The Nourished Sprout: therapeutic recipes for a vibrant pregnancy

By Anise Thorogood with Dr. Carrie Mitchell, simplysprouted.ca, $48

You might guess that a mother of three young children, who is also a certified holistic nutritionist, might have a few words to say about eating during and after pregnancy, and how your diet affects the baby – well, local Calgarian, Anise Thorogood, has more than a few words, she’s filled 199 pages with healthy (and delicious!) recipes and beautiful, hunger-inducing photographs.

The Nourished Sprout starts with advice for stocking your pantry and a weekly grocery list of wholefoods, and then divides into four chapters – one for each trimester and one postpartum - each split by meals, with recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and sweets, plus teas and elixirs to finish chapter 4. However, you don’t have to be pregnant to want to make – and devour – these recipes, although the book would be well-thumbed if you with Bison, Figs, and Arugula (p.35).

I’m also a big fan of making (and eating) soup, and the holy trinity of Lemon Broccoli Soup with Miso and French Lentils (p.67), Mulligatawny (p.117), and Ginger Turmeric Chicken Soup with Apricots and Chickpeas (p.169) had me making out my grocery list for the next shopping trip.

For mains, the Crispy Hazelnut-Crusted Chicken (p.37) caught my eye, and I’m planning a big batch of Shepherd’s Pie with Elk and Eggplant (p.123) so I can freeze some down, as well as an afternoon baking Blueberry Lemon Doughnuts (p.153) and Beet and Apple Bundt Cakes (p.181).

There’s a lot to love about this book – it’s very attractively laid out, and Thorogood has included a comprehensive index and several blank pages at the back for your own notes too - and I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift for someone who is expecting now, or trying to expand their family.