Hardy Soups for Winter Blues

During the coldest days of winter, I don’t want to do anything but snuggle under the blankets and watch TV. The last thing I want to do is spend 45 minutes cooking and cleaning up in the kitchen. That’s why soups and stews are a staple of my winter meal prep rotation.

Soups and stews don’t tend to require much time in the kitchen. Like slow cooker recipes, soups mostly cook themselves once you’ve added all the ingredients to the pot.

They also often have large yields of as many as eight servings—making them a great option for meal prep. After making the initial batch, all you have to do is pop a serving in the microwave, and you’re ready to eat.

A hot bowl of soup or stew can also be a nutritious option for comfort food on a cold, gloomy day.

Check out the recipes below for some ideas for soups and stews to warm up and combat the winter blues! Each recipe is calorie-smart (with about 500 calories or less per serving) and a good source of protein (with at least 25 grams of protein per serving). Each recipe also fits the Healthy Plate model by including a good serving of vegetables, protein, and a complex carbohydrate.

• Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

• Lasagna Soup

• Moroccan Beef & Lentil Soup

• Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup (vegetarian / vegan)

• Spicy Tofu & Cauliflower Soup (vegetarian / vegan)