Healthy Soup Recipes

07 Jan Healthy Soup Recipes

What’s not to love about soup? It’s delicious, convenient, low in calories and can help keep the weight off. That is long as you’re sticking to water and tomato based broths. Soup may be a light meal, but that doesn’t mean it leaves you unsatisfied. The high water content of soup does a great job of making you feel full. Also, because you have to eat soup slowly, you’re more likely to enjoy every spoonful. Plus, there’s nothing more comforting than a big bowl of soup and a some wheat crackers on a cold winter night.

Image from Iowagirleats.com

Chicken Noodle Soup

Grandma was right!. There’s nothing like a bowl of old-fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup to comfort you through a cold. The steamy, salty broth can help open up your sinuses and soothe a sore throat.

For an easy bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup. Add sauted carrots, celery, and green onion to a pot of boiling chicken broth. Add diced chicken, salt, pepper, and any kind of pasta you like. Simmer until the chicken and pasta are thoroughly cooked.

Image found at http://www.livestrong.com/article/393502-tomato-soup-benefits/

Tomato Soup
If you’re feeling under the weather, whipping up a warm bowl of tomato soup might be just what your immune system needs. Tomatoes are bursting with lycopene an antioxidant that helps your body fight against chronic diseases. It also has tons of Vitamin A which aids cell regrowth and Vitamin C which can shorten the duration of you cold and help fight infections.

For a quick bowl of tomato soup. Simmer a can of tomatoes with some onions over medium heat. Add some flour and milk to give it a rich creamy taste without the added calories of actual cream. Puree everything and softly boil for about 20 minutes.

For an even quicker bowl of soup. Just add one can of tomato sauce with an equal amount of water. Add milk to taste and softly boil for about 10 minutes.

Image from: http://iowagirleats.com/2015/08/07/crock-pot-beef-stew/

Crock Pot Beef Stew
There’s nothing quite like coming home from work and having dinner ready. That’s the beauty of a crock pot. If you need a hearty dinner as soon as you get home in the evening, this stew is for you.

Add 1-1/2lbs of cut up stew meat, 1lb chopped potatoes, 2 chopped carrots, 1 chopped onion, 3 cloves minced garlic, 3 Tablespoons tomato paste,1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, some beef broth to a crock pot. Cook on low for six to eight hours. To thicken the soup into a stew, add some flour to ladle full of liquid off the top of the soup. Then, pour the liquid back in. Let sit for about 30 more minutes.

If you’re planning to start this recipe in the morning but don’t have time to chop all the vegetables before you go to work, just substitute a bag of frozen mixed vegetables for the potatoes and carrots. Experiment with different spices like rosemary, thyme, or parsley to find the right flavor.

Image from: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-family-favorite-chili/c6f4c4e2-8298-4d9d-8f21-d4ca19d35cb7

Crock Pot Chili

Brown 2 lbs of ground beef in a medium skillet. Add 1 large chopped onion and simmer until beef has completely browned. Drain and add to crock pot. Add 2
cloves of finely chopped garlic, 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 can of pinto or kidney beans, 1 can of tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons of chilli powder, 1 ½ teaspoons of ground cumin, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Cover and cook on a low setting for 6 to 8 hours. Top with cheddar cheese, add a side of crackers, wrap up in a cozy blanket and enjoy with Netflix.
If you like a little more heat in you chilli, try substituting diced tomatoes with green chillies for a little extra kick.