Following a low-carbohydrate diet, such as the South Beach Diet, means giving up certain foods to help you lose weight. Bean soup is an easy meal to put together and also provides you with a variety of nutrients, as well as offering a good source of protein. You can have bean soup on the South Beach Diet, but you must use ingredients allowed on the plan and limit your intake since beans contain carbohydrates.
Beans
You may have any kind of bean on the South Beach Diet -- even during the first, most restrictive phase of the plan. Options may include navy beans, pinto beans and lima beans. Lentils and split peas also make delicious soups. If you use canned beans, make sure that the product does not have added sugar.
Serving
The serving size for beans ranges from a 1/3 to 1/2 cup serving. However, if you follow a vegetarian diet, you may have a larger serving to ensure that you have a good intake of protein.
Ingredients
Use water, fat-free or low-fat broth for the base of the soup. You'll also need to consider the vegetable and protein ingredients. On the first phase of the South Beach Diet, you cannot have carrots, a common ingredient in many bean soups. Once you pass the two week period of phase 1, you can bring carrots back into your diet. If you typically add meat to your soup, you may choose boiled ham, Canadian bacon or other lean proteins.
Considerations
If you purchase canned bean soup, read the label carefully. Look for fat content and the list of ingredients to ensure the product does not contain items you need to avoid during your current phase of the diet.
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