In general, soup ought to be a wonderful way to improve your nutrition, but many soups are high in fat and calories, and very high in sodium. While there are some good alternatives at the grocery store, you can make flavorful, healthy soups at home, without all the additives of the store-bought variety. Here are six delicious low-fat, low-calorie soups to get you started.
1. Carrot, Tomato and Zucchini Soup
Fiona Haynes
This is a thick and hearty soup, which features carrots, zucchini, canned tomatoes and garlic, with a distinctive peppery taste of fresh cilantro.
2. Broccoli Soup
Fiona Haynes
This low-fat broccoli soup makes a delicious and satisfying lunch, even for those who think they hate broccoli. The secret to this and other full-bodied low-fat soups is to use potato and some low-fat or nonfat milk, then purée the soup in a blender.
3. Cauliflower Soup
Fiona Haynes
What cauliflower lacks in color, it makes up for in nutrients. A member of the same family as broccoli, cabbage and kale, cauliflower makes a wonderful base for a soup. This is an old family favorite, even among those who wouldn't normally eat cauliflower.
4. Tomato Spinach Soup
Fiona Haynes
Tomato Spinach Soup is really a soup for all seasons, but its bright red color makes it perfect for a Valentine’s Day lunch, don’t you think? Enjoy this delicious, quick and easy low-fat soup with some whole grain bread and a side salad drizzled with your favorite low-fat dressing.
5. Butternut Squash and Pear Soup
Fiona Haynes
This is a lovely sweet, yet not too sweet, soup with a hint of mild spice. Butternut squash and pears make a wonderful combination, and both flavors are evident in this warming fall and winter soup.
6. Cream of Pumpkin Soup
Fiona Haynes
This luscious, velvety cream of pumpkin soup tastes anything but low fat. The secret to the creaminess is evaporated fat-free milk, which is stirred into the soup just a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this soup for lunch on a cold fall or winter's day. The beauty of this cream of pumpkin soup, apart from being low fat, is that it’s quick and easy to make.
