My very good friend Somer McCowan’s first book is out this week! The Abundance Diet: The 28-day Plan to Reinvent Your Health. This groundbreaking cookbook and diet plan is for anyone who wants to take control of their weight and health through whole plant-based foods. Somer’s 28-Day Diet Plan includes a foreword by Neal Barnard, M.D. and a (optional) bonus juice feast to kick start your weight loss and health journey. The plan includes over 100 delicious recipes (all gluten-free) and is customizable to suit individual tastes.

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Somer trained in restaurants and bakeries in the United States and Australia. After going vegan, she reversed severe ulcerative colitis, and many who have tried her plan lost weight quickly and safely while feeling full and eating an abundance of whole plant-based foods. She blogs at www.vedgedout.com, where her vegan cheese balls have taken the vegan world by storm! Her story also features on ForksoverKnives.com and Chooseveg.com

The book is not just about Smoothies, there are hot meals that you can distribute over the day. It takes the guess work out of planning the 28 days of eating whole foods, still stay full, feel fresher and awesome while doing it. the book offers creative ways to enjoy some traditional foods with a lower calorie content. This is a diet book but also for anyone interested in improving their overall health. The recipes are based on whole ingredients.

The first few chapters talk about relationship with food, identifying negative eating patterns, tips on simplifying the menu, extending life of fresh produce, meal plans, shopping lists, reducing food waste, budgeting and more. Then the recipes that cover Breakfast, Smoothies, Soups, Salads and Dressing, Dips and Snacks, Mains, Dessert, and a chapter on fitness and extending the plan beyond 28 days. Pick up the 28 day meal plan copy here!

The Publisher is giving away a copy of the book to one blog reader! Enter the giveaway to win a copy of the book by leaving a comment on this post about your favorite Summer recipe that is whole food based and keeps you full! Somer is also giving away 5 signed copies on her blog.





Initially I thought that I might not be the audience for the book. I do not drink smoothies, esp greens, as they do not work well with my tummy. I am not particular about counting calories and such. But, as I read through the book, I keep learning stuff that I can apply to my lifestyle and already found certain patterns that I can modify. Eating healthily (and deliciously) always makes a difference in how I feel. The soups, stews, dressings, snacks, mains and dessert are going to keep me occupied for a while! Preview the book on the Look Inside feature on Amazon for access to the first few chapters and sample recipes to help you decide!

I made the Moroccan lentil stew because I always have the ingredients on hand and it was so good!. I also made the vegan egg salad. (below)

And some cashew ranch dressing to serve with roasted sweet potatoes for snack. The smoothies will show up on hubbs Summer breakfast. I am loving the soups, stews and mains like Chiles relenos casserole , African peanut stew, Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Bake, Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini Lasagna, Bananas Foster Pancakes, Raw Pad Thai, BBQ Roasted Chickpeas!, Blueberry Peach Tart with Apricot Crumble.

Even when you think you have tried red lentils in all ways possible, there are new ways to eat them, like this delicious Moroccan Lentil Stew! Lightly spiced, tomatoey, zesty and just perfect hot or cold! We served this with some multigrain garlic bread.

Print Recipe 4.92 from 12 votes Moroccan Lentil Soup Recipe from The Abundance Diet. My Australian sister-in-law Annette made this soup for us while her family was here vacationing in the United States. Here’s my interpretation of her soup, which is easily the most popular soup recipe on my website. (Recipe from The Abundance Diet, © 2015 by Somer McCowan. Used by permission from Vegan Heritage Press LLC.) Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 45 mins Total Time 1 hr Servings: 4 Calories: 358 kcal Author: Somer McCowan Ingredients 6 cups ( 1410 ml ) vegetable broth

2 cups ( 320 g ) onions chopped into 1/4-inch dice

2 medium carrots sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

2 large cloves garlic minced or pressed

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 1/2 ( 1.5 ) heaped teaspoons ground cumin

3/4 teaspoon ( 0.75 teaspoon ) ground turmeric

3/4 teaspoon ( 0.75 teaspoon ) smoked paprika

3/4 teaspoon ( 0.75 teaspoon ) ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ( 0.75 teaspoon ) ground ginger

28 oz ( 793.79 g ) can crushed tomatoes

1 1/2 cups ( 288 g ) split dry red lentils picked over and rinsed

1/3 cup ( 20 g ) chopped parsley

1/3 cup ( 20 g ) chopped cilantro

Juice of 1 large lemon

1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste

1/3 teaspoon ( 0.33 teaspoon ) ground black pepper Instructions Heat 1/4 cup of the vegetable broth in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, and garlic and sauté, adding additional broth as necessary to keep the vegetables from burning. Sauté until the onions are softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the coriander, cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Sauté the vegetables and seasonings for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the flavors to bloom. Add the remaining vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, and lentils and bring to a boil.

Cover the pot and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 30 minutes or until the lentils are fully cooked. Add the parsley, cilantro, and lemon juice and stir to combine. Season with the salt and pepper. For texture variation you can pulse the soup a few times with an immersion blender. For extra brightness, squeeze an additional slice of lemon over each bowl. Notes Nutritional values based on one serving Nutrition Nutrition Facts Moroccan Lentil Soup Recipe from The Abundance Diet. Amount Per Serving Calories 358 Calories from Fat 9 % Daily Value* Fat 1g 2% Sodium 386mg 17% Potassium 1477mg 42% Carbohydrates 68g 23% Fiber 27g 113% Sugar 15g 17% Protein 22g 44% Vitamin A 6245IU 125% Vitamin C 39.4mg 48% Calcium 162mg 16% Iron 8.8mg 49% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This giveaway is open to US only. To enter, please leave a comment on this post about your favorite Summer recipe that is whole food based and keeps you full! A winner will be picked on June 18th midnight.