You know the person that you always call when you have a question about healthy food? The one you call, not because they make you feel guilty for eating the way you do, but because they give you really good, helpful advice in quick, easy-to-follow steps?
That would be my friend Trina Holden.
When I first met her, we were rooming together at a conference. She brought a cooler with her own yogurt she’d made from raw milk. Along with whole wheat rolls (from soaked, sprouted wheat flour, I’m sure) and, get this, homemade mayo.
Our other roomie and I enjoyed the fruits of Trina’s obvious passion for real food. But we soon learned something else about Trina: she was also very passionate about saving time and living intentionally.
Real {Fast} Food is not just a recipe book; it’s an inside look at how a busy mom of three little kids makes “real” food fast and easy.
But the best thing about it is the fun and conversational style it’s written in. Reading Real {Fast} Food is just like talking to a friend on the phone. Trina’s passion for real food is infectious, her time-saving tips easy and memorable. She makes meal planning fun and batch cooking simple.
Real {Fast} Food is empowering: it gives you not only a fabulous collection of “normal” recipes made with real food, but the know-how of planning and preparation, and the “why” of eating this way.
There’s no condemnation for those who don’t follow every technique she outlines. In fact, the book makes it easy to pick and choose new real food methods to try without feeling like you have to do it all. But Trina’s batch shopping and cooking methods will give you more time to invest in your real food experiments.
And after reading Real {Fast} Food, you’ll find that things like soaking a recipe or sprouting wheat berries don’t sound so intimidating any more. Trina explains seemingly complicated concepts in simple language and easy steps, complete with color pictures of the process. Her whole wheat bread recipe was the first I’ve ever had turn out so well—
and all because her simple explanation of the way the gluten works finally helped me understand how long I needed to mix my bread dough.
We love the Apple Egg Muffins, and the Nut Butter Brownies are as heavenly as they are healthy! Whether you want to learn how to make your own tortillas or just looking to save time and eat more real food, Real {Fast} Food will be a boon to your kitchen. It’s available on Kindle and Nook, but I’m guessing you’ll also want the PDF version so you can print it out and put it in a notebook for frequent use.
Trina is giving away a PDF copy of Real {Fast} Food to a Pink House reader. Just comment to enter! Giveaway ends April 30 at midnight. Congratulations to Annie — commenter #20 was chosen by Random.org as our winner!
Enter the other giveaways on the Real {Fast} Food Blog Tour:
- from Chantel at A Beautiful Song (ends 5/1)
- from Jessica at Something Simple (ends 5/2)
Read more reviews of Real {Fast} Food:
- at the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship
- at Homemaker’s Challenge
- at The Tiny Twig
- at To Live For Him
- at Dandelion Haven
- at Life in the White House
Listen to a podcast interview with Trina on FLN Radio!
And visit the Allume blog for a post by Trina summarizing her book.
Would love to win this! Sounds like a great book!
I already purchased this book and LOVE it — no need to enter me into the draw just wanted to to add another positive review
If you don’t win, you should buy it! 
I love simple real food recipes! This book seems like it would be an awesome resource. Thanks for the chance to win.
I entered the giveaway for this book on YLCF a couple months ago…..would love to win it, as we’re in the process of switching to real food.
I think this just might be the kind of book I’m looking for.
this sounds wonderful!
I would like this book. I am always looking real food recipes as I am new to this concept, but enjoying it very much.
I would love to win a copy!
Sounds like a great book!
I would LOVE to win!!!
Thank you for the chance to win a copy!!
sounds wonderful!
Well, I’m not a young Mom (I’m actually a single college student), but I would like to read this book!
Guess what, Rebecca? You get to! You’re the winner!
This sounds like a great book! I’ve never been very successful in making menues even for a week!
I’d love to win!
Sounds like a great book! I’d love to read it!
I would love to get a copy of this to give to my daughter who is trying to switch to a real-foods lifestyle!
Great review! I’d love to win a copy… we’ve started down the real food path fairly recently and it’d be great to learn more.
This sounds great! I was lucky to be raised by a healthy scratch-cooking mom, so we are usually pretty good with food, BUT with a husband who’s always at work and three children in 4.5 years, FAST real food could be just the ticket to help our family! Thanks
This sounds delightful! I am a new bride who loves working in the kitchen with frugal, wholesome recipes. Thank you so much for all that you do, Gretchen! Your words have been a blessing indeed these last seven years.
Had to draw another winner because we never heard back from the first…and you’re it!
Please reply via email to confirm so you can get your book. 
Sounds like a helpful, practical book!
I would LOVE to win this book! I’ve been noticing the price increases at the grocery store and I’m sure planning ahead would help me save money and still be able to eat healthful foods!
This looks wonderful!!
Something I could really use….like all of us!!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Would LOVE to win this book! Thanks for hosting the giveaway
This book looks fabulous! What a great giveaway.
Real food, but fast?! Sounds amazing!
I’m so excited about this book. After all the give-aways are over,I’ll probably end up buying it, and so all the publicity has done it’s work
I loved reading the reviews on Amazon.com that said this book is a simplified version of “Nourishing Traditions”. That book is extremely daunting. Would love to try this one out!
Sounds like a great book!
This sounds like an awesome book for busy weeknights! I would love to win a copy!
I’d love to win it; thanks!
I am becoming passionate about Real Food, but don’t have a lot of time since I work outside the home full time and have a toddler.
Good thing it’s still April… just barely. I reckon you can toss my name in the hat, miss G. Thanks for this. Lots to read and learn.
Blessings.
I would love to win this! We are trying to learn how to eat real food and this would be perfect