In Conversation with Jenna Helwig

Today we speak with Jenna Helwig about her debut novel, The Foreign Correspondent's Wife. There’s an audio recording of me at age four saying that when I grew up, I wanted to be a writer or a baker. After a few detours, it’s astonishing how close I’ve come to that childhood vision, though these days I’d call myself more of a cook than a baker. I’m the food director at Real Simple, where I lead print food coverage, create digital content, work with advertising partners, and represent the brand in the media. Since joining the magazine in 2019, I’ve also appeared on TODAY, Good Morning America, and numerous podcasts. Before Real Simple, I was the food editor at Health and Parents. I’m a culinary school graduate, a lifelong cookbook obsessive, and the author of five cookbooks, including Bare Minimum Dinners and the bestselling Baby-Led Feeding. In 2025, I launched Cookbookery Collective, a Substack for fellow cookbook lovers. I live in Brooklyn, New York, with my family and our adorable dog, Pepper. If I’m not cooking, writing, or reading, I’m probably watching baseball, planning my next travels, or exploring the city.