We had such a great response last year from our holiday food issue that we decided to make a tradition out of devoting each year’s holiday issue to healthy eating and nutrition. I spent most of this year either being pregnant or breast feeding, which forced me to be hyperconscious of everything I put into my mouth, knowing that my actions would make a big difference in the quality of my new little one’s health. As a new parent, and an entrepreneur I am learning the art of juggling to provide healthy meals for my family without having to spend hours in the kitchen. Working on this issue was as much a personal search for those answers as it was to bring them to our readers. I think we came up with some great tips and tools as well as some delicious recipes.

One of these comes from nationally renowned chef, Suzanne Goin whose emphasis on locally grown organic food and healthy simple recipes has people lining up outside her two Los Angeles restaurants. This month she shares with us a refreshing seasonal salad featuring sweet persimmons and savory arugula as well as her views on the value of the farmer’s market, what makes a great meal and how to do it yourself in our special guest interview with her.

Another accomplished chef, Susan Marque, shares some of the simplest ways to make fast, healthy food and keep cooking from becoming a dreaded chore. She offers some great tips on everything from planning a menu for the week to which easy-to-cook foods give you the most nutritional bang for your buck.

We’re also bringing you two articles that deal with two of the most important issues surrounding the food we consume. One discusses the emerging focus on fair trade products and the other addresses the emerging market for organic food and the way that our understanding of what organic means is changing as the industry works to keep up with the growing demand. It’s something that anyone who cares about the way food is grown and treated before it gets to the market shelves will want to stay abreast of.

Knowing that the Holidays are about the joy of giving to others as well as being open to receiving, our editors Molly Roemer and Martin Hughes searched far and wide to bring you some of the most creative socially and environmentally conscious holiday gift ideas on the market this season. They’re sure to delight the ones you love while they also give back to society and the earth. You’ll find everything from organic and fair trade fashion to energy saving gadgets to organic holiday flowers and wreaths. If you still can’t find your dream gift, I suggest looking into getting a gift card from The Y Catalog, where you can “give the gift of giving” and shop consciously while supporting charities. You can find out more about the Y Catalog and their great philanthropic work at theycatalog.com.

Peaceful holidays to all of you, and may the New Year be full of nothing so you can create everything!