Nutritional Reset: Hearty Vegetable and Bean Soup

Jen Vondenbrink

Jan 22

2 min read

Updated: Aug 23

Vegetable and Bean Soup | Appetite for Life — Vegetable and Bean Soup

A Delicious Way to Refocus on Healthy Eating

There are just times when you need a nutritional reset. That's when I love to pull together this Vegetable and Bean Soup. It’s packed with veggies and hearty enough with the beans to be a meal in itself.

Let’s face it! After the holidays or perhaps an indulgent vacation, we all need to get back to basics and refocus on eating healthy. I developed this recipe because I wanted to combine a vegetable soup with a hearty bean soup on New Year's Day after celebrating the holidays with a lot of rich food.

Customizing Your Soup

You can certainly change up the vegetables for some of your favorites. I love to add the following:

Shredded cabbage
Shredded carrots
Shredded Brussels sprouts

Feel free to get creative! This soup is versatile and can adapt to whatever you have on hand.

Making It Vegetarian

If you prefer a vegetarian option, it's super easy! Just omit the ham or bacon and chicken stock. Instead, use vegetable stock. For that smoky flavor you might miss from the meats, add another teaspoon of smoked paprika. Trust me, it works wonders!

Why This Soup is a Winner

This soup is not just nutritious; it’s also comforting. On a chilly day, there’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup to lift your spirits. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in those veggies. Who doesn’t love that?

Cooking Tips

Here are a few tips to make your soup even better:

Prep Ahead: Chop your veggies ahead of time. This makes the cooking process much quicker.
Flavor Boost: Don’t forget to season! A pinch of salt and pepper can elevate the flavors.
Leftovers: This soup keeps well in the fridge for a few days. It’s perfect for meal prep!