If you think your diet program is expensive, you're not alone. An article on Forbes.com says that most programs cost a lot more than the tried-and-true method of diet and exercise.

The median diet worked out to a costly $85.79 a week -- 58% more than the $54.44 the average single American spends on food, according to the article.

Jenny Craig was the most expensive. A week's worth of food, which includes Jenny Craig-supplied meals and supplemental snacks, cost $137.65. The informal Subway Sandwich Diet was the least expensive, at $68.60 a week.

Find out how your diet shakes out.

Unless your buy all of your food from a diet company, such as Jenny Craig, there are many ways to cut costs. My favorites:

-- I take my lunch every day and cook once for the week of lunches. I usually buy chicken in bulk and broil it to accompany my bagged salads. It can get a bit boring, but I never have to worry about getting off my diet by buying lunch out.

-- Forget fancy cuts of fish and/or lobster. Perch, catfish and salmon are just as good as orange roughy.

-- If fresh veggies are too expensive, store brands of frozen ones are a fine substitute and usually less costly than national brands.

What are your tips on keeping diet costs down?

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com