Hey, you guys, happy hump day!!! SO glad January is almost OVER, we’re one step closer to flip-flop weather!
If you read our post about ramen noodles raising my cholesterol (you can read it here), then you probably know that we try to eat pretty healthy. The problem is, not only do I eat lunch by myself, but I’m really busy, so I try to make “heat ‘n’ eat” meals that are easy but healthy and tasty at the same time.
Well, a post has been going around on Facebook with a short video and recipe for a weight loss vegetable soup, from spendwithpennies.com. While I don’t care about my weight, I DO care about being healthy. It looked so easy, and so fresh, that I just HAD to try it. The recipe calls for fresh garlic, cabbage, carrots, green beans, zucchini, broccoli, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth. The nifty thing is that they encourage you to change it up however you want. You can add turkey, chicken, switch out the veggies, etc.
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I used all fresh ingredients, and nothing pre-cut or chopped. I prefer to do this step myself to ensure the most nutrients are intact. I also used a low sodium beef broth, and added lima beans for protein. Having a love of spicy foods, I also used copious amounts of black and red pepper. If you DO want to lose weight, I’d encourage you, too, to use red pepper since it’s been shown to have thermogenic properties (Ludy & Mattes, 2011).
Let me just say, this recipe, shared by Holly on December 30. 2016, is spectacular- she knocked it out of the park! Unlike canned or jarred soups, the veggies are crisp and still have their texture, and it’s just SO damn fresh! The other advantage is that I know exactly what’s in it, and there’s nothing bad.
The soup is also very versatile, I can have it as a side dish, snack, or even a whole meal considering I added a protein. It also freezes well, so I divided it up into several portions and tossed them into the freezer for easy-peasy lunches. Since it’s so simple and inexpensive, I’ll probably try making several varieties just to keep my taste buds guessing. Lunch has officially been stepped up a notch, thanks to Holly and Spend With Pennies!
You can check out the recipe here, and there’s also a quick how-to video! Happy eating!
Source:
Ludy, M. & Mattes, R. (2011). The effects of hedonically acceptable red pepper in doses on thermogenesis and appetite. Journal of Physiology & Behavior, 102:251-258. Retrieved January 24, 2016, from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21093467.
