5 reasons why soups are a perfect perimenopause meal
When Positive Pause hit peri-menopause we had no inkling that the bulging midriff was caused by our hormones. It seemed our destiny was an ever expanding torso, and signing up at ‘Slimming World’ our only salvation.
We have come to realise that through menopause we need to re-think meal-size. Now more than ever, portion size matters!
So, why should you include soups in your menopause meal planner?
Here are 5 reasons why salving soups could be your menopause saviour
Low in calories
The glory of soups is that they can fill you up, without adding on the adverse calories. Eating the right types is important in managing weight and ensuring you have a healthy balanced diet.
Content controlled
Home-made soups are perfect peri-menopause meals. Eat home-made, opposed to canned or shop bought. They are so easy to prepare, and you know that all the ingredients are fresh and the sodium content is less, which ensures you maintain a healthy heart.
Liquid density
Soups tend to be low in calories compared to their serving size, this is due to the watery content and low calorie density. Choose soups that include ingredients such as vegetables, especially root veggies, pulses and lean protein found in pulses and legumes.
Nutrient rich
When trying to lose weight you tend to reduce your food intake and therefore you also reduce the number of essential vitamins and minerals your body is craving. By including root vegetables, you get a good portion of potassium and vitamin A, pulses are full of protein and iron. Sling in some hearty greens, you get an abundance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Lunch munch
Soups are a perfect lunchtime meal, or starter when dining out. Ideally you should ditch the dough, if you’re bereft without bread, limit the quantity and make it whole grain, or sourdough - only one slice please!
Soups to avoid
Avoid cheese and cream-based soups, as they are high in calories and although they may seem so, are not necessarily filling.
Remember to refrain from eating the entire bread basket, skip any croutons, noodles, or high-calorie toppings. Instead, sprinkle soup with seeds, such as chia seeds, linseeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.
Check out our hearty soup recipe suggestions to start your new healthy lunch regime.