This is the kind of cookbook you buy all your friends and anyone who is just starting their own cooking journey. It is easy to follow for complete novices to seasoned chefs and encourages doing it your own way bc that’s all you need.

Inspired by lockdown depression and finessed through mental blocks and burnout, these cooking tips and ‘no gods no masters’ recipes are exactly what you need when you are sitting on the kitchen floor willing food to appear in your belly. I really enjoyed the humorous, yet compassionate tone of the writing and appreciated the “Roll For Dinner” segments that reduced choice making even further. Sometimes it really is too hard to use the physical and mental energy left to you to cook, and that’s what this is all about. Take the basics — no, really, the basics — and make it a little more joyful again.

Because you don’t have to cook, but you gottta eat.

I love how open and realistic the author is. We've all been there, too tired to function, but we have to. Maybe we have littles to feed, or maybe our own mood and energy is dependent on us having a meal. The author's "motto" of, "The best meal is the one you'll eat" definitely hits home with me. Too many times have I come home and gelt guilty for having popcorn or chips for dinner because I was too tired to do anything else besides sit in the couch and recover from my day.
The author presents you with recipes and options for healthy and healthy-ish meals made of common pantry, freezer, and fridge items. Even for people who may not have many of the vegetables, they are easily purchased, canned or frozen, and stored. A handful of corn or peas to liven up a ramen? Yes, please! Even a boring sandwich becomes a pleasant experience using a little something random to change the taste and texture. (I am personally a big fan of the suggestion of black beans and jalapeños in tuna to make a typically boring sandwich (or wrap) into something I look forward to.
The most "fancy" food in this book is chickpeas, and luckily they come in cans. No talk of kale, watercress sandwiches, fancy cheeses, and no ingredients that the common grocery stores (I'm talking Walmart and Greer's) wouldn't actually carry.
Bonus points for the shopping list of basic staples to keep on hand and how long they last.

I really enjoyed this book and could see it being super helpful to all kinds of people who are experiencing various circumstances such as a health issue, depression, new baby, caretaking, etc. I loved how non-judgmental the language was, and how it didn't assume anyone had any basic cooking skills at all.

A very simple and helpful guide to cooking for yourself. It was super validating to read someone else struggle with a basic need like feeding yourself. The author gave tips to meals that would still be very filling and healthy. It was welcoming and funny. Need to pick up a physical copy for myself.

What a joy this book is!
I loved reading it from start to finish and making notes on paper of all the incredible tips and tricks the author navigates you through,
Really enjoyed how inclusive and shame free the book is towards feeding oneself, it was also a compelling read.
Will buy physical copies to gift to so many friends!

"The best food is the food that you'll eat"

A book full of encouragement, validation, easy recipes, and good ideas for simple things to make when you just can't even. A literary hug, 100% non-judgemental and comforting.

"You don't have to cook, but you do gotta eat"

My favorite recipes were the "roll a dice" ones, perfect for when you just want to turn your brain off and not have to think about what to make for lunch or dinner.

Great concept for the book as well as a number of useful recipes (many of which I gave tried out, ha ha!) Including some bonus asides offering advice and guidance was also a lovely and relatable touch.

You Gotta Eat is a great cookbook full of tips and easy recipes that are extremely helpful. Margaret Eby provides many strategies that can help make the process of feeding yourself less stressful and more budget-friendly.

I can already think of so many people who this cookbook would occasionally be a godsend for.

Myself for one.

For days where the mere thought of eating, never mind actually making the food, seems insurmountable. This book is absolutely filled with not just ideas, but gentle compassion and it is presented in a way that is accessible and in no way overwhelming.

Already ordered copies for myself, my bestie AND the library.

I was hooked by this title: “You Gotta Eat: Real-Life Strategies for Feeding Yourself When Cooking Feels Impossible”. When I get depressed, stressed out, and hopeless about the state of the world, I struggle HARD with feeding myself something other than take out and junk food. Margaret Eby has helpfully divided her book into these awesome categories: If you can open a package, If you can assemble a plate, If you can press a button, If you can wield a knife.

It’s simple, compassionate, and honest. Sometimes the only thing I can manage is opening a bag or a can. She’s got instructions on how to make a soup with just canned tomato sauce, she’ll show you how to dump a bag of frozen veggies onto a sheet pan to make something delicious and that has actual nutrition. What I loved the most was not the recipes (although they were GREAT and I immediately bought ingredients for the Greek-ish bean salad) but it was the sense of compassion extended to those of us who are struggling with things that the world tells us that should be easy.

