BOOKS FOR THE TIME-SHORT COOK

20 Minute Menus, by Marion Burros (Simon & Schuster, $19.95). Simple, good-tasting meals for you, for two, or for your family using fresh, natural ingredients. Light & Spicy, by Barbara Gibbons (Harper & Row, $22.95). A tour of the great ethnic cuisines, adapted for convenience and nutrition.

Real American Food, by Jane & Michael Stern (Knopf, $19.95). Short, easy recipes in this funny and affectionate book tell you how to make regional American dishes.

Today's Tips For Easy Living, by Dian Thomas (HP Books, $5.95). Whimsical but thoroughly efficient recipes from a Today Show regular.

Eating Right the Dietary Guidelines Way, (US Department of Agriculture, various prices). Four booklets give specific advice on how to shop, fix quick meals, eat out, and enjoy snacks in a more wholesome way. Speed and ease of preparation are important concerns:

``Preparing Foods and Planning Menus Using the Dietary Guidelines'' ($2.50, item No. 172-V); ``Shopping For Foods and Making Meals in Minutes'' ($3, item No. 174-V); ``Eating Better When Eating Out Using the Dietary Guidelines'' ($1.50, item No. 175-V); ``Making Bag Lunches, Snacks, & Desserts Using the Dietary Guidelines'' ($2.50 item no. 173-V).

To order, write: Consumer Information Center, Dept. 70, Pueblo, CO 81009. Specify the item number and include a check or money order payable to the Superintendent of Documents.