The Best And Worst Soups For Weight Loss

There’s a perception out there that soup is the perfect diet food. The logic is that because soup is mainly liquid, it shouldn’t contain many calories.

Unfortunately, while this is true for healthy soups filled with fresh ingredients, there are some soups you need to avoid if you’re on a weight loss journey. Fear not, though, because we’ll also suggest some healthy alternatives.

Chowder: While tasty, chowders are generally very high in cream and fat.

Potato Soup: If made with a cream base, you should steer clear of potato soup. However, if it has a broth base, you should be ok.

Broccoli & Cheese Soup: A soup containing broccoli on the unhealthy list?! Surely not! While the mini trees are certainly good for you, these effects will be offset if they’re drowned in a bowl of cream and liquid cheese.

Laksa: Sure, this Asian soup is often packed full of veggies and good proteins. However, the base for Laska is coconut milk, which is high in saturated fat. Laksa can also be high in sodium.

Creamy Mushroom or Pumpkin Soup: Like chowder, creamy mushroom and pumpkin soup can be problematic for blokes on a weight loss journey because they’re full of calorific cream.

Canned Tomato Soup: Because tomatoes can be quite acidy, many soup manufacturers will load their tomato soup with sugar to make it tastier for consumers. For example, a can of Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup contains 15.7g of sugar per 250g serving or 26.46g per 420g can. 

Butternut Squash Soup: Butternut squash soup is full of vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and fibre, and is a great option for blokes on a weight loss journey. It also has a very smooth and velvety texture.

Minestrone Soup: This Italian soup is full of veggies and thus contains a stack of fibre and nutrients. What more do you want?!

Homemade Tomato Soup: The perfect meal for a chilly winter’s day. The chicken will provide protein and, along with the potato, will fill you up. Likewise, the zucchini will give you your veggie fix.

If prepared using fresh and healthy ingredients (e.g. veggies and lean proteins), soup can be an amazing food for people on a weight loss journey. However, not all soups are created equal. Remember that homemade soups are generally better for you than pre-made ones, while soups that are high in sugar, and sodium and contain thickening agents like butter, cream and cheese should be avoided or eaten in strict moderation.

Give it a go for yourself and make our Tomato & Lentil Soup, packed with 30g of protein, just 6g of fat, and heaps of nutrients.