Russia Touts 'Crisis Diet' for Cash-Strapped Citizens

Russia enjoyed the recent boom as much as any other country, as high gas prices funded quick economic expansion and citizens took a liking to Western foods such as burgers, pizza, and potato chips, Time reports. But with commodities cheap, credit crunched, and unemployment rising, Moscow is recommending a new diet, heavy on traditional Russian foods, to boost nutrition and save money.

Spartan and nationalistic, the diet calls for foods like cabbage, sour milk, fish, borscht, and whole-grain bread. Not only is it a potential remedy for spreading waistlines, but it costs just $77 a month. That’s important, because the price of food is continuing to rise, and unemployment hit 10% this month.