Nonfiction by Debra Stanish
Practical guidance for living well, eating thoughtfully, raising healthy families, navigating change, and making informed choices in the real world.
My nonfiction books grew from decades of experience as a holistic registered nurse, organic gardener, mother, grandmother, and lifelong advocate for a more thoughtful approach to health and everyday living.
I believe that good health is connected to much more than what happens in a doctor's office. It is influenced by the food we choose, the way that food is produced, the environments we create for ourselves and our families, the information we have available to us, and the decisions we make every day.
That philosophy includes a strong commitment to organic growing, sustainable agriculture, humane and responsible animal husbandry, grass-fed/grass finished and pasture-raised food choices, wild-caught seafood, and greater awareness of where our food comes from. I also believe that healthier living has to exist in the real world—within real budgets, real families, real kitchens, and real limitations.
My books also explore the human side of living well: parenting, relationships, family transitions, aging, personal growth, and the courage it sometimes takes to begin again.
These books are not about achieving perfection. They are about having better information, making thoughtful choices, and creating a life that supports the people and things that matter most.
Food, Nutrition & Sustainable Living
Practical books for eating well, understanding where our food comes from, making thoughtful choices on a budget, and creating healthier routines for ourselves, our families, and the animals who share our homes.
A practical guide to growing organically, choosing real food, understanding sustainable agriculture, and making more thoughtful choices for your health and the planet.
A practical guide to helping older adults eat well without overspending, with realistic strategies for grocery shopping, meal planning, hydration, simple preparation, and choosing nourishing foods on a fixed or limited budget.
A realistic approach to healthier family eating, with simple steps for choosing better ingredients, preparing nourishing meals, and creating lasting food routines without perfection, pressure, or overwhelm.
A practical cookbook created with older adults in mind, featuring simple, nourishing meals, budget-conscious ingredients, and realistic preparation strategies that make cooking and eating well easier, more affordable, and less complicated.
The hands-on companion to The Gentle Family Reset, with practical exercises, planning tools, and guided activities to help families turn healthier food choices and everyday routines into realistic, lasting changes.
A practical guide to bringing a whole-food approach to your dog’s bowl, with guidance on better ingredients, thoughtful food choices, simple meal additions, and realistic ways to support your dog’s everyday nutrition and well-being.
Parenting & Family
Compassionate, practical guidance for raising children, understanding their emotional needs, and navigating family changes while keeping a child’s security, development, and well-being at the center.
A compassionate guide to the emotional world of babies and toddlers, helping parents understand big feelings, respond with connection and patience, and support healthy emotional development during the important first three years of life.
A child-centered guide to divorce and co-parenting, helping parents navigate separation, communication, changing family routines, and life between two homes while keeping their child’s emotional security and well-being at the heart of every decision.
Women, Growth & Reinvention
For women who have spent years caring for others and are ready to turn some of that attention inward—rediscovering who they are, honoring what they have lived through, and embracing the possibilities of the years ahead.
A thoughtful guide for women ready to rediscover themselves beyond the roles and expectations that have shaped their lives, embrace change with confidence, and create a meaningful next chapter grounded in self-knowledge, possibility, and personal choice.