What is it worth of eating soup? Are the soups part of a healthy diet or should they become a thing of the past, because we usually associate them with roux, lots of cream, flour, and a small number of vegetables “floating” in them. Or on the other hand, you might think that only sick person should eat a soup to get better. Well, the truth could not be much different.
My love affairs about soups are purely emotional. Nostalgic. As you will remember by now, I grow up in Eastern Europe, and we eat soups on a every day of the week. For us, soup is always a first dinner course. However, soups are more than just memories. They are part of a healthy, balanced diet, they can be a delicious hot meal that will envelop you on autumn and winter days, but also a purely pragmatic meal, because it is often one pot and easy to prepare. Its always, or at least it was in my home, while growing up, what is the soup was always full of fresh veggies, no matter the season, so, till this day, when I cook, my soups are always pack with lots of fresh herbs and vegetables. Nowadays, you do not have to stick, to the cuisine of your country or your culture. There are recipes available everywhere, restaurants. You can try almost every type of soup that is you hear desire. So, why it is important to eat soups??
SOUPS ARE UNIVERSAL
Soups are a universal meal that can be eaten not only for lunch or as the dinner first course, but also for dinner itself, if the dish is hearty enough. More and more people switching to having soups at lunchtime, or for the first meal of the day. I am one of those who can have a dinner without a soup, preferable vegetable one. And trust me on this, warmer season does not change a thing. In my kitchen, soup is a must.
EASE OF PREPARATION
They are simple and, in most cases, quick to prepare. Usually, you just need broth or water, vegetables and a few herbs or spices and extra seasoning to make the soup. You can put everything into the pot at once and have the dish ready after a dozen or so minutes. You can add potatoes, rice, barley, or pasta, and cook it together, to make feeling on pot dish.
THEY ARE NUTRITIONAL AND CONTAIN A LOT OF DIETARY FIBER
Properly prepared soups are very nutritious. They contain a lot of dietary fiber from vegetables or groats (hulled or crushed grain, especially oats.). Therefore, they will provide a large amount of it daily, which affects, among others better regulation of bowel movements, and following this lead, they lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Fiber also makes us feel full for longer, and large volumes of soup cause our brain to receive information that a lot of food is in front of it, so we should eat well.
SOURCE OF POTASSIUM AND OTHER MINERALS AND VITAMINS
The soups are full of potassium, which lowers blood pressure and therefore reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Soups are an extremally valuable source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, E, beta-carotene, lycopene, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Depending on what ingredients you add to the soup, they can be an exceptionally good source of the above, e.g., red lentil soup is an iron mine
YOU CAN EAT THEM ALL YEAR. HELP YOU EAT THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF VEGETABLES IN WINTER
Soups can be eaten all year round, but especially in the fall and winter season, they can be an essential element of health care due to the possibility of using frozen vegetables. In autumn and winter, we do not have such a great access to many fresh vegetables and fruit. So, we may face the problem of a lack of ideas to eat the right number of vegetables in these seasons. The answer is simple: make soups and use frozen vegetables. I know it is not ideal, but it is much better that do not eat veggies at all, because they are not in season. It is a myth that they are worthless and lose valuable ingredients when frozen. In my humble opinion, its is a small sacrifice, we all can make, to eat better and at last support our bodies, with as many vegetables as possible.
SOUPS HELP TO HYDRATE THE ORGANISM
Many people find it difficult to drink enough fluids during the day. So, if you one of those, who are struggling, with the water intake, eat soups. Due to their base and the richness of vegetables, soups contain a lot of water. I must be clear here, for a moment. Fresh, homemade soup, with flavorful broth is exceptionally good for you. The processed “instant ramen soup”, or even “canned soup” (without naming the exact brands here), are full of sodium, and they will bring different effect. They will make you thirsty, and additional sodium may raise your blood pressure (if you are having problem with it)
THEY ARE A RESCUE FOR PEOPLE WITH STOMACH PROBLEMS OR AFTER SURGERY
Boiled vegetables and light cream soups are good for people with digestive problems and after operations. There is little talk about it and many people only appreciate soups when the conditions are inconvenient, and the digestive system does not cope with digestion well enough. They are also a godsend for people after dental surgery, when the only option is to eat liquid foods. Pureed soups are great then!
IN COLD MONTHS, THEY WILL KEEP YOU WARM
When it is cold outside, when we come back completely cold, there is nothing better to warm you up. Quickly heating the soup and eating a bowl that fills your whole body with warmth from the inside. Additionally, in winter soups it is easy to smuggle in a lot of beneficial ingredients that build immunity, such as turmeric, ginger, onion, garlic, or leeks.
SOUPS IS A WAY TO HIDE AND EAT YOUR FAVORITE INGREDIENTS
Many people do not like specific ingredients (especially children) and sometimes it is difficult for us to include them in the menu. In many cases, these ingredients are “edible” when properly served (or hide) in the soup with other veggies, is not a problem anymore. I know many people who are hard to persuade to eat salad with dinner, but who enjoy eating cucumber soup or carrot cream. Sometimes, even seeing the hated vegetable in soup (especially by kids, or extra picky adult) will cause refusal of the meal. So, there is one more idea, to smuggle them quietly, and pureed the soup. If for example, someone has an aversion, to spinach, after blending the soup, it is undetectable. Yes, you are welcome!
PERFECT FOR COOKING ON THE BUDGET
Most of soups are not require expensive ingredients. It a meal, that is can be made with extremely limited resources (cheap way), and still feed a family. If you want to stretch a dollar, you can always add pasta (broken spaghetti, or small shapes) or rice to the pot, together with seasonal vegetables (or the ones which are currently on sale fresh or frozen). Beans are another great ingredient, to add to the soup. They are full of fiber (good for you), and they will make the dish more filling. You can add meat if you wish (shredded chicken, mini meatballs, mini sausages) Trust me, it is a great way, to cook a food for a crowd.
SOUPS ARE VERY PRACTICAL
Today we have special thermal containers into which we pour hot soup (or a heated main course) and eat a hot meal during the working day – it is a great convenience, and you must use it. This method is also appreciated by all the people who work outside (hot meal is always welcome), drivers, or school kids. If you really do not have time to cook freshly every day, then make a bog pot of soup every 2 -3 days. You or your family can have the same soup twice. You can also make a soup base (like chicken broth, or veggie one), in large amount, and every day update it a little bit, to make a different dish (for example tomato soup, chicken noodle, Italian wedding soup with meatballs and so on…
THERE MILLLIONS OF SOUP RECIPES TO TRY
No matter where you may search for inspiration, all is around you. Wherever you will search in cookbooks, ransack your family recipe archives, search the internet, or simply go to the restaurant and order something that you never try before.
I eat soup every dat!!!!!😊🍜🍲🍛
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