Everyone wants to save a buck, but nobody wants to eat bad food. So with the help of Oprah’s “O” Magazine, here are a few great tips on how to eat healthy without breaking the bank!

• Eat less meat. The average adult only needs six ounces of protein a DAY, and a TOTAL of six ounces of red meat a week. How much is that? Picture two decks of playing cards and you’ve got six ounces. So a lot of your protein should come from a source OTHER than meat. So instead of having a big steak, or a pork chop, try spaghetti and meatballs. Or use meat as a garnish like they do in Asian countries. Make a big salad and use chicken breast as one of the toppings.  
• It’s cheaper to buy whole chickens that you cut up yourself, since pre-cut chicken pieces generally cost about twice as much per pound. For steaks, it’s okay to buy the less-expensive, tougher cuts of beef. They can actually be quite tender and tasty if you cook them properly! To tenderize a tough piece of meat, cover it in pickling or sea salt for at least 15 minutes, then rinse it off. Wipe off the moisture, and then cook it. The salt breaks down the protein so it’ll be more tender.
• Also, look for different proteins. One of the most underrated and cheapest is beans. You can buy them already cooked in cans or save yourself a few dollars and buy the dried ones. In fact the Second Harvest Food Bank says you can easily feed a family of four twice a week on just a bag of dried beans and some rice.
• Get your spices and produce at ethnic markets. Many of these markets will package their own bulk spices, olives, and nuts, saving you plenty over regular grocery stores.
• Why not grow your own? $70 spent planting a food garden can yield $350 worth of produce per season. All you have to do is buy a few seeds and some compost and you’ll have food all summer long. The best selling seeds right now are for tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, corn and blueberries. To find out more, check out weekendgardener.net.