How To Pick A Pre-Packaged Soup For Weight Loss
•Weight loss
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Pre-packaged soups can be a great ready-made meal to have at home to save time. They’re typically affordable and convenient but they often contain added sugars, and artificial colours and flavours, making them not-so-friendly for a weight loss journey!
We’ve got you covered on what to look out for on nutrition labels in general, but here’s some detail on what you should be mindful of when you’re shopping for soup.
Ingredients To Look Out For
There’s some careful consideration when it comes to specific ingredients, and to pick a weight-loss-friendly soup, here’s what you should check:
Whole Ingredients: Look out for soups with whole-food ingredients – these include things like vegetables, legumes, wholegrains and lean proteins, which should be the most prominent source of ingredients.
Avoid Additives: Steer clear of soups with artificial flavours, colours and preservatives. This includes high fructose corn syrups and oils.
Minimal Ingredients: A lot of the time the less ingredients in a pre-packaged soup indicates fewer processed components, so stick to what you recognise!
Nutritional Content
Carefully examine the nutritional content of your pre-packaged soup to get the best health benefits while supporting your weight loss goals.
Calories: This is one is self-explanatory! Pick a soup that fits in with your diet plan to help keep your journey on track.
Sodium: Pre-packaged soups often have a high sodium content, aim to pick soups with less than 500mg of sodium per serve.
Saturated Fat: Low saturated fat and minimal added oils are some of the best choices! Soups with healthy fats, like olive oil or avocados, are ideal.
Fibre: Fibre is what is going to keep you fuller for longer, so opt for soups with at least 5g of fibre per serve.
Protein: A necessary nutrient for overall health and weight loss, aim to buy soups with at least 10g of protein per serve.
The Bottom Line
Don’t be fooled by labels like "low-fat" and "organic"! It’s always best to check the specifics on the nutritional information panel so you know exactly what you’re putting into your body.
You can always boost the nutritional value of your pre-packaged soup by adding fresh veggies or legumes!