A warm bowl of winter soup featuring veggies, grains, spices, proteins and more can keep you cozy this season, but did you know that eating more soup can also boost your health?
As British Columbia dips down into chillier than normal temperatures this season, you may be looking for ways to warm up. Do you have your trusty winter soup recipes ready to go?
If not, it’s time to find some! Stews, chili, gumbos, bisques and soups galore are certainly the stars this time of year — and not just because they can warm us all up. Winter bowls offer an easy way to pack in good-for-you produce, settle in on sick days, cobble together cost-effective meals and even bolster your body's defenses with immune system superfoods during cold and flu season.
But while online recipes are a dime a dozen, it can be challenging to discover healthy soups that won’t shortchange you on flavor. Fortunately, plenty of those exist — if you know where to look. With picks from the Canadian Heart Association, the Canadian Diabetes Association and other go-to sources, here’s what you should consider adding to your recipe box this winter.
1. Chicken noodle soup What would a winter soup list be without the classic chicken noodle? This homemade healthy chicken noodle soup is the perfect comforting dish to serve when the cooler weather arrives and is so much better than store-bought! Make up a batch at the beginning of the week for a quick, easy and tasty lunch or one-pot dinner throughout the week. It only takes 30 minutes to prepare! {Gluten-free friendly} Nothing lifts your spirits and stokes nostalgia like a delicious bowl of chicken noodle soup!
2. Butternut squash soup Make the most of seasonal powerhouse butternut squash with this cozy-colored bowl. This Healthy Butternut Squash Soup is paleo, Whole30, vegan, and naturally gluten/dairy free. Easily made in your crockpot, instant pot or on the stove! Super creamy and rich – this is a soup recipe everyone will love! Not only does it go down smooth and easy, but it’s also a good source of vitamins A, C and copper — which all help the immune system function as it should. Consider freezing in smaller one-serving containers to make reheated meals in a flash.
3. Turkey and veggie chili Who doesn’t love an easy family favorite? One thing we love about this Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili is that not only is it loaded with veggies BUT that it’s a complete meal. It has everything you need including quality protein, tons of veggies, 9 g of fiber per serving and an adequate source of healthy fats when topped with avocado <– which we highly recommend. You can up the ante on veggies even more by serving it over a bed of greens or add heartiness by serving it over a baked sweet potato or winter squash. Additionally, this recipe is freezer-friendly so if you’re looking to stock your freezer with some easy meal options, go ahead and double this recipe.
4. Curry soup
Well, well, well. Soak it all up, friends –> the glory that is this rainbow veg bowl of coconut curry soup which is turning my face into a permanent heart eyes emoji. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this international, meat-free bowl. This curry soup is a natural choice for the wintertime. With its blend of fresh herbs, it’s almost like sipping from a hot and soothing mug of tea. This recipe features turmeric, ginger and lemongrass — all known for their unique health benefits, including disease-fighting antioxidants. You’ll enjoy the fragrant combination of ingredients.
5. Vegan superfood soup This pick from Plant Powered Living lives up to its name and then some. All the goodness in one bowl…this is SUPERFOOD SOUP! Not only nutrient-dense, this lentil, sweet potato, and kale soup is low fat, protein rich (with 17 grams), and offers 74% of your daily fiber! Plus, it has all the vitamin D you need in a day! As the author suggests, you can customize the recipe to your liking or based on what you have in the pantry — for example, try adding in grains to level up the heartiness.
Nothing says winter like a warm and comforting bowl of veggies, grains, spices, proteins and more, so start the season off right and escape the cold-weather blues with these delicious winter soup recipes.
Your next delicious dish awaits!
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