What happens if you eat soup every day

There is perhaps nothing more satisfying in this world than a bowl of hot soup. Especially on a cold winter day, there really is no better way to warm up. Whether it’s a thick, creamy bisque or a broth-based chicken noodle, soup can always provide cozy comfort for the winter blues. But what if it becomes your meal of choice quite often and you end up choosing to eat soup every day?

So, for all soup lovers out there, we wanted to know how healthy or unhealthy this warming food can be. We spoke with a few dietitians to understand what happens when you consume soup regularly and choose to eat soup every day. And if you’re really looking to improve your healthy cooking game, here are 100 of the easiest recipes to prepare.

If you’ve ever been curious as to why people often eat soup or salad before a main meal, you’re not alone. Depending on the type of soup you eat, having a bowl or a cup before your main course can help you feel more satisfied.

According to Laura Burak MS, RD, CDN, foods that are higher in water can fill you up faster. “Starting a meal with soup or salad, both high water volume and low calorie foods, will fill you up and prevent overeating at meals,” she says.

This could mean that if you enjoy a good soup side with your dinner, you could find yourself consuming fewer calories overall, while still feeling fully satisfied.

That being said, it’s important to note that sometimes eating certain types of soup as a main course can actually make you hungrier later. It has everything to do with the ingredients you choose and the number of nutrients you consume in the meal.

Lauren Hoover, RD believes that eating soup with a variety of balanced nutrients is the key to feeling full and satisfied.

“Some soups aren’t very filling if they are missing a main macronutrient (eg protein, complex carbohydrates, etc.),” she says. “So, [as a] Therefore, having soup for a meal can lead to a lack of fuel and excessive snacking later. “

Burak also suggests packing your soups with nutrient-dense foods to avoid feeling hungry and overeating.

“Stick to low-sodium broth-based soups that contain nutritious ingredients like high-fiber vegetables, herbs, spices and grains, beans, split peas and lentils,” Burak says. .

The good news is, if you’re intentional about what you put in your soup, you can make sure you’re getting tons of nutrients for fewer calories than most other meals. Studies have shown that soup is actually a contributing factor in weight loss, maintaining weight goals, and reducing the risk of obesity.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, award-winning FAND nutrition expert, and the Wall Street newspaper bestselling cookbook author, believes that soup has the potential to be a great source of nutrition.

“If it’s a broth-based soup that contains lots of vegetables and beans, it’s a fabulous way to absorb fiber, antioxidant vitamins A and C, and get potassium,” she says.

Burak agrees.

“Broth-based soups are great value,” she says. When we skip the creamy soups and stick to a broth that contains foods like veggies, beans or lentils, “we’re filling our tank with tons of nutrients and fiber, but not a lot of calories.”

And Hoover adds that even the way we cook the soup can help us get our nutrients with fewer calories throughout the week.

“Soups are easy to prepare, especially if you’re using a slow cooker or pressure cooker, and can be made in large batches,” says Hoover. “Making a large, nutrient-dense soup on the weekends is a great way to make sure you have a healthy, nutrient-dense meal for the week.”

Do you want more? Find out the easy way to make healthier comfort foods.

There’s nothing quite like a bowl of cheesy cheddar broccoli soup or a creamy clam chowder. Unfortunately, this type of soup can pack a punch in terms of calories and saturated fat. Our dietitians have all agreed that when choosing your soup it is important to know that any cream-based soup will be much higher in fat.

Burak suggests consuming soups made with broth instead of cream if you want to reduce your fat intake.

“Soups made with heavy cream instead of broth can be calorie bombs, and they tend to contain a lot of saturated fat (not good for the heart),” she says.

Amidor agrees that butter and other high fat ingredients in cream-based soups can lead to increased saturated fat intake. She also reminds us that this increased consumption of saturated fat “has been shown to increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, especially if you eat it often.” So you’ll want to make sure you don’t choose to eat cream-based soup every day!

In addition to being high in saturated fat, soup can also be accompanied by sodium overload. The American Heart Association recommends that the average person consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but a regular can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup already contains 890 milligrams of sodium per serving.

“While soups can be a healthy choice, they tend to contain high levels of sodium, especially when you buy them at a restaurant instead of making them yourself,” Burak explains. In order to combat these higher levels, she suggests “making homemade batches of easy soups so you can control the sodium.” And if you’re craving restaurant-made soup for the evening, “just rinse it off with plenty of water, especially if you’re salt sensitive,” Burak says.

Whether you crave creamy bisque or chowder, or crave broth-based chicken noodles, our dietitians all agree that making soup at home instead of ordering it at a restaurant or opting for it. for the canned version is always the best option. for your health.

Hoover suggests choosing “a source of lean protein, complex carbohydrate, vegetables and a broth base” for the perfect healthy soup at home. And Amidor adds that if you’re going for the creamier soup base, try using “starchy veggies like Yukon Gold potato or butternut squash.” When aiming for the perfect, healthy, home-cooked soup, “don’t forget to top your soup with a few tablespoons of chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, salsa, or Greek yogurt,” Amidor explains.