Beat the winter chill without busting plans for healthy eating

 

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What goes better with a cold Minnesota winter day than a comforting bowl of warm soup?  Try a rainbow of flavors and colors with these six healthy soup recipes:

  1. Very Green Lentil Soup on EatingWell:
    Lentils seem to go with just about anything and here they play well with a collection of greens and some cumin and coriander to add a gentle spicy note to this soup recipe.
  2. Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup on Better Homes & Gardens:
    Peel and dice a butternut squash, then puree it with carrot. Adding toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) creates a crunchy finish for this low-fat soup.
  3. Tomato Basil Soup on Better Homes & Gardens:
    Gorgeous red tomatoes are the star in this bisque imitation. Garlic, onion, basil and optional cognac add depth.
  4. Black Bean Soup from Martha Stewart:
    Pureed black beans + garlic pepper sauce + broth + lime juice = sensational winter soup. Consider adding a low-fat dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt for a bit of creaminess.
  5. Ukrainian Red Borscht Soup from AllRecipes.com:
    The original recipe calls for a bit of sausage—which can be omitted for an even healthier, vegetarian version.
  6. Split Pea Soup with Rosemary from Cooking Light:
    Classic split pea soup is given an herb makeover with the addition of rosemary in the ingredient list. Another unexpected (but delightfully delicious) flavor? Soy sauce!

Photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens.