Episode Details

Supermarket total making your stomach drop? You’re not imagining it, food prices have become one of the biggest pain points of the cost-of-living crisis. In this episode of Making Cents, financial journalist Frances Cook sits down with chef Alice Taylor, creator of the Cheap and Realistic Eats Cookbook (available at https://www.alicetayloreats.com) to talk about how to eat well without overspending. From $1.50 loaves of bread and 20 cent noodles, to clever ingredient swaps that make baking cheaper and better, Alice shares practical, tested ways to feed a family for less. She explains how to: - Build a staple pantry that cuts costs and waste - Use budget-friendly substitutes that actually work - Cook healthy, affordable meals that still feel special - Swap food guilt for pride and progress in the kitchen This is real-world advice for anyone trying to stretch a grocery budget without sacrificing flavour or enjoyment. Follow me everywhere! Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@francescooknz Join the Money Memo newsletter for a free weekly money tip in your inbox each week https://www.francescook.co.nz/subscribe #makingcents #francescook #CostOfLivingCrisis #BudgetMeals #CheapEats #CheapRecipes #FamilyMeals #FoodHacks #SaveMoneyOnGroceries #StaplePantry #LunchboxIdeas #NZFoodPrices #RealisticCooking This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne Audio engineering by Tash Chittock Chapters 00:00 – The brutal supermarket tap: why food feels so expensive 01:36 – Designing affordable meals that still feel special 04:18 – Pantry staples that keep prices low 06:30 – Cooking with allergies without the expensive substitutes 11:37 – Time vs money: when to cook from scratch vs buy it 16:41 – Christmas, hosting and lowering expectations 18:01 – Can cheap food still be good for you? 21:30 – Cheap vs expensive: does pricier really taste better? 25:51 – Bulk-up tricks: bread in meatballs & cutting food waste 31:43 – Lunchbox treats on a budget & that viral lemon cake 33:16 – Food prices in NZ (and around the world) aren’t okay 39:17 – Don’t normalise the cost of living crisis 41:22 – Two big takeaways: staple pantry & dropping the pressure 42:48 – Outro