Flat Belly 365 — Not Just Another Diet Cookbook

With all the trendy and fad-based diets popping up everywhere, it can be tricky to spot the good information hidden in all the fluff. One trustworthy and knowledgeable source is Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD, an established expert in the field who has a new book, Flat Belly 365: The Gut-Friendly Superfood Plan to Shed Pounds, Fight Inflammation, and Feel Great All Year Long.

* Complimentary Book Received for Review. This post may contain affiliate links.

What appeals to me most about Flat Belly 365 is that Villacorta presents research-based facts rather than folksy suppositions. For example, he doesn’t just say that oats are good for you; rather, he explains why, giving you a basis for understanding the reasons for incorporating oats into your diet. Every recipe has a call-out box highlighting one or two of its ingredients and the health benefits they provide. I’ve learned a great deal about many different foods, which will help me make better choices.

The “flat belly” part of Flat Belly 365 stems from the goal of cutting back on abdominal or visceral fat, the type of fat that is carried around the waistline and surrounds the organs. The “365” refers to Villacorta’s seasonal food plans for year-round weight loss and control. Additional emphasis is placed on fighting chronic inflammation and consuming healthful prebiotics and probiotics to promote gut health.

The Flat Belly 365 plan as presented in the book is extremely detailed. It’s divided by season with each season including a chart of fresh fruits and vegetables, a shopping list, and a 7-day “reboot” that features two meal plans (one 1,300 calories per day and one 1,800 calories per day). Each season also has a selection of recipes that not only incorporate the seasonal ingredients but also reflect the season itself, such as light, refreshing salads and cold soups in summer and more hearty salads and hot soups in winter.

You can find the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie and the Cauliflower Walnut Soup recipes from the book right here on our blog. Delicious!!!

All of this is well and good, of course, but the food must be tasty or no one will eat it! The recipes in Flat Belly 365 leave me with no doubt that eating well can indeed be delicious, too. And Villacorta’s emphasis on seasonal foods means we can enjoy fresh flavors all year long. Check out these tempting seasonal recipes:

Spring: Chocolate Smoothie Bowl; Asparagus-Quinoa Salad
Summer: Watermelon Strawberry Smoothie; Grilled Fruit and Vegetable Salad
Fall: Creamy Butternut Squash Soup; Moroccan Lamb Stew
Winter: Apple Spiced Oatmeal; Cannellini Chicken Sausage Bowl
All Seasons: Oregano Roasted Chicken; Grilled Lemon Salmon

If that sounds good to you, keep an eye out for an upcoming post here at The Classy Chics in which we’ll be sharing a recipe or two from Flat Belly 365!

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Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win their own copy of Flat Belly 365, thanks to HCI Books.

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on May 28th, 2018 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog.