this giveaway is closed. the winner is entry # 19, hillary. hillary, please email me at thefoodyenta@yahoo.com or reply to your posting here with your email congrats! enjoy the book!!
did i get your attention?
let me give you some background information before i go on. 5 years ago my son was born and i had no idea what i was doing. i was a first time mom and my plan was just to do everything right. did you laugh? i can laugh looking back now but i was a mess. really, i was.
we spent the first year of my sons life in and out of hospitals and doctor offices. j was born with a-typical clubfoot. cooking for myself or my husband wasn’t my top priority. i spent days and months holding and comforting j on the days his casts were removed and replaced. there were days i could not put him down. there were days where i did everything with him in a sling. there were days that i was just to exhausted to even look at food. and then j was ready for solids…
i met debbie koenig on a park bench. we briefly struck up a conversation because our sons were the same age. when i mean briefly i mean i was one of those moms in the park who was always chasing their kids. i never sat down. we met a couple times after that around the neighborhood were we had brief conversations about this and that. fast forward 6 months, we met again at a picnic. this meeting changed my life and the way i looked at food and feeding my family.
i always made my own baby food. it was something that made me feel good. knowing i knew exactly what j was eating made me happy. j was always a good eater, he ate anything. i mean anything you put it in front of him, he would eat it. at about a year old though things started to change. he wanted to eat on the run. i’m not joking, he ran all day long. i happen to look over and notice debbie feeding her son a grilled cheese sandwich. grilled cheese, really, he like had 2 teeth? we ended up having this whole conversation about what kids can eat at this age and then she procedded to hand j a piece of grilled cheese with spinach in it. i have never seen the kid look happier. he took off with his grilled cheese and a huge smile.
from that moment on things changed. he started eating what we were eating and i never looked back. it seems obvious right? but it wasn’t to me. being a first time mom i was nervous to give him what we were eating. would he eat curry? would he like pad thai? the possibilites now were endless. i could take the kid anywhere and not have to worry about bringing food.
debbie and i lost touch after i moved to the burbs though. a couple weeks back however i was doing the fb thing and i happened to see her name pop up on a friends post. i looked at her name and thought, how do i know her? and then it hit me…that’s debbie, harry’s mom! i was so happy to see a friend from the old neighborhood. i dropped her an email and the rest is history.
why am i telling you all this? it’s the background story to this!
if you have noticed my fb page or any tweets lately you’ve noticed debbie. debbie has a great food blog (in case you haven’t seen it parents need to eat too). so why am i telling you all this? because debbie’s new book is coming out this month!
I got a copy of “parents need to eat too” the other day and i just couldn’t put it down. i went through the whole book, bookmarked a lot of recipes and drooled a lot. i couldn’t wait to not only start cooking but then i got word i get to share a copy with you too! seriously, i do. one of you lucky readers get a free book!
so why i am i so excited about this book? debbie knows food. while i was reading her book i giggled a lot. it really took me back and realized how well e and i could of been eating. this is a book that should of been published years ago. if someone gave me this book as a gift, i would of kissed them (really, i would of). in all honestly and to be serious, i am so excited to share this with you. it’s amazing. it not only is a recipe book, but a kitchen and eating guide for new and experienced moms and dads.
so what do you have to do? just leave a comment. it’s that simple.
want extra chances to enter? just go to debbie’s fb page (here) hit like and let me know in another comment, if you are already a fan, just let me know.
want a 3rd shot to enter? are you on twitter? go check out debbie there @debbieharry, follow her and come back to let me know in another comment.
this is a great chance to pick up a very special book. so go ahead, leave a comment.
this giveaway will end sunday february 12. the winner will be announced monday morning. good luck! oh and by the way, if you pre-order her book before the 21st you get a free starter kit.
I love this site!! AND with baby #2 on the way, no time for long recipes:-) Food Yenta is awesome!
thanks deepa! you will love debbie’s book!
When is YOUR cookbook coming out Meredith? I’d be the first to order:-)
Fans of both of you – FB & Twitter… This is great!
you want to be my agent? lol. thanks monica
I know this is so weird, but I remember that exact picnic and the exact conversation. Seems like a million years ago.
doesn’t it. time flies by way to quickly
Sounds great! And I love your story about what you fed your baby. I made a lot of my own baby food with my first as well. She was also a good eater.
j is a great eater! i can’t complain. he is willing to try anything (thanks to debbie).
Awww, Meri, I remember that picnic so clearly! Can’t believe how long ago it was. Thanks so much for the lovely writeup–I’m tickled pink that you’re the first stop on my blog tour.
debbie i am so excited to be a part of it! best of luck! the book is amazing
Love your website and would love a copy of this book with #3 on the way! Imam also friends with Debbie on her Facebook page!
Already a fan of Parents Need to Eat Too…. have been pining over this book. Would love one to look through and probably buy another for a friend who is expecting her first in a few months.
I’m so excited to get this book. Mine is on preorder from our local indie. That first year of parenting is such a haze, isn’t it? Wait, that’s my youngest crying. Excited to find your blog food yenta.
Hi, I follow Debbie on FB and twitter, and I’d love to win a copy of her book!
Looks good, just found you via your curried coconut chicken noodle soup – in the crock right now!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I am already a fan of Debbie’s fb page.
First-timer to your blog, and that opening paragraph convinced me to be a follower – I did indeed LOL! We are clearly on the same wavelength.
Welcome Ellen! glad I can give you a laugh!
With son #2 on the way, Im always on the lookout for new (quick and easy) recipes. Thanks!!
Wish I had this book when my boys were little. But, my niece is expecting and this book would make a great gift for her!
Looking forward to reading and getting ideas from Debbie’s book! Have been stressing over food for the past 2 months with gestational diabetes. Doesn’t sound like my food anxiety will end with birth!
My kids are 3 and 5 and don’t nap anymore, but I still find it SUPER helpful to cook in short installments, lest they set the living room on first while I’m chopping …
You know I am your #1 fan. Xoxo
I love a cookbook that helps make my life easier!
I’m a FB fan of Parents Need To Eat Too
you are the winner!!! please send me your contact information as soon as you can. congrats!
I follow @debbieharry on twitter
just “liked” (a lot!)
just “followed”!
after talking to you yesterday I’m so excited about this book – looks like a keeper (and I met her too!)…