As Jacki pointed out yesterday, it's pretty unusual to find a coupon for bananas or lettuce or Granny Smith apples.

Eating well doesn't have to burn up all of your fun money, but it does take careful planning. On the other hand, eating cheap is a no-brainer ... just walk down any of the inside aisles of the grocery store and you'll find mac and cheese, frozen pizza, and all manner of prepared foods at bargain basement prices.

Experts worry that as incomes fall and stress levels rise, people may turn to these less expensive and less nutritious foods to save money. But that shift comes with a price ... a rise in obesity.

Source

Women who are overweight face many health risks, such as heart disease and type II diabetes. And Martha recently told us how overweight women tend to be more impulsive. But overweight women face some risks you might not expect:

• Being fired. Could it be because people who are overweight have a higher rate of absenteeism? Or is it because of a prejudice? It's hard to pinpoint the reasons why, but medical research shows that overweight women run a higher risk of losing their jobs.
• Being the victim of a crime. Overweight women run a greater risk of being victims of crimes. They're also more likely to become criminals.
• Financial woes. Overweight women are more likely to find themselves broke.

It's a chicken and the egg situation, really. Is a woman's weight causing these negative life events or are the negative events causing stress that leads to overeating and obesity?

Source

This one hits home for me because I've always had a horrible time eating right on a tight grocery budget, but apparently it can be done:

Tip #1: Substitute frozen vegetables for fresh because they're cheaper and will keep longer. Okay...this might work sometimes, but not all frozen vegetables taste the same as fresh ones! The article's answer to this is to buy fresh produce when it's in season.

Tip#2: (I think this is a good one) Canned tuna and salmon make great add-ins for whole grain brown rice and pasta, and they're almost always inexpensive.

Tip#3: Substitute ground turkey for ground beef in your favorite meals.

Like anything, not all tips will work for all people. There's more in the article on eDiets.com, including some yummy and quick chicken and pasta recipes.

Source