Canned soups can be part of a healthy nutrition plan to facilitate weight loss. Just keep in mind the overall nutritional profile of each brand and type of soup you consume to make sure they are consistent with your health goals.
Calories
Appropriate calorie restriction is the bottom line for successful weight loss. Canned soups provide calorie counts on the label so it is easy for you to see how your serving of soup fits into your overall calorie goal for the day. Soups based on vegetables and clear broths will generally have fewer calories than soups with a creamy base or soups that contain sausage and beef. Eat a bowl of vegetable soup before dinner to fill you up and help you avoid wanting second helpings of higher calorie foods.
Convenience
Canned soup provides an easy and convenient snack or meal. Canned soups are available in different sizes, so you can heat up enough for the entire family at dinner or tuck a single-serving soup container into your work bag for your lunch or afternoon snack. Heat canned tomato soup and pour it into a thermos container to drink in your office or while commuting.
Sodium
One drawback to canned soup is a potentially high sodium content. The USDA recommends a daily sodium intake of less than 2,300 mg. Your doctor may recommend a different sodium level for you depending on your overall health. Many companies market lower sodium soups. Track your daily food intake to monitor your daily sodium intake, and consider choosing reduced sodium soups as needed.
Vegetables
Eating canned soup can be an effective way to meet your daily vegetable serving goal. Consider bulking up your canned soup by adding additional vegetables. Sautee zucchini and mushrooms and stir them into your tomato soup. As you heat your canned chicken noodle soup on the stove, pour some frozen mixed vegetables in. Extra vegetables will help you feel full longer and add to your overall health.
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