up on the right meat for your diet

If you or any of your family suffers from anemia, you will need to keep up your iron intake. This will be especially important in the winter time, as anemia can cause a person to feel cold more easily. The iron in red meat helps with anemia. On the other hand, there are some families that prefer chicken, as chicken works well with those who are on different types of diets including all-natural diets, low carbohydrate diets, and lean meat diets. When stocking up on meat, consider your family's diet. 

Get whole animals to save cash

At a butcher shop, you will have the chance to purchase whole animals as meat. Purchasing a frozen chicken can mean you have wings, legs, breasts, and more for your winter freezer. You can also purchase the side of a cow instead of purchasing different cuts of meat. If you want to have a lot of variety, purchasing whole frozen meats instead of going through and getting separate cuts will make it easier for you to keep a variety of stock. This way you and your family will not have to eat the same thing over and over again each day for lunch and dinner.