Can soup be a complete meal?

Most of us consider soups as appetizers or as the first dish in a series of courses to come. We also relegate soups to sick days, or when the weather is very cold. But did you know soups can be a complete meal by itself?
What does a good and healthy meal constitute of? A meal has to have the perfect blend of carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber, along with the necessary nutrients and vitamins. This translates to the “dal-roti-chaval” or the “roti-subji-dal-raita” meals in the North, and the “idly-sambar” or the “rice-curry-sambar-yoghurt” meals in the South. These meals have the time and tested ingredients – dals, vegetables, wheat/grains, and fresh curd – that is perfect for anyone, at any time of the day.
So how can soups become a complete meal by itself? It can, and it should. As Indians become more obese, and are faced with more options, and bigger serving sizes in restaurants, the need of the hour is to make our meals more simple. And healthy.
Soups are the perfect solution to today’s housewife who has multiple responsibilities inside and outside the home for her family, kids, career, friends and related social activities. Whether you are strapped for time, or need to lose weight, or even maintain a healthy lifestyle, soups are the perfect solution for meal times.
By adding fresh vegetables, herbs and spices, vegetable stock, and basic seasonings like salt & pepper, a healthy, fat free meal is ready for you and your family. Into this mix, if you add dal, or cooked channa or rajma, you end up with a soup that has all the essential ingredients for a complete meal. Toast a couple of slices of wheat bread, cut it up into small bits, and add it to your soup to make it more hearty and healthy.
It is time to change our attitude towards soups. It is time to consider soups as a complete, perfect meal by itself.

5 Things to Keep in Mind while Making Soups

Soups are made by boiling ingredients (vegetables, legumes or meat, sliced onions, pepper, garlic, etc.) in water or broth until they become soft. The nutrients are absorbed into the liquid itself. Soups may be clear or thick. They can be thickened by flour, rice, cornmeal, eggs, butter, starch or cream.
During frying and stewing, vegetables, mushrooms, and meat lose much of their natural nutrients, vitamins and flavour. However, when they are cooked directly in soups, they conserve most of their nutritional value. Even though soups contain less calories than the main dish, they are highly nutritious and filling.

To make healthier soups, remember the following:

• It is always best not to add cream, milk or butter to soups. These do make soups thicker and tastier; however, these also add calories to the soup. Moreover, these bind and lock the vitamins in the soup, and make them unavailable to the body.
• Avoid adding cornflour or maida (plain white flour) to soups. These affect the decongestant benefits of soups.
• Soups should be eaten as soon as they are made to make use of their antioxidant properties.
• Avoid soups from restaurants as these tend to have artificial flavors and ingredients.
• Add herbs like coriander, lemon grass, ginger, garlic, etc. These add to the taste as well as the healing properties of the soup.
• To make the soup a complete meal, you can add chicken, vegetables, or boiled and mashed mung dal or channa dal.
  

Knorr soups combine all the soup advantages and are a great way to bring a wide variety of health-promoting vegetables to your table in one simple meal. For speed and convenience, use it straight from the pack. Or get more creative by using it as a stock and adding your own selection of tasty fresh vegetables. For more ideas, connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/KnorrSoup and share your favorite soup recipes with us.

The Advantages of drinking soup

It is not a coincidence that soups have become the number one choice for health watchers across the world. Read below to know more about the ‘Soup Advantage:’

