Cooking for a Healthy Family: Inspired Vegetarian Meals

A vegetarian chef in England, Hope (Reluctant Vegetarian) arranges recipes according to stages of family life: dishes for two, for pregnant women, young babies, children and party fare. Passionate in his devotion to a vegetarian regime, Hope tempts with such straightforward and well-written recipes as those for Steamed Baby Vegetables With Lime and Walnut Dressing or French Bread and Garlic Butter Pudding. Although he advocates meatless eating mainly for health reasons, he doesn't scant the use of cheese, whole milk or cream. Nor does he offer nutritional analyses, an element of prime importance in the diets of children and pregnant or nursing women. Protein requirements and the issue of frequently occurring allergies (such as to milk, eggs and peanuts) are not consistently addressed (Hope suggests soy substitutes in some recipes, but not all). Many of Hope's recipes, however, may inspire American cooks simply for their roots in often-ignored English fare. Taylor's soft-focus photos are a handsome accompaniment. (Oct.)