Printed in at least twenty editions by 1851, The Young Housekeeper was a successful work by prolific author and president of the American Vegetarian Society, William A. Alcott. Of the 108 books authored by Alcott, The Young Housekeeper focuses on the role of mothers and housekeepers in the healthy preparation of food for the family. Alcott stressed that the types of food consumed as well as the method of preparation all combined to be “best for their whole being, here and hereafter.” While Alcott’s beliefs and aspirations are informative about mid-19th century reform, The Young Housekeeper also provides recipes for simple vegetarian meals from chapters such as The Apple, The Pear, and The Cucumber.
Printed in at least twenty editions by 1851, The Young Housekeeper was a successful work by prolific author and president of the American Vegetarian Society, William A. Alcott. Of the 108 books authored by Alcott, The Young Housekeeper focuses on the role of mothers and housekeepers in the healthy preparation of food for the family. Alcott stressed that the types of food consumed as well as the method of preparation all combined to be “best for their whole being, here and hereafter.” While Alcott’s beliefs and aspirations are informative about mid-19th century reform, The Young Housekeeper also provides recipes for simple vegetarian meals from chapters such as The Apple, The Pear, and The Cucumber.