Are you trying to drop some weight? Here’s an easy tip to help you find real success.
How about a bowl of soup to start off lunch or dinner? Because soup has high water content, it can help you feel full. And, just like salad, it’s a good way to eat more vegetables (the fiber in vegetables also promotes feelings of fullness for a few calories). Research backs this up. In one study, published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, people consumed the fewest calories on days when they ate soup rather than the same ingredients in solid form.
In another study, published in Appetite, people who started lunch with vegetable soup ended up eating 20 percent less than those who skipped the soup. Choose tomato or broth-based soups for the biggest bang for your caloric buck. If you’re in the mood for a creamy soup, try blending up the veggies rather than adding milk or cream to the mix.
Vegetable soup is an ideal choice. Vegetables contain a lot of fiber, which can help fill you up without filling you out with unwanted fat. They can keep you full through the day, so there’s less of a temptation to be snacking in between meals. What if your favorite soup doesn’t have a lot of veggies? How about adding them yourself? Mix in some fresh, frozen, or canned beans or vegetables to cook up a healthy upgrade.
Minestrone is one of my favorite ways to eat more vegetables and reach my health goals. Here are some of our favorite HealthBites Kitchen recipes that can help you live well naturally and stay fit and trim.
