I'm a big fan of giving (and receiving!) cookbooks as gifts. Even if you don't cook often, there's something about owning them that makes it seem more possible to have a delicious, nourishing and civilized meal.

Best of all, there are literally thousands of cookbooks to choose from, so it's easy enough to find a perfect choice for just about anybody. With just four shopping days until Christmas, here's my roundup of last-minute cookbook gifts for cooks of all persuasions. And true to my mission, my list includes choices that are healthy, time-saving and environmentally responsible.

For the weight watcher...
Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2008 by the Editors of Cooking Light
Every single recipe from a year's worth of Cooking Light magazine is packed into this book-that's more than 1,000 dishes. It's easy to count fat and calories with the nutritional breakdown listed for each recipe.

For the hippie at heart...
The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waters
As chef of Berkeley institution Chez Panisse, Alice Waters has been a pioneer in the sustainable, organic and seasonal food movement. Her latest book teaches home cooks how to eat better and more responsibly.

For the baked-goods fanatic...
King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Nutritious Whole Grains by King Arthur Flour
Having a sweet tooth isn't as dangerous if you can sneak whole-wheat flour into the recipe. This compendium of recipes for breads, pies, cakes, cookies and more, all made using healthy whole grains, will foster guilt-free baking.

For the "eat your vegetables" Policemom...
Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food by Jessica Seinfeld
Funnyman Jerry Seinfeld's wife (and mother of three) has found ways to ramp up the nutrition content of family favorites by smuggling vegetables into the recipes. Spinach and carrots in brownies? They'll never be the wiser.

For the newbie vegetarian...
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman
His original book, How to Cook Everything, has been indispensable for modern-day cooks, and this meat-free version will expand every vegetarian's culinary repertoire. Many of the recipes include multiple variations, ensuring that you'll never get bored.

For the time-strapped...
Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson
The Domestic Goddess' latest book gets cooks in and out of the kitchen fast, with great shortcuts, tips on having a well-stocked pantry, and a collection of recipes that require minimal prep time. For those who want meals a little more highbrow than those offered by Rachael Ray, the original quick-cook guru, this book is essential.

For the King of the Grill...
Mastering the Grill: The Owner's Manual for Outdoor Cooking by Andrew Schloss and David Joaquim
There are plenty of grilling cookbooks out on the market, but if the grillmaster in your life only gets one book, it should be this one. Filled with tips, techniques and instructions, this book also features hundreds of effective, healthy recipes for a wide range of foods and cuisine.

For the Eco-Enthusiast...
Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen by Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry
More than a recipe book, Grub aims to educate readers on the problems caused by commercial agriculture and mass-produced foods, and to encourage them to help reverse the disturbing trends of obesity and pesticide contamination by shopping locally and buying organic goods. While the section on setting up a kitchen reveals nothing new, the recipes offer some fun new takes on healthy, seasonal ingredients.