The correct question is – Healthy, quick to prepare, comforting, soup is an easy dinner. But does it make a complete meal? Feedback from a nutritionist doctor.
Soup, soup, veloute, moulin… In all its forms, soup is a classic of the cold season. Gone are the ancestral and often bland versions with cabbage or leeks-carrots-potatoes; The dish is now delicious and comforting due to multiple combinations. Quick to prepare, reputed to be healthy…some even make only soup for their dinner. But is that enough? Does it provide everything the body needs? And can we eat every evening?
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Yes, under conditions
Soup has many benefits. It’s a great way to consume vegetables, especially for those who are used to eating them in summer salads but less so in fall and winter meals. “It’s also a great way to hydrate for the French population who don’t get enough,” adds nutritionist Corinne Chicheportiche-Ayache. From a nutritional standpoint, soup provides minerals and vitamins due to its vegetables. “Their heat treatment destroys some of the vitamins but the minerals are found in the broth and cooking water,” says the doctor.
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So do we just eat it? “Yes, soup is a perfect meal as long as you make sure you sneak in,” Dr. Corinne Chicheportiche-Ayache answers. As a reminder, a so-called “complete” dish consists of vegetables, protein (vegetable or animal), and a portion of starchy foods. So, a minestrone made of vegetables and in which you put some pasta and a few pieces of meat is perfect, says the doctor. A rich lentil soup topped with a little cream and a poached egg, or a pea soup rich with smoked turkey and a little ricotta can also be tempting options. And with a variety of recipes, it is entirely possible to eat soup every evening.
Make homemade favors
Surprisingly, the “homemade” version is ideal, but if you don’t have the time and desire to cook, supermarkets and frozen food stores can be an interesting alternative. The main thing is to make sure to read the product labels, avoid those containing additives and ensure the right amount of vegetables in the preparation.
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A vegetable-only soup is not complete due to the absence of starchy foods and protein. “That’s what happens if you add potatoes and a slice of fresh cheese on quality bread on the side,” says the nutritionist. And if our lunch has a large amount of protein, we can do without cream cheese. Add fruit for dessert and the evening menu is impeccable.
Dr. Two caveats to keep in mind, according to Corinne Chicheportiche-Ayache: You will add more or less starchy foods to your soup or to your meal in general depending on the physical activity of the day and the next day, and be you. Be careful to consume certain very creamy variants in moderate amounts, such as cauliflower cream.
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