Why Soup is Great + 10 of Our FAVES
With cold weather approaching and Holidays around every corner, I find myself breaking out the largest pots in my kitchen to make one of my favorite foods: SOUP.
I genuinely don’t think you can eat too much soup, and honestly, many of us could be enjoying it even more often! Soup and stews keep you and your family warm and toasty when the temperature starts falling, but it also has a myriad of other benefits.
Here are just a few reasons to eat more soup:
CONVENIENCE AND MONEY
Soup and stew are effortless to make and don’t take a lot of time! Also, if you have leftovers in your fridge or vegetables that are slowly browning, you can throw those in for a fresh meal—no more throwing away old food when you get extra uses out of them! Or, you can use frozen veggies without sacrificing the value, texture, or taste.
And if you’re not sold yet, this also can save you money and take some much-needed stress off your wallet. Many ingredients in a soup can be bought in batches or may already be found in your house (either as staples or leftovers), so you won’t need to shell out a ton of cash to cook these soups.
HEALTH
As long as you avoid cream-based soups filled with fat, calories, and sodium, then you’ll find soup is incredibly good for you! Most soup recipes are loaded with valuable nutrients and can even help you meet your daily vegetable goal. With the right recipe, such as vegetable-based or broth-based soups, one meal may provide plenty of vitamins, minerals, and fibers without overwhelming your body with calories or fat.
MEAL PREP
Because most soups are inexpensive and easy to prepare, they make an excellent choice for meal prepping. They do well in the freezer and still taste fantastic when thawed. This can also be said for stews! So, if you have a busy week ahead, make a massive batch of your favorite soup or stew, stick it in the freezer, and save future you a lot of time and hassle.
HYDRATION
Staying hydrated is especially important in the winter and colder months, as our skin tends to dry out faster. Plus, many people will drink less water when it’s cold out because they don’t sweat or feel naturally as thirsty. However, your body still needs plenty of fluid, and thankfully, soups can help you get it. Since they’re primarily liquid and often include ingredients high in water (such as broth or celery), soup and stews are a great way to stay hydrated and full.
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Last but not least, soup can give your immune system a much-needed boost. Because of the nutrients I mentioned, most soups are great at fighting common illnesses such as the cold or flu. There’s a reason people give their sick loved ones chicken soup! It’s loaded with powerful antioxidants that help boost the immune system, such as garlic, carrots, spinach, and turmeric. And as a bonus, hot soups can help soothe sore throats.
As you can see, I LOVE soup and think we could all benefit from making more this season. But if you don’t know where to start or feel overwhelmed, don’t worry!
Here Are Ten of My FAVORITE Soups and Stews:
🥣 Turkey, Sausage, Spinach, and White Bean Soup
Perfect for cold days when you need to warm up, this soup is healthy, light, and satisfying! This recipe is full of protein and vegetables while still leaving room for you to make changes to fit your family’s tastebuds. When picking out the ingredients, feel free to choose your ground meat (I like turkey and a bit of spicy sausage) and healthy greens (kale or spinach)!
🥣 Refreshing Cucumber Soup
Not all soup has to be hot! In fact, I love this particular recipe because it’s cold and refreshing. Plus, it’s incredibly simple to make. All you have to do is throw everything into a blender and let it chill in the fridge. It’s packed FULL of nutrients and flavor, and the cucumbers make it an exceptionally hydrating soup.
🥣 Nourishing Minestrone Soup
If you’re simply looking for convenience, look no further! This soup is easy to make and freezes well, lasting up to three months. And I don’t know about you, but I feel surrounded by zucchini and squash right now, so I plan on making a huge batch.
🥣 Instant Pot Beef Vegetable Soup
This soup is DELICIOUS as well as being inexpensive and nutritious. You can also make it with bison, a great alternative to beef and has more omega 3 fatty acids. It’s also an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, iron, and zinc.
🥣 Creamy Broccoli Soup
I’m a sucker for a well-made creamy soup. They’re just so comforting and satisfying! But most are heavy with fats, which is why I came up with this recipe. It has all the delicious flavors you’d expect from cream-based soups and broccoli soup but is much healthier.
🥣 Leftover Turkey + Bean Soup
Save this recipe for after Thanksgiving when you find your fridge bursting with leftover turkey! It’s delicious and convenient and a GREAT way to shed inflammation and water weight after several heavy meals. Plus, the garlic in the soup can help clear congestion that is more common in the fall and winter.
🥣 Pesto Chicken Zoodle Soup
A lot of us may find ourselves sniffling more or stuck at home thanks to a nasty cold or flu. Be sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating as much healthy food as possible to stay healthy. But if you want an extra immune boost or if you do get sick, try this soup! It has all the benefits of chicken noodle soup but with more nutrients.
🥣 Healing Turmeric Chicken Soup
Turmeric increases antioxidants in the body and contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds. Ginger also fights infection and can help clear congestion. Also, garlic is said to help reduce symptoms and severity of the common cold and flu, among many other health issues, so this soup is great to have on hand during flu season. Basically, this soup is a POWERHOUSE, and you’ll want it on your side in the fight against illnesses.
🥣 Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup
This might be one of the simplest soups on this list! All you need is an immersion blender or a conventional blender, and your meal will be ready quickly. That doesn’t mean it’s bland, though! On the contrary, the flavors of this soup are so complex and delicious that you’ll be sure to impress your whole family.
🥣 Crockpot Cabbage Soup With Beef
This soup could also be considered a stew, and you can make it in a crockpot, instapot, or stove pot! That means if you have a busy day, you can just put all the ingredients together in the morning and let it cook all day while you work or run errands. Come home to a delicious, protein-packed, and veggie-packed meal that’s a warm, comforting hug to your soul. (Plus, it will make your house smell amazing!)
I could keep listing soups all day long, but I’ll stop myself here! These are some of my absolute favorites, so I hope you find a few you like too from this list.
Whether using a slow cooker or making a pot right before dinner, you’ll find that soup is a fuss-free way to put dinner on the table! It’s such a lifesaver with the amount of money and time it saves me. Plus, everyone in my family loves these recipes, and each one is so comforting and convenient in its own way.
Let me know what soup is your favorite in the comments and if you make one of these, be sure to share your final product and tag me so I can partake in all the soup-making joy this season!
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