250 Quick and Delicious Recipes plus Essential Kitchen Tips; $28.
Toronto nutritionist, Globe and Mail columnist and author Leslie Beck is back with an indispensable guide for the Canadian family. Far more than a cookbook, Leslie's Beck's Healthy kitchen does include recipes (all packed with nutrientrich ingredients), but also menu planning ideas, shopping and storage tips, kitchen tools and techniques. It's different from her other books - there's less background about the nutrition value of the vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes and fish - instead, she just works them into the recipes and meal plans. Beck makes it seem possible for a busy family to eat well for a week while avoiding the processed food and freezer aisles at the grocery store. Recipes are easy, quick to make and crowd pleasers.
