Meatless Monday: Lemony Leek & White Bean Soup

This recipe is perfect for anyone who has jumped on the "Meatless Monday" bandwagon - and everyone else, too! I try to eat veg-centric as much as possible, for my own health and because of the environmental impact... but remembering to take time to go completely meat-free for a day is important. It gives your digestion time to relax and detox, especially after a weekend of heavy eating (or drinking). Today seemed like the perfect afternoon for a soup lunch, and this hearty white bean soup packs a punch of flavor with lemon zest and fresh thyme.

This recipe contains both a vegan and "regular" version: for the vegan one, omit any ingredients with an "*" next to their name.