The fourth episode of The Simple Dollar Podcast focuses on food. I talk about ten tactics for reducing your food bills without reducing health and taste and include a lot of recipes and food suggestions along the way. I also tried a different approach - instead of reading from detailed notes, I tried a more conversational tack. Total time - 21:46.

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Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 - The theme song is a public domain recording of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:29 - Some background reading - tactics for making healthy, simple, and cheap meals for you and your family.
1:57 - You’re not “frugal” if you don’t buy the cheapest thing, right?
3:11 - Read my review of Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food for more on finding real value in food.
5:58 - and that’s the way … we be-came … The Brady Bunch!
7:20 - Here are six examples of simple main dishes based on such staple ingredients.
7:52 - A detailed guide to the art of the marinade.
8:06 - The basics of kitchen spices
9:03 - Is a deep freezer worth it? Yes!
10:11 - This is a great strategy for saving time and money - we do it with more than just chicken breasts.
10:23 - Slow cookers rule! Here are five great recipes for it … and five more.
13:30 Bulk buying can save a ton of money - more than you might think - if you do it right.
13:55 - Here are nine great ways to re-use leftovers in the same vein.
14:12 - … and how to make straight-up leftovers more tasty.
15:54 - Additional details on the “flexible casserole” including a version similar to what I talk about here.
17:11 - Just make your own cream sauce - as healthy as you want it.
19:11 - The neighborhood cooperative concept - or even just cooperating with a neighbor or two - can save you tons of money.
20:01 - Here’s a great way to start planning your meals.
21:40 - A preview of next week’s topic.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way - my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.