Whether homemade or canned, broccoli cheese soup adds a touch to a meal as the slight bitterness of the broccoli is smoothed out by the creaminess of the cheese. This pairing of tastes has its nutritional equivalents as the vitamins in the broccoli are augmented by the calcium in the cheese. Taken together, this can be a a meal in itself, rounded out with salad and bread.
Calories and Fat
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1 cup of Campbell's broccoli cheese soup has 201 calories and 9 g of fat. For soup as rich and cheesy as this, 201 calories is a relatively modest amount. However, 9 g of fat could easily be excessive, depending what other foods this soup is served with. Balancing the soup with a whole wheat bread and salad would provide the fiber that is missing in this meal without adding extra fat.
Minerals
One cup of Campbell's broccoli cheese soup has a whopping 79 mg of calcium and 21.01 mg of zinc. This astonishing amount of calcium is largely from the cheese and is good for healthy bones and teeth. The Linus Pauling Institute explains that since zinc is used as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions, it is essential for healthy metabolism.
Vitamins
The U.S. Department of Agriculture explains that 1 cup of Campbell's broccoli cheese soup has 1,999 IU of vitamin A and 2.5 mg of vitamin C. While the vitamin C is negligible, the 1,999 IU of vitamin A is very substantial as the Linus Pauling Institute points out that adult men and women need 3,000 IU and 2,333 IU of vitamin A respectively.
Sodium
Canned soups tend to be very high in sodium and Campbell's broccoli cheese soup is no exception coming in with 1,639 mg of sodium. Since high levels of sodium immediately raise the blood pressure, the American Heart Association recommends that people limit their daily intake of sodium to 1,500 mg per day.
Homemade Benefits
You can minimize the fat and sodium found in broccoli cheese soup by making it from scratch. Since cheese has a lot of sodium, it will be impossible to remove all the sodium from this soup. However, making it yourself allows you to control the amount of cheese, forgo added salt and use fat-free milk.
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