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7 Reasons to put soup on the menu for your health—plus 8 tasty recipes

WRITTEN BY: COACH MORGAN P.

Nourishing your body with healthy food is one of the most important elements in living a healthier life. At Found, we encourage including protein, healthy carbohydrates, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit in our meals. (Check out our Meal Prep Guide and Recipes.) With the change in seasons, we often begin to crave warm, comforting dishes. Over time, unfortunately, even our favorite comfort foods can get boring. We crave something new! Switching it up doesn’t have to lead you astray from your health and fitness goals.

This can be a great time to add variety to your routine. Research shows that adding variety to our diets ensures we get a diverse range of vitamins and minerals. Opting for soups and stews is also a great way to shop foods that are in season, which in turn may save you money. SCORE!

7 reasons to put soup on the menu

Here are some of the reasons to add more soup to your winter meal planning:

It’s easy to add lots of vegetables to soups—and your diet.
Some nutrients become more bio-available when heated, such as the beta-carotene in carrots.
You can get more folate (Vitamin B9) from leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard when they’re cooked in soups and stews compared to steaming them.
Soup can be made ahead of time, usually in one pot, making the leftovers a quick, filling meal!
It’s easy to make healthier soups by using lean meats and low-sodium broths or water. You can thicken soups by pureeing white beans instead of using cream. Check out the tomato soup recipe below.
Soups and stews can help you save money if you shop for vegetables that are in season.
Soups and stews bring variety to your diet by providing a diverse range of vitamins and minerals.

As the days get shorter and cooler, we seek warm, comforting foods. We hope these soup and stew recipes will make your days a little brighter and warmer.

8 tasty, healthy soup recipes

Lentil, Kale, and Quinoa Soup Check out this protein-packed, plant-based soup from Detoxinista that is sure to keep you full and satisfied on those Meatless Mondays. Vegan friendly! Recipe via Detoxinista.

Mexican Chickpea Stew Spice it up a bit with this vegan, Mexican-inspired stew that takes cooking with chickpeas to another level. Recipe via Well + Good. Spicy Smoky Sweet Chili Try this freezer-friendly, sweet and spicy chili that is sure to win the family over on those chilly days (no pun intended). This recipe calls for ground beef, but you may swap it with ground turkey or chicken if desired. Recipe via Iowa Girl Eats.

Hearty Tomato Soup Hearty is in the name, and hearty is what you’ll get! The hints of lemon and rosemary you find in this vegetarian soup will give you something to write home about. Try swapping olive oil for butter and greek yogurt for creme fraiche. Recipe via Food Network.

Chicken Noodle Soup A little spin on an old classic that will have your taste buds begging for more. This immunity-boosting chicken noodle soup is made with gluten-free pasta but can be subbed with regular noodles if desired. Recipe via Self Health & Wellness.

Curry Chicken Soup Looking for an easy dinner with a quick clean-up? You’ve come to the right place. This one-pot soup is full of curry flavor and fiber that is sure to keep you full and your taste buds happy! Even better, it’s Instant Pot-friendly, making dinner a breeze! Recipe via Detoxinista.

Lentil Soup Eat the rainbow with this colorful and flavorful, vegan-friendly soup that can be cooked and on your table in 30 minutes. Recipe via Minimalist Baker.

Simple Pumpkin Soup This savory, subtly sweet soup is not only vibrant in color, but its aroma will also have you coming back for seconds, and that’s okay! Full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, this recipe will not disappoint. It’s vegan friendly, and you can use canned pumpkin puree if desired (approximately 2 cans). Recipe via Minimalist Baker.

Take some time to log your meals, movement, and other dailies in the app to track your progress. It gives you time to reflect, and science shows it supports your success.

About Coach Morgan P.

I have been a Registered Dietitian for 4 years, and my passion lies in the HAES and body positive movement. I completed a combined bachelors and masters program in Dietetics and Kinesiology at Iowa State University. I have been in the health and fitness industry as a group fitness instructor for roughly 9 years. I live in Iowa with my husband, daughter, and furbaby. When I am not working and helping others find their definition of health, I love to try a new workout class with a friend or attend fun events in the area with my family.