The following 15 books were all published this year and would make great holiday gifts because they offer a wealth of recipes, nutrition tips, gorgeous photos of foods, and more to encourage people to cook and eat more healthily.
1.A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones, published in April by Ten Speed Press, covers vegetarian dishes for all meals and occasions, including breakfast, snacks, soups, stews, broths, salads, suppers, feeding a crowd, side dishes, desserts, breads, cakes, drinks, jams, chutneys and stock. Recipes are constructed in an almost food-science manner (base ingredient, choose method of cooking, add supporting ingredients, an accent, a flavor or herb, and sometimes a finishing touch).
2.Five: 150 Effortless Ways to Eat 5+ Fruit and Veg a Day by Rachel de Thample was published in February and is not vegetarian cookbook but offers themed and seasonal menus, as well as recipes, to portray how to increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
3.Deliciously Ella: 100+ Easy, Healthy, and Deliciously Plant-Based Gluten-Free Recipes by Ella Woodward was published in November by Scribner's and features 120 recipes with photographs based on the food blog Deliciously Ella.
4.Eat. Nourish. Glow. by nutritional therapist and celebrity consultant Amelia Freer was published in June by Harper Thorsons and provides a 10-step plan to wean yourself off gluten, sugar, and dairy and incorporate nutrient-rich foods into your diet.
5.Get the Glow by Madeline Shaw was published in April by Orion and contains 100 recipes that heal your gut and nourish you from the inside out.
6.Honestly Healthy Cleanse by Honestly Healthy website and Fridge Fill delivery service (UK) founder Natasha Corrett was published on January 1 by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, and features 256 pages of alkaline-based, vegetarian recipes to help cleanse and nourish you to better health.
7.Plenish: Juices to Boost, Cleanse, and Heal by Kara Rosen was published in May by Mitchell Beazley and features over 40 juice blends that provide your body with necessary nutrients to boost, cleanse, and heal (as the book's subtitle says).
8.Eat Clean: Wok Yourself to Health by Ching-He Huang was published in March by Harper Thorsons and contains over 100 recipes for healthy soups, salads, and stir fries, using the simple tools of wok, knife, and cutting board to make all recipes.
9.SoulMateFood Fitness Gourmet: Delicious Recipes for Peak Performance at Any Level by SoulMateFood Founder Christian Coates was published in April by Jacqui Small LLP. The first part of this book contains nutritional information to help craft menus; the second part of the book contains the recipes, which can be made to burn (lose weight), balance (vitality), or build (lean muscle/training).
10.Grains as Mains: Modern Recipes Using Ancient Grains by Jodi Moreno was published in March by DK and focuses on ancient grains (quinoa, barley, spelt and wheatberry superfoods). Each recipe contains step-by-step illustrations and beautiful photography.
11.Simply Nigella: Feel Good Food by Nigella Lawson was published in November by Flatiron Books and contains 416 pages of uncomplicated recipes for pleasurable meals.
12.The Uncook Book: The Essential Guide to a Raw Food Lifestyle by Tanya Maher was published in October byHay House, Inc., and includes not only recipes (for meals and cocktails), but also pull-out information on the health benefits of the foods.
13.My New Roots: Inspired Plant-based Recipes for Every Season by My New Roots creator and blogger Sarah Britton was published in March by Clarkson Potter and features 100 plant-based recipes to revitalize one's health.
14.Superfoods: The Flexible Approach to Eating More Superfoods by The Flexi Foodie Julie Montagu was published in August by Quadrile Publishing and features 178 pages of meat-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free recipes to help people raise their energy levels, lose weight, lower cholesterol, and feel more youthful.
15.Peace and Parsnips: Vegan Cooking for Everyone by Fox television's Meat vs. Veg co-host Lee Watson, published in July, by Michael Joseph, features a wealth of vegan recipes from many countries and cooking traditions, including surprises like raw blueberry and macadamia cheesecake.