• Soups are one of the most nutritive methods of consuming vegetables.
• Since soups are made by boiling ingredients in water or broth until they are soft, the flavor is not lost, and is absorbed in the liquid. The body can absorb and assimilate these nutrients quickly without having to digest and break down the ingredients.
• Soups are low in fats (especially saturated fat) and calories.
• A bowl of soup before a meal helps reduce food intake.
• Soups are great appetizers too.
• They are good for people of all ages, and especially for those who have difficulty chewing or digesting.
• Soups are good immunity-builders.
• Hot soups, especially chicken soups, have an anti-inflammatory effect, which makes them effective against cold and fever.
• Low-salt soups get rid of excess body wastes.
• A daily bowl of soup can also reduce the risk of cancers, heart diseases and stroke.
• Some soups have been traditionally used as effective remedies for diarrhea.
• Soups have also been found excellent against asthma, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
• The high antioxidant content of soups can rectify the damage caused by high blood sugar levels.
• Soups help restore the necessary water balance, which in turn keeps our blood pressure (and salt content) under control.
• Soups are also good decongestants. This is because onions and pepper added to soups are natural decongestants.
• Soups are a healthy substitute for tea/coffee etc.
• Soups are also the best way for your kids to get the right nutrients critical for their growth. Kids- often reluctant when it comes to cooked or raw vegetables- love soups.
• And the biggest advantage? You can make soup from almost any vegetable or meat and that too, in a matter of minutes.

Knorr soups are a great way to bring a wide variety of health-promoting vegetables to your table in one simple meal. For speed and convenience, use it straight from the pack. Or get more creative by using it as a stock and adding your own selection of tasty fresh vegetables. For more ideas, connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/KnorrSoup and share your favorite soup recipes with us.

Why soups are highly recommended in the Warrior diet?

You have heard of protein diets, low fat diets, GM diets, and low carb diets. But have you heard of the Warrior diet?

Warrior diets are slowly becoming popular in the West largely due to the fact that it is based on scientific research and thinking. The diet is based on what our ancestors ate, and provides recommendations for weight loss and disease prevention. Here are the top 5 snacks you can eat on a Warrior diet.

1. Fruits
2. Vegetables (preferably raw)
3. Yoghurt
4. Nuts (preferably in the afternoons)
5. Soups (in the form of clear soups, vegetable soups, or broth based soups)

Why soups? Soups have always been considered the perfect food when you, or your kids, fall sick. Easy to make, and easy to digest, soups can be made from practically anything. More importantly, soups retain the vitamins and nutrients from vegetables that are usually lost when cooking, frying, or sautéing. And the final benefit? Soups are filling, low fat, low carb, and give us a sense of satisfaction and satiety.

Soup, as a healthy and alternative snack, was introduced by Knorr Soups in India. Whether you enjoy classic soups like tomato or mushroom, or Chinese and Indian soups, Knorr has a wide range of 16 soups for every taste and occasion. These soups are a healthy and easy alternative to junk food and unhealthy snacks. All Knorr soups are preservative free and require minimal preparation time.

For more ideas, connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/KnorrSoup and share your favorite soup recipes with us.

When you have an Obese Child

Who wouldn’t have felt sorry for Harry Potter when he ate the grape fruit quarter Aunt Petunia put in his plate? When her son Dudley attained the size of a baby whale, Petunia decided to empty the refrigerator of all Dudley’s favourites, put in fruits and vegetables instead, and decree that the entire household follow the same diet of fruits and vegetables in support of chubby Dudley.

So if you have an obese child, empty your refrigerator of everything under Category Junk. Instead, stuff it with fruits and vegetables. Stuff it with ingredients for health snacks and meals. Healthier alternatives like salads, soups, sandwiches (on wheat bread, preferably), parathas with vegetable stuffing etc are great ideas for everyone in the family. Set a rule that everyone in the family follow the same diet. You can’t have one family member eating chicken sausages when your child is on vegetables. (To get rid of the pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables, keep them dipped in salt water solution for at least an hour.)

Guests can be real villains when you are trying to restrict your child’s junk food eating habits. Tell them that your child’s doctor has advised against such food items. Talk to your child’s teacher to regulate his eating habits at school.

Do not starve or ridicule your child because he is obese. Talk to your child’s doctor to make sure that you are feeding him the right amount of nutrients. Do not behave as if your child’s diet plan is causing you a lot of discomfort. Think about it, and you might realize that your child’s obesity is the result of your overfeeding him.

Be patient with your obese child. Support him and help him. Take the help of a professional counselor; this will help your child to cope better.