Remember that the illusion of ‘having it all together’ is based in an outdated ideal of a two parent household where only one has to work and the other can stay home and deal with things like food and cleaning. I don’t think I know any one my age or younger (and I’m 40 something) who has that. So be sure to extend yourself some compassion when you’re struggling because you are definitely not alone!

I'm a huge fan of cookbooks presented in cutesy cartoony ways. It makes me feel like the recipes will be achievable.

This book was so very unique. Reading through the recipes I kept thinking 🤔
1. Who is eating this!?
2. Oh wait...that one looks good
3. This is prefect for pregnancy cravings
4. This is GREAT for those who celebrate 4/20
5. My broke college self could have used this all those years ago.

All this to say...get the book. It's fun, it's creative. It will help you create something new with the things you have.

This is one I may have to purchase for my personal library when it comes out. I too have days or weeks where I'm basically a fussy toddler who hates every food and will just not feed myself until I'm headachy or dizzy. We've all been there! This was very inspirational and ironically knocked me out of the one of those funks so now I have a fridge full of homecooked food again.

But I know that funk will return and the ideas in this book will be very handy for that time. This is "fed is best" for adults - open that can, make that box of macaroni, microwave that egg - do what you have to do to nourish yourself when the idea of slicing and dicing is just too much. I'll definitely embrace the jam and butter sandwich, a favorite of the queen, and think of myself of royalty when I do.

This is an excellent book for people who don't have time or energy to dedicate to cooking properly. The language of the book is concise and approachable, and you can literally feel the author empathising with you while reading it. Some recipes are a bit adventurous to put it mildly (sandwiches and casseroles specifically, certain ingredient combos were downright scary) but the general logic of the book is excellent.

However, there were a few downsides as well. First of all, some level of preparation is needed before actually using the book. Sure, the recipes are excellent for when you can't make yourself cook properly, but they all rely on a sufficiently well-stocked pantry to work. Unfortunately that's not always realistic: if I don't have energy to pull myself together and cook, my fridge will probably also only contain half an onion that still remembers Covid lockdowns, a half empty ketchup bottle and a pack of dumplings. So I'll definitely use the book's recommendations, but only after actually benefitting from one of my more high-functioning days and stocking up on non-perishables.

Finally, I understand that expecting full colour photos in a book that's all about making it up as you go isn't realistic. And yet it would've been nice to have some, because I can't cook to save my life and often can't visualise that the final result should/will look like either.

This book is so necessary! Practical and nonjudgmental. Truly a gift to those like me who are neurodivergent and maybe either forget to eat, don’t experience hunger cues normally, those who are busy with work/caregiving/life, and those who just don’t have the spoons to consider cooking.

this is 100% a fantastic title for those who struggle with a variety of conditions that may make cooking a little extra difficult. eby's instructions were kind and in no way condescending the way that i sometimes find those "easy" cookbooks. i appreciated that while there were recipes here, it was primarily an explanatory text that could let folks make their own decisions through with thorough description. definitely going to be using some of this book's techniques on low spoons days!

This book inspired me to stop thinking of providing meals to be such a chore. I’ve often reminded my husband he could pitch in and cook, too. Since the bulk of the cooking still lands on me, Margaret Eby’s book helped me feel like cooking isn’t such a difficult activity after all.

This was so good and so practical! For anyone who works long days, or comes home to fix an entire meal for a meat eating family and then still needs something to feed their vegetarian self, or anyone who is just tired or overstressed, this is your book. Reviewing for my library, but I am definitely buying my own copy when it comes out. This is so much more practical and compassionate than similar titles I have read. So there are only a handful of specific "recipes" in this book, but there sure are many, many ways to come up with food when you need it! All the stars.

This was such a great book about how to navigate cooking! Especially so when you have bad days, low energy days, depression / bad mental health periods etc. So many useful tips and tricks to use, and love that it doesnt actually include a lot of actual recipes but rather works as a tool to be able to do what you can with what you have on hand + the energy level you have!

Will 100% buy this book for myself once it gets out!

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

The book I didn't know I needed! This book has a TON of ideas on how to feed yourself when you don't want to cook or make a big mess. Salads, eggs, sandwiches, etc. with a ton of ideas in all the categories and many others. I really need a copy of this book to help keep my sanity!

I think this book is a great idea, a mix of general ideas with some specific recipes. It works then as a source of inspiration (flip to a page and scan until you find something appealing and achievable) and as a reminder to eat.