Russia Orders Citizens to Stop Eating So Much

The recommendations come as the deepening economic crisis is expected to reshape Russia's eating habits in favour of cheaper calorie-rich but nutrient-deficient staples like bread and potatoes.

"When it comes to obesity, Russian women are among the leaders in European countries," Gennady Onishchenko, head of the Federal Consumer Protection Service warned in the report entitled Healthy Nutrition on the Cheap.

Russians are recommended to start their day with porridge, have traditional bortsch beet soup, a vegetable salad and fish for lunch and not to forget a glass of kefir (sour milk) before bed.

The recommended diet includes approximate prices and says that an adult Russian male can enjoy healthy eating on just 2,780 rubles (77 dollars) per month, while Russian women can make do on just 2,354 rubles (66 dollars).