What will it take for Americans to learn that more isn't always better? Whether it's more food for a set price or more money borrowed at a low rate, Americans have the hardest time seeing that what looks like a "good deal" in the short term, often leads to a bad situation in the long term.

In a previous blog we admitted that the cost of low-calorie foods is increasing more than the cost of calorie-dense foods. And we'll also admit that all-you-can-eat buffets provide platefuls of food for one low price. But, will we suggest that during these hard economic times Americans throw out all they've learned about choosing healthy foods and settle for what's cheapest? No way! We advocate for eating the right amounts of healthy foods - and this can be done on any budget.

Start by determining how many calories you actually need each day (use SU&E's Calorie Needs Calculator). Then, focus on meeting these needs through foods you can prepare at home. Cooking doesn't have to take tons of time, and by doing it yourself you will save money and often have leftovers that can be frozen or refrigerated for future meals.

Here are some of SU&E's favorite web sites for finding easy, healthy recipes:

Don't be misled by restaurants' "all you can" marketing messages. You don't need more food. You need the right amounts of healthy foods. If you still feel the need to get you're monies worth of something, invest in an all-you-can-workout gym or all-you-can-use treadmill!