Grocery costs are a bit crazy right now. I was forgiving of it when fuel costs were also outlandish ... after all, food has to be transported so fuel costs directly effect grocery costs. But now the fuel costs are down and grocery costs are staying high. I don't know about you, but I think it's totally unfair.

In these tight economic times, we all have to be penny-pinchers. Since meat is one of the most expensive grocery items to buy, it only makes sense to cut back. Beans and tofu spring to mind as meat-replacements -- they're inexpensive, filling and high in protein. Another great option -- though not high in protein -- is mushrooms.

Swapping mushrooms for meat isn't only economical, it's healthful, lower in calories, filling and completely tasty. Try them in lasagna or grill up a marinated portobello as a burger. A recent study found that when participants ate meals where mushrooms replaced beef, they consumed an average of 420 fewer calories. Great news if you're trying to lose weight!

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With today's economy, most people are feeling a budget crunch. Even though the cost of gas has come down, grocery costs stay as high as ever. But high prices at the check-out counter don't mean you have to eat low-cost, low-nutrition foods. Divine Caroline has a list of 20 healthful foods for under one dollar.

• Oats. High in heart-healthy soluble fiber, oats are a quick and tasty meal. A dollar will get you more than a week's worth of breakfasts.
  
• Eggs. About a dollar for a half dozen, eggs -- once given a bad rap for high cholesterol -- are now back in the good nutrition fold.
  
• Kale. Roughly a dollar a bunch, kale and other dark leafy greens are packed with nutrition.
  
• Potatoes. As long as you don't fry them or slather them in fatty condiments, potatoes can be a part of a nutritious diet. Sweet potatoes have the added benefit of beta carotene.
  
• Apples. Most varieties are very inexpensive and can satisfy a sweet tooth with their crunchy goodness.
  
• Nuts. A great source of healthy fats, nuts might seem expensive, but since their portion size is small, many varieties (such as peanuts, walnuts and almonds) land well under a dollar per serving.
  
• Bananas. High in potassium and fiber, bananas are a nutritious and inexpensive food.
  
• Garbanzo Beans. Beans, in general, are a healthful and ridiculously-cheap food. Plus, they're a great protein-rich replacement for high-cost meat. Garbanzos are a versatile and healthful choice.
  
• Broccoli. Delicious raw or cooked into a wide variety of meals, broccoli is well under a dollar per serving.
  

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Now that we're right smack in the thick of the holiday season it's as important as ever to balance your enjoyment of holiday goodies with maintenance of your waistline. Although holiday weight gain is generally very small (as little as 1 pound per year) the problem is that it is also generally very resilient and doesn't go away. And all those individual pounds are piling up not only on our bodies but in the bills we owe -- they're flat out costing us money. Here's an idea of just how much obesity costs us:

• $800 per person for missed work
• $275 million in jet fuel costs from carrying the extra weight
• $7.72 per meal in costs accrued from super-sizing fast food dinners
• $180 per year in taxes
• Unhealthy foods (sweets and fats) have gotten 14% cheaper, but healthy ones (produce and dairy) have gone up by more than 50% since 1980
  

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Try this on for size -- in 2006, the Medicare system took a $32 billion dollar hit based on the number of drug prescriptions given to seniors in the U.S. under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program.

That's $32 billion -- more than the annual sales of most Fortune 500 companies. It's amazing to see how many drug prescriptions are in use by older citizens in this country. The amount, to me, is amazing.

What did this nation do 50 years ago when there was no pharmaceutical drug industry to supply this "need?" Hard to say, but the amount now taken from the paychecks of all of us is sure fueling quite a few drug needs these days.

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I wrote the other day about employers offering financial incentives to staff members for losing weight. And while washing dishes Tuesday night after eating an experimental homemade pizza with fat-free cheese -- it was pretty good -- I stumbled upon NBC Nightly News and a commentary about this very weight-loss reward system. It went beyond the discussion of monetary prizes for shedding pounds, though. It addressed the fact that some employers are punishing employees for unhealthy lifestyle choices.

It was like listening to a parenting expert discuss rewarding and punishing kids for poor behavior. I'm always stuck on the topic -- do I go overboard with praise and ignore defiant outbursts so my kids realize only positive behavior gets attention? Or do I punish my kiddos for poor choices so they learn not to repeat them? Like my confusion on this topic, I'm not so sure about the workplace health scenario.

So some employers are raising insurance premiums for the overweight, for those who won't consent to health assessments, and for those who choose to smoke. It's all in an attempt to lower health care costs, minimize absenteeism, and promote wellness. The whole punishment approach seems harsh. It makes sense too. See how I'm wavering?

What do you think?

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The contestants on NBC's The Biggest Loser compete in the ultimate of weight loss challenges hopefully for the sake of overall health and fitness but first and foremost for money. Lots of money. The one who comes out "the biggest loser" at the end of the show takes home $250,000. That's quite a chunk of change. And quite a motivator too.

Money motivates. And employers are starting to capitalize on this fact by paying staff members to slim down. It beats paying medical and absenteeism costs for overweight employees. And it seems to work.

Studies show overweight employees who were compensated for their weight loss efforts lost more weight than those who received no monetary reward. Now it's not clear whether or not participants will keep the weight off or if this strategy will be profitable for companies in the long-term, but financial incentives are surely worth a try. Don't you think?

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I'm a big fan of the occasional cheat day, but of course blowing your diet can be hard on your health depending how often and how majorly you mess up. But when thinking about what you'll have to deal with when "falling of the dieting wagon," there might be more to consider than just the cost in "pounds gained" or "efforts wasted." What about financial impacts? What about harm to your wallet and an unpleasant dent in your shopping budget?

Okay, so this chart of costs is a little over-the-top, but it gets its point across. If, for whatever reason, your health isn't enough motivation to get you through a rough patch and keep you on track, maybe focusing on a financial angle will work instead. They came up with $3538.44 in additional costs incrued by giving in to temptation, and you better believe I can think of much better ways to spend that kind of dough than on extra doctor visits and prescriptions!

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