As the weather starts to get cooler, there’s nothing like a warm, comforting bowl of soup to lift my spirits. When you feel a bit run down, soup is a great way to add more vegetables and nutrients into your diet.
Despite largely consisting of liquid, soup can be very filling. One study found that people who ate a smooth soup felt fuller for longer than people who ate a solid meal. This is likely because soup is high in volume, which can make your stomach feel physically fuller.
However, not all soups are made equal. For instance, using a broth base offers more health benefits than a cream base. This isn’t to say you can’t have cream soup. If you make some adjustments, such as substituting cream for fat-free milk, you can have a nutritious bowl of cream soup.
Soups are highly customizable. You can design your soup based on personal preferences (opting for veggie soups if you’re vegetarian) or nutrition goals (increasing protein intake by adding tofu or beans). Even if some soups are more nutritious than others, this doesn’t take away from the fact that soup is an excellent comfort food.
Overall, a vegetable-rich, broth-based soup containing whole grains and healthy protein is an excellent way to support balanced nutrition while enjoying a satisfying meal.
By Peter Yurek, BSc. Phm.
