DETROIT – Soup is not only comforting; it's a great way to start a meal – especially if you're watching your weight. Soup at the start of the meal makes you feel full, so you eat less.
A study by researchers at Penn State University found that people who ate a first course of soup before lunch or dinner reduced their total calorie intake for that meal by 20 per cent. So, adding soup to the meal can lead to weight loss without feeling deprived.
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Watch out for cream soups, though. If you're hoping to lose weight, research indicates that soup needs to be a low-calorie stock-based soup.
Coming home to healthy pot of soup is easy when you use a slow cooker. Pop the ingredients into the cooker in the morning and by the end of the day you've got a hot meal ready to go. Healthy soups are made with a minimum of salt and fat. To boost the flavor add flavorful herbs, spices and vegetables.
In fact, eating soup can help you meet the daily recommendation of five cups of vegetables or fruit each day. Even a cream-based soup can be made healthier by substituting reduced fat mil or evaporated milk for cream.