
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Buy new:
-24% $15.18$15.18
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
Save with Used - Acceptable
$12.90$12.90
FREE delivery March 25 - 31
Ships from: Blue Vase Books Sold by: Blue Vase Books

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
You Gotta Eat: Real-Life Strategies for Feeding Yourself When Cooking Feels Impossible Hardcover – November 19, 2024
Purchase options and add-ons
“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.
- Print length192 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherQuirk Books
- Publication dateNovember 19, 2024
- Dimensions6.2 x 0.68 x 8.25 inches
- ISBN-101683694422
- ISBN-13978-1683694427
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Frequently bought together

Related Climate Pledge Friendly items
- Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Carbon impactCarbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were measured, reduced and offset.As certified byClimatePartner certified
The Climate neutral label by ClimatePartner certifies that the carbon footprint of a product was calculated and all associated emissions were offset. Additionally, ClimatePartner encourages companies to set ambitious reduction targets and reduce their products' carbon footprints. The certificate number can be entered on ClimatePartner’s website for additional information such as the supported carbon offset project(s). ClimatePartner is improving lives by helping companies tackle climate change with practical solutions.Certification NumberGJLJPQ - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Packaging efficiencyReduced air and/or water in the product or packaging for more efficient transportation.As certified byCompact by Design (Amazon-developed Certification)
Compact by Design identifies products that, while they may not always look very different, have a more efficient design. By reducing water and/or air in the product or packaging, these become more efficient to ship. At scale, these small differences in product size and weight lead to significant carbon emission reductions. - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Organic contentProduct contains at least 95% organic material.As certified byUSDA Organic
USDA Organic is protected by law, inspected by experts, traced from farm to store, and shaped by public input. USDA develops and enforces the organic standards, which require products to be produced using farming practices that maintain and improve soil and water quality, minimize the use of synthetic materials, conserve biodiversity, and avoid genetic engineering, among other factors. Crops can be certified organic if they’re grown without prohibited substances such as most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years prior to harvest. Livestock are raised on pasture and treated humanely without growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic products do not contain GMOs or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Products that contain a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients and use the USDA Organic seal are part of Climate Pledge Friendly. - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Safer chemicalsMade with chemicals safer for human health and the environment.As certified byEWG Verified
Choosing EWG Verified products means reducing chemicals of concern and supporting companies that are committed to using safer ingredients. This mark is backed by EWG's scientific rigor and decades of research on chemical safety and scientific evidence on the impacts of exposure to toxic chemicals on human health.U.S. EPA Safer Choice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Safer Choice label to help you find products made with safer ingredients for the health of families, pets, workplaces, and the environment. Safer Choice certified products have been carefully evaluated by EPA scientists. Every ingredient must meet strict safety criteria for both human health and the environment. Products must also meet performance requirements to make sure they work. Products made with safer ingredients can help improve indoor air quality and protect municipal waterways. - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Forestry practicesMade with materials from well-managed forests, recycled materials, and/or other controlled wood sources.As certified byThe Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports responsible forestry, which is a vital solution to combat climate change. Choosing FSC-certified products – whether furniture, building materials, paper, rubber, or textiles – helps protect forests, wildlife, clean water and supports the Indigenous Peoples, forest workers and communities who depend on them. Choosing FSC-certified products can also help to mitigate climate change by supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. For a better future, choose FSC. - Sustainability features for this product
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.Worker well-beingManufactured on farms or in facilities that protect the rights and/or health of workers.As certified byFair Trade Certified
A Fair Trade Certified seal on a product means that it was made according to fair trade standards that promote sustainable livelihoods and safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and strong, transparent supply chains. Fair Trade USA’s model generates revenue that farmers, workers, and fishers can direct towards their community to fight poverty.Forestry practicesMade with materials harvested from responsibly managed forests.As certified byFair Trade Certified
A Fair Trade Certified seal on a product means that it was made according to fair trade standards that promote sustainable livelihoods and safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and strong, transparent supply chains. Fair Trade USA’s model generates revenue that farmers, workers, and fishers can direct towards their community to fight poverty.Farming practicesMade with materials harvested from responsibly managed farms.As certified byFair Trade Certified
A Fair Trade Certified seal on a product means that it was made according to fair trade standards that promote sustainable livelihoods and safe working conditions, protection of the environment, and strong, transparent supply chains. Fair Trade USA’s model generates revenue that farmers, workers, and fishers can direct towards their community to fight poverty.Organic contentProduct contains at least 95% organic material.As certified byUSDA Organic
USDA Organic is protected by law, inspected by experts, traced from farm to store, and shaped by public input. USDA develops and enforces the organic standards, which require products to be produced using farming practices that maintain and improve soil and water quality, minimize the use of synthetic materials, conserve biodiversity, and avoid genetic engineering, among other factors. Crops can be certified organic if they’re grown without prohibited substances such as most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides for three years prior to harvest. Livestock are raised on pasture and treated humanely without growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic products do not contain GMOs or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Products that contain a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients and use the USDA Organic seal are part of Climate Pledge Friendly.
