Lose Weight and Eat Well on $6 a Day

Government figures show that we're in the midst of the worst case of food inflation since the 1990s. During these tough economic times, it's possible to eat delicious home-cooked meals that not only save you a bundle of money, but help you live longer and lose up to 8 pounds a week! It costs a lot less to eat three meals a day at home than to dine out -- even at cheap, fast-food restaurants. What's more, these scrumptious meals are satisfying, help you trim down without trying, and have been shown to prevent a host of illnesses and diseases. What's not to love? rnHere are some daily menu ideas from The Miami Mediterranean Diet, along with an approximate per-serving cost, to show how you can feed yourself all day long for less than one trip to a typical fast-food joint. 4 Breakfast Ideas: Oatmeal with raisins and almonds, $.25/servingrnWheat toast with chunky peanut butter and honey, $.25/servingrnCheesy Apple Raisin Cinnamon Omelet, $.75/servingrnBroccoli and Cheese Frittata, $.80/servingrnServe any of the above with one fresh fruit (e.g., orange, apple, banana, pear), $.50/eachrn 4 Sample Lunch Ideas: Savory Mediterranean Chickpea Soup, $1.25/servingrnPizza Margherita, $1.00/servingrnVeggie Wrap, $1.10/servingrnSmoked Fish and Roasted Pepper Sandwich, $1.00/servingrnServe any of the above with a vegetable salad or fruit salad, $.75/servingrn 4 Sample Dinner Entrees: Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce, $2.25/servingrnShrimp in Spicy Black Bean Sauce, $2.50/servingrnPasta with Red Clam Sauce, $2.40/servingrnFlorentine Roasted Pork, $2.50/servingrn 4 Sample Dinner Side Dishes: Greek Rice, $1.35/servingrnBroccoli with Fresh Garlic, $1.25/servingrnSautéed Vegetables with Fresh Thyme, $1.20/servingrnSpicy Couscous, $.90/servingrn 4 Sample Desserts Yogurt Nut Cake, $.75/servingrnSweet Mango Mousse, $1.35/servingrnSweet Italian Rice Pudding, $.85/servingrnCrème de Banana Baked Apples, $1.00/serving