4 LOW-CALORIE SOUPS FOR WEIGHT-LOSS AND IMMUNITY

Soups are a healthy way to start your meal time. It is rich with veggies, nutritious and very filling. Having soup every day not only ensures that you keep your hydration levels up, but it also increases your daily vegetable consumption and that is always a great thing for your overall health.

But don't be fooled, canned soup is not nearly as healthy or as a filling as homemade soup. Unlike other liquid calories, soups are as filling as solid foods, and it's a great weight-loss trick to have them just before your solid meals. Additionally, they are low in energy density, which means that they have few calories per gram. And filling up with fewer calories is a very easy and quick way to lose weight.

Homemade soups are the best way to stay full and fit, especially during colder days, from autumn to early spring. Try having a bowl of soup twice a day for better weight loss results. Also, a bowl of hot soup can give your immune system a boost, which is much needed in the transitional seasons, like autumn and spring.

Cabbage Soup

This is an incredible weight-loss veggie soup, packed with healthy flavors and colors. It fills you up and it's naturally low in calories and fat. If you want a quick, comforting and healthy meal, this only takes 30 minutes to cook.

Ingredients

• 1 diced onion
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 4 cups chopped cabbage
• 1 cup green beans
• 2 chopped bell peppers
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 6 cups water
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme and basil
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cups sliced zucchini
• a pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

1. Cook the onion and garlic in a pot, over medium heat until the onion is tender.
2. Add the carrots, cabbage, beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
3. Throw in the mix your bell peppers, tomatoes, tomato baste, seasonings and water. Let it simmer for 7 minutes.
4. Add the zucchini, broccoli and simmer until they are tender.
5. Serve hot.

Mushroom Soup

This soup is a vegetarian's best friend. It's gluten free, provides your immune system with a healthy boost, and of course, it's another low-calorie choice for a weight-loss meal.

Ingredients

• 1/2 ounce of dried porcini mushrooms
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 12 ounces mixed mushrooms
• 1/4 coup of dry sherry or dry vermouth
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 chopped celery stalks
• 1 thinly sliced carrot
• 1/2 chopped red bell pepper
• 4 cups of mushroom broth
• 3/4 cups canned tomatoes, or freshly crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• a pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

1. Add the porcini mushrooms in boiling water and set aside for 20 minutes.
2. Put a large pot over medium-high heat and add your olive oil to it. Put in the mixed mushrooms, add the salt and pepper and cook without stirring for about 2 minutes. Start stirring for about 4 minutes until the mushrooms are well browned and add the sherry or vermouth. Continue to cook and stir for another minute.
3. Add the onion, celery, carrot and bell pepper in the bot, and continue to stir frequently.
4. Strain and chop the porcini mushrooms and add to the both along with the liquid. Add the mushroom broth, tomatoes, quinoa, oregano and the bay leaf to the mix and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
6. Remove from the heat and add in the soy sauce.
7. Serve hot!

Lentil Soup

Lentil soups get better with time, so it's best cooked a day ahead of time. This vegan friendly soup is high in fiber, low in added sugars and great for your immune system.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 chopped onions
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 3 cups copped cauliflower
• 1 cup lentils
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 cups chopped spinach
• 1/2 chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat and add the onions and carrots. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes, until they are softened.
2. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, and then add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric and pepper. Stir for another minute.
3. Put in the mixture water, broth, cauliflower, lentils, tomatoes, and tomato paste and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat and let it simmer, partially covered. Stir occasionally until the lentils are tender, but not mushy.
5. Just before serving, add in the cilantro and lemon juice.

Bean Soup

This soup is easy to throw together and it's a great healthy aging aid. Additionally, it's vegan friendly, but you can feel free to throw in some sausage for and beef broth for your preferred flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 chopped onion
• 1 cored and chopped fennel bulb
• 5 minced garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon of basil
• 1 15 ounce rinsed beans
• 1 14 ounce can of roasted diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 3/4 barley
• 6 cups baby spinach
• 1/4 grated Parmesan
• a pinch of salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a put over medium-high heat and add the onion, fennel, garlic and basil. Stir frequently, until everything is tender.
2. Mash half of the beans in the cup and throw it in the pot along with the tomatoes, broth and barley.
3. Reduce to medium heat and let it simmer. Stir occasionally, until the barley is tender.
4. Add the spinach and cook until wilted.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan, salt and pepper before serving.

Add these low-calorie liquid meals to your diet, and you will see weight-loss results sooner than you think. Soups are the only filling liquid calories that not help reduce your cravings, boost your weight-loss, immune system, and give your daily dose of vitamins and fiber. Additionally, this is the best way to ensure your daily vegetable consumption.

Make sure you buy fresh and organic ingredients for your delicious soups. Never go for canned soups, make your own instead. Homemade soups are the healthiest for you! Enjoy these comforting liquid meals twice a day for faster weight-loss results. And have them especially in colder days, to ensure that your immune system can stand the weather.