From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews
Review
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
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Canned beans are beautiful. They’re already cooked. They have a ton of protein and fiber. They’re filling. And they’re really inexpensive. You may think salad means “sad privation meal of lettuce,” but actually salad is a loose category that roughly translates to “haphazard assembly of things tied together by dressing,” and by this definition beans are the perfect vehicle. All you need to do is open them, drain them, rinse them if you have the energy but not if you don’t (they might just taste slightly more metallic), dump them in a bowl, combine with dressing and perhaps other stuff, and stir. Behold: lunch.
Precut veggies (including frozen—let the salad sit for a bit after mixing to let the frozen veggies defrost) work just fine here. So do bottled dressings, though if you don’t have those you can always use the time-honored classic of olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper (or, if you’re feeling very fancy, the Nora Ephron classic of a tablespoon of dijon mustard, a tablespoon of red wine vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil, whisked together with a fork). Try one of these combinations, or get creative! The more comfortable you get in the bean salad space, the more you’ll be able to branch out.
• Chickpeas + cucumbers + cherry or grape tomatoes + tzatziki = Greek-ish salad
• Black beans + thawed frozen corn + half jar of salsa + crunched-up tortilla chips = nacho salad
• Cannellini beans + pesto + parmesan = sort of Italian bean salad
• Kidney beans + celery + sweet onions + pickle relish = what if a hot dog condiment bar was a salad
• Black beans + mashed or chopped-up avocado + lime juice + hot sauce or Tajín = what if guacamole was a salad
• Chickpeas, smushed + celery + mayo + dab of dijon mustard = tuna salad without tuna
• Great northern beans + leafy greens you need to use up + balsamic vinegar + olive oil = classic house salad
• Black-eyed peas + celery + bell peppers + hot sauce + red wine vinegar + pinch of sugar/dab of honey/little bit of maple syrup = Hoppin’ John–inspired salad
• Edamame + carrot + green onion + ginger dressing = teppanyakirestaurant-inspired salad
Product details
- Publisher : Quirk Books (November 19, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1683694422
- ISBN-13 : 978-1683694427
- Item Weight : 14.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 6.2 x 0.68 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #44,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #112 in Cooking for One or Two
- #324 in Quick & Easy Cooking (Books)
- #754 in Happiness Self-Help
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

I'm a critic and journalist who lives in Brooklyn, but I left my heart in the place I grew up: Down South in Birmingham, Alabama.
In 2006, my parents moved from Birmingham to Jackson, Mississippi, four hours further south and west. When I visited them, I always gravitated towards the bookstore, of course, and soon developed a fascination with Jackson's patron literary saint, Eudora Welty. I had read her books before, but being in the place that she wrote about and lived felt different to me. There was a connection between her home and her writing that was almost tangible in Jackson, particularly in the garden of her house that curators had lovingly restored. Before I knew it I was plotting visits to other author's homes in the South, trying to piece together a sense of the place I grew up from the fiction about it.
My book, South Toward Home, is about that journey. I visited Oxford, Mississippi to peer into William Faulkner's liquor cabinet and visit Larry Brown and Barry Hannah's fishing spot, and traveled down to New Orleans to hunt out clues of the place John Kennedy Toole wrote about in Confederacy of Dunces. I went to Georgia to talk to Harry Crews' family, and spent a day with the peacocks at Andalusia, Flannery O'Connor's farm.
For more about the book (and the events I'm speaking at!) visit margareteby.com
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book practical and easy to follow, offering simple and appetizing meal solutions. They describe it as helpful and a lifesaver. The author is described as funny and gentle, making the reading experience like having a friend.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
Customers find the book practical and easy to follow. They say it offers helpful strategies for when you need to eat but can't cook. The book is described as more than just a recipe book and an inspiration to look at different foods differently.
"...And willingness to try. Practical and easy to follow, I stocked the pantry following her good orderly directions...." Read more
"...It really is a lot more than a recipe book. Big hugs to the author." Read more
"It was just what the author claimed it to be , an inspiration to look at different foods differently. I now blend all sorts of stuff for new tastes...." Read more
"...it meets me right where I am, doesn't judge, and offers solutions that genuinely are practical...." Read more
Customers find the book practical and easy to follow. They say it offers simple, appetizing meal solutions.
