Cook Book Reviews - the best healthy cookbooks

If you're the author or publisher of a healthy cookbook, or you have a favourite title you'd like to share, please go to our page of healthy cookbook reviews and submit your review.

I own shelves full of cook books, and never mind adding another one to the collection, but it's amazing how few of them really earn their keep, and I seem to reach for the same few every time my imagination needs a kickstart.

Click below for reviews of some great healthy cookery books that deserve a place in your collection. These books are packed with good recipes and helpful info, and they're fun to read as well.

• How To Feed Your Whole Family A Healthy Balanced Diet... by Gill Holcombe
• Fish Pies and French Fries, Vegetables, Meat and Something Sweet... by Gill Holcombe
• Student Cookbook: Healthy Eating by Ester Davies
• The Kitchen Revolution by Rosie Sykes, Polly Russell & Zoe Heron
• In The Mood For Entertaining by Jo Pratt

Cook Book Review

How To Feed Your Whole Family A Healthy Balanced Diet...
By: Gill Holcombe

Gill Holcombe is a down-to-earth practical family cook, as far a cry from a celebrity chef as you could find. This is a handy little book full of easy ideas for family meals, all served up with a very welcome dash of humour.

You won't find breathtaking cuisine or amazing fusion flavours in here. What you will find is straightforward, sustaining everyday food, quickly made with fresh ingredients, that will have your kids coming back for more.

The book includes ideas for all times of day, from breakfast, snacks, soups (click here, for two of Gill's lentil soup recipes), desserts, dinners and cakes, and has tips on menu planning and shopping. There's nothing glam or exciting about this food, but for good wholesome everyday fare it's really useful and very definitely family-friendly.

RECOMMENDED FOR SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD FAMILY MEALS

Cook Book Review

Fish Pies and French Fries, Vegetables, Meat and Something Sweet...
By: Gill Holcombe

Gill Holcombe's first book, reviewed above, was a runaway success, and she's quickly followed it up with a second, subtitled 'for busy people with a lot on their plate'.

There's a very retro feel to Gill Holcombe's approach. Many baby boomers were brought up on dishes like Liver Casserole, Stew and Dumplings, Macaroni Cheese and Chicken Noodle Broth.

If this kind of good plain cooking appeals - and these dishes tend to be inexpensive, filling and pretty healthy - then you'll find much in here to get your tummy rumbling. Alongside the well-loved standards are other tasty offerings which would fit the mid-week meal slot perfectly.

Not for you if you like chef-style, upmarket food, but if you're in the market for good satisfying platefuls of family-pleasing dinners that are easily made and suitably cost-conscious, give this one a look.

RECOMMENDED FOR GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY COOKING

Cook Book Review

Student Cookbook: Healthy Eating
By: Ester Davies

If your son or daughter is off to university or college, give them a copy of this book to take along.

Student Cookbook is the key to getting clued up about student cookery, and contains all the basic information kids need if they're cooking for themselves for the first time.

Our student reviewer liked the book a lot: 'It's full of really useful stuff, and the recipes are simple and clear. I made Stir Fry Pork with Spinach for some friends and it was really tasty.'

Chapters cover:

• Basic Student Kitchen Kit: vital equipment and storecupboard basics
• Really Useful Cooking Basics: how to make jacket potatoes, pasta and rice dishes and other standbys
• Low Down on Healthy Eating: what to eat, what to avoid
• The Feel Good Guide: foods for stress busting, mood improves, tackling colds
• The Big Breakfast: simple ideas for a great start to the day
• Lunches: keep your energy going
• Cooking Tea the Low Fat Way: healthy and delicious main meals
• Puddings: healthy recipes for sweet delights
• Entertaining: ideas for feeding a crowd

RECOMMENDED FOR KIDS WHO WANT TO EAT WELL AND CHEAPLY

Cook Book Review

The Kitchen Revolution
By: Rosie Sykes, Polly Russell & Zoe Heron

I love this book because it does all the hard work for you. Week by week, right through the year, The Kitchen Revolution sets out weekly menus complete with shopping lists.

Each week's offerings include a Big Meal from Scratch, to cook at the weekend when you have a bit of time. The recipes for these provide enough leftovers to use in two further, and totally different meals during the week.

There's also a weekly Seasonal Supper, which maximises on whatever's the best buy at that time of year, and a 'Larder Feast, using storecupboard ingredients.

To round the week off is '2 for 1', a cook-once-eat-twice meal, where one portion is frozen and enjoyed as a 'Lazy Day Supper' during another week.

The concept is brilliant, the recipes mouthwatering, ingredients fresh and wholesome. My only criticisms are that some of the recipes are quite complex, and sometimes ingredients can be rather expensive - but it's usually possible to substitute. Not all the recipes will appeal to undaventurous children - nor can many be rustled up in 10 minutes flat when you get home from work.

But by picking and choosing you'll certainly find a lot of inspiring dishes to add to your repertoire, and if you have the lifestyle and love of cooking and want to give the whole year's worth of meal plans a try, then you will eat very well indeed.

RECOMMENDED FOR ITS WEEKLY MENUS AND DELICIOUS RECIPES.