America may be in a recession, but it doesn't mean that you have to give up eating your favorite foods. If you don't want to get stuck drinking instant coffee and eating Ramen noodles, there are a few tricks that you can use to eat well while saving money!

To have the greatest results in fine dining cuisine, you do need to use the best ingredients, but that doesn't always mean that they have to be the most expensive. As a tip, you can save even more money if you don't pay for convenience items. This means purchasing whole items, like watermelons and chickens, instead of purchasing them precut and packaged. You will cut serious money off of your total price tag when you purchase whole!

Your Coffee

So now that you are on a budget in the recession, do you have to cut back on a delicious cup of Joe? To make the best coffee on a small budget, cut back on everything except the coffee beans. This means that you can use a simple kitchen grinder to freshly grind your coffee beans and brew with an inexpensive French Press, which actually creates a better flavor in your cup of Joe, for anywhere from $20-$40. If you do want an espresso machine, the MyPressi Twist is quite a bargain at $150. This is much more cost efficient than many of the leading espresso machine brands that can price in at up to $600 for home use. Take the time to splurge only on freshly roasted coffee beans that you grind directly before brewing to make sure that your cup of coffee remains delicious, fresh, and memorable. It is recommended to purchase directly from your local coffee roaster or a company online that ships freshly roasted beans to you, and make sure to use the beans within two weeks after they have been roasted, or they will be stale.

Your Wine

There many high-quality wines that are available for seven dollars or less per bottle. When shopping for wine, it is a good idea to buy wines that you have not heard of because those from obscure regions are often just as good as popular brands for a lesser price. The only time that you should splurge for a certain type of wine is based on an emotional connection, such as if it is from an area that you had a favorite vacation in.

Your Seafood

If you're trying to eat healthy on a budget, you may have discovered by now that seafood is quite expensive. Nonetheless, it is low in calories and good for you, so how can you still enjoy it on a budget? The best way to save on your seafood is by purchasing frozen, especially since much of the claimed fresh seafood at the grocery store has already been previously frozen. Other seafood options that are budget friendly are canned sardines or farm raised tilapia and catfish.

Feasting on a budget has never been so simple!