Healthy Soups

Soup is typically food prepared using liquid in a bowl formed on the top of a cooking pot. Consuming soup is known to be a good method for our body to eliminate several toxins and harmful substances. 

People who are on a diet or trying to lose weight find simple soups like chicken broth good for their diet. A pot of steaming spicy soup can curb your craving for food and curb your hunger level at the same time.

Soup is one of the most popular and delicious foods around the world. It has nourished humans since ancient times. Soup is both a snack and a meal, eaten at any time of day in many countries.

Soup can be an excellent choice as a snack. Soups are low in calories. In fact, some soups contain fewer than 100 calories. A serving is just right for a healthy snack. So you can reduce your calorie intake with a bowl of soup.

Studies have shown that eating healthy soups have been linked to a reduced risk of obesity. It helps lower body weight and waist circumference. It was also found that soups had better diet quality, characterized by reduced fat and increased protein and fiber intakes.

Eating soup may increase fullness due to cognitive factors where people believe the soup will make them full. Some soups may also be high in fiber, which helps increase feelings of fullness by delaying gastric emptying.

Delaying gastric emptying and increasing gastric volume leads to reduced hunger.

Eating soups can help you stay hydrated for a long time. Water is essential for your health and your total water intake may come from drinking water, water in beverages or water in food- as is the case for soup, fruits and vegetables.

10 Healthy Soups for Weight Loss

The meals that make the most health benefits include soup with the right combination of meat and vegetables for weight loss.

Here are 10 healthy soups that will help you lose weight:

1. Garlic & Vegetable Soup

Garlic is one of the most beneficial ingredients that can combat sickness, improve cholesterol levels and is also believed to lower the risk of heart diseases. The combination of veggies with garlic makes this soup beneficial for weight loss.

2. Carrot & Moong Dal Soup

This aromatic soup will surely refresh your taste buds. The mixing of carrots with lentils makes this soup extremely nutritious as well as weight loss-friendly.

3. Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is widely popular and one of the easiest soups to prepare. Its tangy flavour and nutritious value provide a plethora of benefits. When a dash of coriander leaves and toasted croutons are added to it, the soup becomes delectable.

4. Mushroom Soup

Mushrooms become even more appetizing when cooked with onions and milk. This soup has a tempting smell and pleasing odour.

5. Corn & Cabbage Soup

This is a Chinese soup and is a must-try if you love sweet corn. The best thing about this soup is that it requires only a few ingredients and helps in satisfying hunger.

6. Spinach Soup

Spinach is a great source of iron and fiber. Spinach soup is nutrient-dense and easy to prepare. When blended with milk, it gives a creamilicious texture and taste.

7. Mix Vegetable Soup

A combination of vegetables with a dash of pepper, oregano & herbs make this soup a perfect choice for weight loss. Adding lots of veggies not only increases the nutrition content of the soup but also makes it tempting.

8. Broccoli & Bean Soup

Needless to say, broccoli is an extremely healthy vegetable and this soup with an assortment of beans can be highly effective for weight loss.

9. Oats Vegetable Soup

This soup is extraordinarily effective in reducing weight as it satisfies hunger and keeps one full for long. A combination of oats with various vegetables would be tantalizing as oats are extremely beneficial and filled with fiber.

10. Pumpkin Soup

The taste of pumpkin soup may not be everyone’s choice but it is an extremely beneficial soup for weight loss. The enticing flavour of rich pumpkin mixed with the classic creaminess of toned milk serves a pleasant smell that is irresistible. To enrich the taste of this soup, many people add aromatic herbs to it.

How to Prepare Soup?

1. Aromatic herbs are the start of any successful soup. Just grab a big pot and saute anything from the allium family like onions, scallions, shallots and leeks in a little bit of butter or olive oil or bacon fat, etc. You can also add garlic, carrots and celery chopped in small dice.

2. Herbs and spices add another layer of complexity to even the simplest soup but they are worth it. Add dried spices early on, while you cook your aromatic herbs. The heat brings out the oils in the spices and then they will start to pop. Try autumnal classics like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, garam masala, turmeric and chilly.

3. You can also use the seasonal harvest. Try squashes, potatoes, rutabaga, apples, turnips, cauliflower, kale, chard and pears. Chopping them into small pieces will help them cook more quickly. Simmer the vegetables in stock or water until they are soft. A good ratio of cooking liquid to vegetables is about 3:1.

4. To make your soup healthier, add healthy foods like tofu, beans, pork, chicken breast, etc. Try experimenting with chewy, heart-healthy grains like barley, spelt, brown rice, farro and quinoa. They add an excellent texture to the soup. 

5. Lastly, toppings and condiments are the final touches to the soup. Try croutons, crispy-fried onions or crushed nuts with coriander leaves. Add a swirl of plain curd or unsweetened cream to a soup with spice. Crumble or shave some cheese over a hearty stew or use fresh herbs to brighten broth-based soups.

Take Away

Generally, soups are easy to prepare and are also loaded with a lot of nutrients. But when it comes to choosing the best one, it all comes down to its ingredients. When made with nutrient-rich ingredients like vegetables and lean proteins, soup may provide numerous health benefits.

However, you may want to watch out for cream-based, canned and instant soups, as they usually have a higher calorie and sodium content.