you gotta eat

One of the Washington Post’s Best Cookbooks of 2024

“It is one of the most generous cookbooks I have ever read. It’s revolutionary; it’s a relief.”—Washington Post

A trained chef teaches you how to keep yourself fed—and maybe even enjoy it!—in the face of stress, burnout, and exhaustion.

Delivery is expensive. Eating a spoonful of peanut butter is depressing. You can’t imagine having the energy to chop an onion. But somehow, you gotta eat. How does anyone feed themselves under these conditions?

Enter You Gotta Eat, a friendly, accessible resource for getting something on your plate when you have too much on your plate. Part cookbook, part pep talk, and part action plan, You Gotta Eat offers tips and tactics—plus ten “do exactly this” recipes—for making effortless food that’s nourishing, tasty, and even a little fun. Choose your current energy level and learn important kitchen hacks such as the following.

• If you can open a package: Turn instant ramen into a feast
• If you can assemble a plate: Make a cheese board fit for a king
• If you can press a button: Whip up perfect eggs in the microwave
• If you can wield a knife: Turn any leftovers into a hearty casserole

Plus dozens more ideas for living deliciously without impossible effort!

Whether you’re burned-out, depressed, overscheduled, a new parent, living away from home for the first time, or some combination of the above, let food editor, classically trained chef, and nacho enthusiast Margaret Eby show you how to make your eating experience easier—and better—in every way.

Quirk Books
6.2"W x 8.25"H x 0.68"D | Hardcover | 192 Pages

Featured on NPR’s Life Kit
One of the Washington Post’s Best Cookbooks of 2024
A Forbes Vetted Best Cookbook of Fall 2024

“Not only is it an incredibly practical book for times of depression, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or simply being too busy to even think, but it’s written in a tone so kind and calm that I would read it over and over, even if it were about how to change the oil in your car.”—Linda Holmes, NPR

‘It is one of the most generous cookbooks I have ever read. It’s revolutionary; it’s a relief.”—Washington Post

“Eby’s fabulously fun and incredibly informative guide is a treat for cooks wherever they are on the culinary spectrum.”—John Charles, Library Journal, starred review

“You Gotta Eat feels like the kindest permission slip to let go of guilt around not cooking while also providing good strategies for nourishing yourself when life is hard.”—Simply Recipes

“[Eby] saw the need for a book like this and filled it with empathy, humor, and useful counsel for feeding yourself when you’re low, anxious, exhausted, burnt out, or otherwise not at your best.”—Molly McArdle, Food & Wine

“It’s a generous book that I can’t wait to keep cooking from, no matter my mood.”—Mallary Santucci, Epicurious

“If you’re finding yourself stressed, falling out of love with the act of cooking, or just needing a bit of a pep talk lately, Eby understands.”—Emily Ziemski, Well + Good

“An encouraging, casual cookbook that invites goofing around in the kitchen until tasty dishes can be put on the table.”—Rachel Jagareski, Foreword starred review

“Taking into account varying energy levels, budgets, and skill sets, Eby helps readers put a meal on the table no matter the limitations they feel surround them.”—Forbes Vetted