"...And willingness to try. Practical and easy to follow, I stocked the pantry following her good orderly directions...." Read more
"...It offers simple and appetizing meal solutions. Some may even become favorites." Read more
"So easy makes you fell that you can tackle cooking..." Read more
Customers appreciate the author's humor. They find it witty and gentle, like reading a friend.
"...Yet, you gotta eat. Written with kindness and wry humor, she coaxed small smiles from me and identification. And willingness to try...." Read more
"...The author is funny and gentle, and reading this is like having a friend help you figure out what you're going to do about dinner...." Read more
"Extremely helpful and funny..." Read more
Reviews with images

Unexpected treasure for the grieving widow
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2024I borrowed this book from the library and then had to own it. Since my husband died, I have found it impossible to cook for myself. Especially difficult was making foods that he loved and we shared together for over three decades. The author of this book really gets what it is like when "you just can't" Can't stand in front of the stove, can't grocery shop, can't plan a meal, Just Can't.
Yet, you gotta eat.
Written with kindness and wry humor, she coaxed small smiles from me and identification. And willingness to try. Practical and easy to follow, I stocked the pantry following her good orderly directions. I stopped being judgemental about my inability to prepare "real" meals. Witness the miracle of frozen dumplings with microwave steamed broccoli raab and chili sauce, something I would never thought of on my own.
5.0 out of 5 starsI borrowed this book from the library and then had to own it. Since my husband died, I have found it impossible to cook for myself. Especially difficult was making foods that he loved and we shared together for over three decades. The author of this book really gets what it is like when "you just can't" Can't stand in front of the stove, can't grocery shop, can't plan a meal, Just Can't.Unexpected treasure for the grieving widow
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2024
Yet, you gotta eat.
Written with kindness and wry humor, she coaxed small smiles from me and identification. And willingness to try. Practical and easy to follow, I stocked the pantry following her good orderly directions. I stopped being judgemental about my inability to prepare "real" meals. Witness the miracle of frozen dumplings with microwave steamed broccoli raab and chili sauce, something I would never thought of on my own.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025If you’re ever challenged by the ‘what’s for dinner’ question this is the book for you. Stock your pantry as she suggests, pick up this book and you’re set for a tasty meal and a laugh. It’s the most entertaining cookbook I’ve ever read!
- Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2024Initially I flipped through it very quickly and noticed there were no colored photos! But then I read the beginning pages, perused the titles section, then dug further into them. The author understands that sometimes just frying an egg might be overwhelming at times, so there are a lot of microwave alternatives. It really is a lot more than a recipe book. Big hugs to the author.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2025This is a comforting book for times when you don't feel like cooking for whatever reason. It offers simple and appetizing meal solutions. Some may even become favorites.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024It was just what the author claimed it to be , an inspiration to look at different foods differently. I now blend all sorts of stuff for new tastes. She has liberated me and my kitchen. I look forward to cooking…not anguished over what to cook.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2025Honestly, this book is so refreshing. It's like, hey, you're tired, here's a sandwich that isn't going to put you STRAIGHT into the grave with its lack of nutrition. Fry it! Now it's a quesadilla! Roll it in lettuce! Now you have a wrap! I'm actually going to make some recipe cards with suggestions from the author, for days I'm too tired to even pick up a cook book...which is most days. The author is funny and gentle, and reading this is like having a friend help you figure out what you're going to do about dinner. I got a copy for myself, then ordered copies for both of my kids, and I'm back today to get #4 for a friend.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2024I've definitely had times in my life when due to various circumstances, trying to eat just felt overwhelming. This book is a godsend, because it meets me right where I am, doesn't judge, and offers solutions that genuinely are practical. It's kind, practical, and loving and makes me feel like I don't have to go through this alone.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025Have you ever gotten home from a busy day to find yourself at a total loss for what to eat? This book is for you. Have you been so engrossed in a project you don't want to stop but need a quick quick lunch? This book is for you. Do you want to just open a couple of cans to feed your crew but are worried about nutrition? This book is for you.
Let me be clear, I love to cook but sometimes you just gotta eat and eat fast. Like tonight. This book is changing my life. I'm off to try her two ingredient stuffed mushrooms.
Top reviews from other countries
- Jackie KohutReviewed in Canada on February 6, 2025
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a traditional recipe book
Bought this for my young adult who struggles to put meals together. These aren’t traditional recipes but a series of suggestions and prompts and shortcuts to help you create “something “ edible from a broad category (like stews, casseroles, sheet meals, etc.). No photos because that defeats the book’s methodology. The chapter titles are hilarious. He’s having fun with the book and I am too.