Health Advocate Blog

Warm up with a bowl of soup!

During the colder months, eating a bowl of soup is a comforting and filling way to take away the fall/winter chill. By making your own soup, you are in control of putting together a variety of healthy ingredients to ensure that you and your family enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal—plus, it is an easy one-pot meal! Here are some healthy recipes we enjoy.

Avgolemono soup – This classic Greek recipe is the ultimate comfort soup. Adding pureed artichokes can elevate this recipe to a restaurant quality soup and add fiber to make it more filling!

Paprika & Red Pepper Soup with Pistachio Puree – This tasty recipe is high in vitamins A and C and low in calories—just 241 calories per serving!

Mexican Chicken Soup – Using traditional Mexican ingredients, this heart-healthy soup is sure to be a winner at your next dinner.

Rasam –  This traditional Indian soup will awaken your taste buds and will be your new go-to for a comforting meal. Serve with brown rice for a hearty meal.          

Broccoli, Cannellini Bean & Cheddar Soup – It’s difficult to find a low-calorie broccoli and cheddar soup that has the same creaminess as its full-calorie counterpart. This recipe is the solution, coming in at just 152 calories per servings—you’ll be amazed at how creamy pureed cannellini beans can be!

Minestrone Soup – An Italian favorite, this delicious soup is good on its own and can be made even better by loading it up with additional vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, eggplant and zucchini!

Chunky Chicken Soup – You don’t have to be sick to enjoy a bowl of chicken soup. This tasty soup is easy to prepare. Add whole grain pasta and double up the veggies for a nutritional boost!

Healthy Beef Soup – This hearty recipe includes kale, mushrooms, turnips and more! It is packed with protein and loaded with whole grains.

Crazy about canned soup? Make your favorite canned soups healthier!

Add some or all of these items to canned soups to boost their nutritional benefits.

  • Add leafy greens such as spinach and kale—they’ll quickly wilt and you’ll barely notice a taste difference.
  • Pack your soup full of protein by adding beans such as cannellini, kidney or garbanzo, just to name a few.
  • Leave room for legumes such as lentils!
  • Include some whole grains such as whole grain pasta, brown rice or wild rice.
  • Add some low- or no-sodium vegetable broth to dilute some of the sodium from the canned soup and add more nutrients.