There are few dishes more satisfying than a bowl of
delicious soup. Here are three reasons why:
1. Soup helps you reach your five a day
You’re making a minestrone. You add chopped onion, celery,
carrots, tomatoes, capsicum, kale and mushrooms to the pot. You’re on your way
to creating a dish that contains seven or eight different vegetables, with a
wide range of disease-fighting nutrients to help you get your daily quota of
vegetables. Add healthy grains in the form of brown rice, barley, or quinoa,
plus a can of beans or lentils and you’ve got added protein and fibre for a
satisfying chunky soup. Your gut bugs will thank you too as your soup will be
loaded with prebiotics.
2. Soup keeps you fuller for longer
The bulk of soup helps to fill us up, so we feel satisfied
with fewer calories. Studies show that when people have soup before a main
course, they tend to eat less overall, which is how soups can help you lose
weight.
3. Soup’s convenient and easy to cook
Soups don’t need lots of hands-on time, particularly if you
use a slow cooker. Once your vegetables are chopped, you can sweat them gently
in olive oil, add water or stock and meat such as chicken or beef, and wait
until they’re cooked through. Soups are simple to cook ahead of time, and you
can easily double the quantity to freeze for a later meal.