I well remember nutritious, wholesome meals made with cheap cuts of meat like lamb lap or ribs, ham shank, belly pork, ( yes, it was a cheap cut at one time !) scrag end, neck end, oxtail, etc.
Not long ago I asked the butcher if he had any lamb lap or scrag end; he didn’t know what I was talking about, now lamb lap is “ rolled breast”, and scrag end is “neck joint or neck chops”.
Rabbit used to be a cheap meat, not now, last ones I saw in a butchers were £11 each !
Chicken is still relatively cheap and a chicken stew made in the slow cooker is a great meal, as is ham broth.