NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The creator of Shred Happens shares 100+ low-carb, high-protein recipes―all flavored with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flair―that he developed to lose 100 pounds. “The beautifully vibrant photographs in this book tell you one thing: This is some seriously body-loving food.”—Kat Ashmore, New York Times bestselling author of Big Bites Arash Hashemi is a regular, food-loving guy who lost 100 pounds by changing the way he eats. He taught himself how to cook to get maximum flavor in minimum time while meeting his macros. His secret? Drawing inspiration from his Persian roots, Mediterranean favorites, and other world cuisines to create crave-worthy spice combinations and sauces for his filling meals. When he started sharing his healthy, easy recipes on social media, they took off, as did his viral low-carb, high-protein Kaizen Pasta. Now, in his debut cookbook, he shares his formula for success: mouthwatering meals built on protein, veggies, and satisfying lower-carb alternatives, dressed up with amazing flavors and sauces. You’ll find: • Shareable Plates: Invite your friends to split Warm Roasted Eggplant with Tahini and Walnuts. • Spreads & Dips: Make dips a lifestyle with Grilled Eggplant Dip ( Baba Ghanoush ) and Garlic Feta Dip. • Salads: Hearty faves like Spicy Tuna Salad and Mediterranean Chicken Salad won’t leave you hungry. • Mains: You’ll crave the main event with Lamb Koftas with Cucumber Dill Yogurt Sauce, Ricotta-Stuffed Eggplant Rolls, and Spicy Walnut Jumbo Scallops. • Pasta & Rice: Pasta Carbonara and “Marry Me” Chicken Pasta will soothe your soul. • Power Bowls: Arash’s viral Salmon Power Bowl and Korean Beef Bowl will crush your macros and your hunger. • Sauces & Salsas: Chili Lime Everything Sauce, Zhoug, Chermoula, and Spicy Yum Yum Sauce are absolute game-changers that elevate the most basic plate of protein and veggies into a whole new dimension. • Desserts: Satisfy your sweet tooth without the carbs with Lemon Ricotta Crepes and Baklava Pancakes. With a philosophy geared toward approachable meals that anyone can make in 30 minutes or less and stunning photography, these recipes deliver soul-satisfying goodness that sets you up for success. “Arash Hashemi and his food are delightful. With his friendly and hospitable smile, he is proof that you really can have it all as he teaches you to make comforting, exciting, nourishing meals. It may be a cliché, but we do eat with our eyes first. The beautifully vibrant photographs in this book tell you one thing: This is some seriously body-loving food.” —Kat Ashmore, New York Times bestselling author of Big Bites “ So Easy, So Good is intentionally crafted with recipes that are not only delicious but approachable and nourishing. Hashemi shares his personal journey to show how a healthy relationship with food can deepen your connection with yourself and others while honoring your body with fresh, flavorful recipes that you are excited to make again and again.” —Carissa Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of Seriously, So Good Arash Hashemi is the creator behind Shred Happens and the co-founder of Kaizen Food Company. Introduction HOW I GOT TO BE MORE THAN 330 POUNDS I never thought I’d be writing this book. I’m just a regular guy with a long record of failing at every diet imaginable. You name it, I’ve tried it. And trust me, there were plenty growing up in the 1990s and 2000s. From the big names like WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig, the Atkins diet,and the South Beach Diet, to the realm of the unconventional, with diets like the cabbage soup diet, the egg diet, and a myriad of other fad diets. Instead of weight loss, they ultimately led to me have a horrible relationship with food. What they did lead to was overeating, emotional eating, and binges. I had all the books, magazines, and subscriptions you can think of, yet continued to get bigger and bigger. For years (read: decades) I chased the miracle solution to lose weight, get healthy, and take control over my relationship with food. I aimed to lose x amount of weight by y date. By this birthday, by this summer, by this school year, by this wedding, by this party, by this family gathering. It never happened. By the time I was twenty years old, I weighed more than 330 pounds and was completely miserable. So much so that I stopped stepping on the scale. I just didn’t want to know anymore. I was uncomfortable in my own skin, had to continue buying bigger clothes, and felt trapped in my own head and body. I wasn’t completely sedentary throughout all this either. During practically all this time, I did work out a bit. I had gym memberships and even personal trainers. But I learned very quickly you cannot outrun a poor diet, no matter how fast you run. I would undo an hour of effort in a few bites. The problem wasn’t my activity level. My biggest impediment to health was my relationship with food