In our eat-and-run, massive-portion-sized culture, maintaining a healthy weight can be extremely tough—and losing weight, even tougher. Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is very simple: If one eats more calories than one burn, one gains weight. And if one eats fewer calories than one burn, one loses weight. When you feel hungry don’t eat junk foods. “Junk food” refers to foods that contribute lots of calories. Obesity and overweight happen over time when you take in more calories than you use. It’s better to fill the gap by having weight loss soup recipes that immensely aids in balancing your weight.

Health Benefits of Eating Soup

Soup is a hot tasty meal that offers plenty of health benefits. Here we have listed a few common health benefits.

• Soups made with lean meats, beans and fish provide lean protein. Beans give you fiber. Tomatoes are an outstanding source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of cancer.

• Most soups, if prepared with lean meat, are low in fat, making them an excellent choice for anyone concerned about fat in his diet.

• Because the soup retains so much water it fills you up with fewer calories.

• Drinking a hot beverage on a hot day can cool you down.

Best 5 Low-Calorie weight loss soup recipes

Here we have listed below five Indian healthy soup recipes for weight loss that are really very tasty.

Moong Dal and Carrot Soup

The best healthy soup recipes should include Moong Dal and Carrot soup. This interesting variation makes a great change for your palate. The low-fat milk in soup does not add cholesterol to the diet.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups green moong dal (washed and drained)
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 tsp oil
• 1/2 cup sliced onions
• 4 to 5 black peppercorns (kalimirch)
• 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
• 2 tsp finely chopped garlic (lehsun)
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup low-fat milk
• salt to taste

Procedure

At first heat oil in a deep non-stick pan and add the onions, peppercorns, and garlic and sauté on a low flame for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and carrots, mix well and cook on a low flame for 3 to 4 minutes. Add green moong dal and 5 cups of water and cook for 9 to 10 minutes or till the carrots are tender. Keep aside to cool and properly blend in a mixer to a smooth purée. Transfer the purée back into the deep non-stick pan, add the milk, one cup of water, pepper and salt, mix well and bring to a boil. Serve the hot soup immediately.

Curd Shorba

The best soup for weight loss should include Curd Shorba. Here, we have conjured up this magical soup using tomatoes, low-fat curds, onions and cucumber to keep the calorie content low!

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
• 3 cups low-fat curd (dahi)
• 4 tsp besan (bengal gram flour)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 2 tsp oil or low-fat butter
• 2 tsp finely chopped green chillies
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onions
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger (adrak)
• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/4 cup low-fat milk
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
• Salt to taste

Procedure

At first combine the turmeric powder, curd, and besan in a bowl and mix well till no lumps remain. Heat oil in a non-stick pan and thereafter add the cumin seeds.  When the seeds crackle, add the ginger and green chillies and sauté on a low flame for 10 to 12 seconds.  Add the onions and sauté on a low flame for 2 minutes. Add the curd-besan mixture, milk and ½ cup of water, mix well and simmer on a slow flame for about 4 minutes, while stirring occasionally.  Add the cucumber, tomatoes and salt, mix well and simmer for another minute. Serve immediately garnished with coriander.

Garlic Vegetable Soup

The best soups for weight loss should include Garlic Vegetable Soup. The garlic flavoured vegetable soup is thickened with oats. Both vegetables and oats are rich in fiber.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 cup finely chopped mixed vegetables
• 1/4 cup chopped onions
• 1 tsp oil
• 2 tbsp quick cooking rolled oats
• Black pepper (kalimirch) powder and salt to taste

Procedure

At first heat the oil in a pan, add the garlic and onions and sauté till the onions are translucent. Add the vegetables and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add 2 cups of water and pepper and salt. Allow it to come to a boil and simmer till the vegetables are tender. Add the oats and simmer for another 7 minutes. Serve hot garnished with the coriander.

Corn and Green Pea Soup

The healthy recipes for weight loss should include Corn and Green Pea Soup. Green peas are used to thicken the soup and to add a substantial amount of fiber too.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sweet corn (makai ke dane)
• 2 cups fresh green peas
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp oil
• Salt to taste

For serving

• 1 tsp chopped coriander (dhania)
• 1/4 cup low fat milk
• 1 tsp chopped mint leaves (phudina)

Procedure

At first combine the corn, peas, garlic, onion, salt and 5 cups of water and simmer for 15 minutes, cool and blend in a mixer to get a smooth purée. Just before serving, add the coriander, milk, mint and salt and bring to a boil. Serve the soup hot.

Hearty Red Lentil Soup

The healthy soup recipes for weight loss should include red lentil soup. Prepared with the humble red lentil, this soup can even serve as a simple main dish by itself.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups masoor dal (split red lentil)
• 1/4 cup mint leaves (phudina)
• 1/2 cup rice (chawal)
• 3/4 cup roughly chopped carrots
• 3/4 cup roughly chopped onions
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped tomatoes
• 1/4 tsp dry red chilli flakes
• 1/4 cup low fat milk
• Salt to taste

Procedure

At first heat a small non-stick pan and when hot, add the mint leaves and dry roast till they are crisp. Crush them and keep aside. Wash, clean and drain the masoor dal and rice. Add the carrots, onions, tomatoes and 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Blend in a mixer till smooth. Add 2 cups of water, milk, chilli flakes, roasted mint and salt and simmer for a few minutes. Serve the soup hot.

Enjoy these easy yet weight loss soup recipes  and don’t forget to share your healthy recipes with us.