Healthiest Bone Broth: Pacific Organic Chicken Bone Broth
Sipping on bone broth is a great way to heal your gut. After animal bones are simmered in water, their collagen turns into a rich broth full of gelatin. “When we ingest it, it acts as an intestinal Band-Aid, protecting and healing the lining of the digestive tract which aids digestion and helps us absorb extra nutrients from the foods we eat,” explains nutritionist Lauren Slayton, MS, RD. Besides the fact that Pacific’s bone broth is lower in calories and sodium than that of Kitchen Basics, we also like their addition of cider vinegar to the brothwhich Slayton also recommends. Apple cider vinegar is another ingredient that will further improve your digestion thanks to it containing active enzymes.
Keep In Mind The Amount Of Sodium Per Serving
There are many soups labeled as “low sodium,” “reduced sodium” and “light in sodium“. According to the Food and Drug Administration, products that can carry an “official” low-sodium label should have less than 140 milligrams of sodium per serving.
The “reduced sodium” label means that the products contain at least 25 percent less sodium than the regular versions. And the light in sodium designation indicates that the products have 50 percent less sodium compared to what the regular products have.
So, it’s important to check the nutrition facts for the actual sodium content per serving to ensure that it meets your dietary needs. When it comes to canned soups, it’s not easy to find ones that meet the definition of low-sodium set by the FDA.
For the sake of this article, we are defining low-sodium as being under 500 milligrams per serving. Consult with your doctor to find out exactly how much sodium you should include in your diet. You may need to avoid sodium in your other meals or have a smaller portion of the soup to meet your daily goals.
Healthiest Tomato Bisque: Wolfgang Puck Organic Tomato Basil Bisque
Often a staple pairing with gooey grilled cheese, tomato bisque is certainly a soup of comfort and tradition. Don’t be fooled by Campbell’s new “Slow Kettle Style” offering, which serves up as much sugar as what you’d find in 130 Teddy Graham cookies. Wolfgang Puck’s organic offering contains home-pantry-style ingredients and nutritionals that won’t derail your diet. The same can’t be said for these worst pasta sauces.
Also Check: Lipton Soup Hamburgers
Healthiest Chili: Campbell’s Chunky Chili Grilled Steak With Beans
For a hearty soup, look no further than chili. Campbell’s Chunky Grilled Steak with Beans is surprisingly lean and by far the best canned soup you can buy if you want chili There aren’t many kinds of soup on the shelf that can top a mere 200 calories per serving. One of the ones that can’t is the Steak House Reserve from Stagg, which racks up a solid chunk of your recommended intake of sodium for the day. Not to mention, the can is tinted with caramel coloran additive which may contain an artificial form of phosphorous that’s been shown to leach calcium from our bones. Other foods with this nasty ingredient? Sodas.
How Much Sodium Is In Low
A food can be technically considered “low sodium” if it has less than 140 mg of sodium per serving according to the Food and Drug Administration.
“If a client who is restricting sodium chooses a canned soup that contains less than 20 percent of the FDA’s 2,300-milligram sodium limit, I am happy with that,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Brittany Scanniello, RDN.
She encourages clients to stick to a maximum of 460 milligrams of sodium per serving while choosing varieties that include ingredients that support heart health like beans and vegetables.
If you are managing your sodium intake and are looking for the best canned or pre-made soups, read on to find the 14 dietitian-approved top picks for low-sodium soup.
Recommended Reading: Can You Eat Tomato Soup On Keto
Healthiest Chicken Noodle Soup: Pacific Organic Chicken Noodle Soup Reduced Sodium
Ingredients you want to see in the best chicken soup: cooked chicken, chicken broth, peas, carrots, spices. Ingredients you don’t want to see: potassium chloride, maltodextrin, yeast extract, carrot juice concentrate, sugar, flavoring, xanthan gum, carrageenan, and a slew of others. Just because both options are low sodium doesn’t mean they’re both good for you. Pick up Pacific’s organic option over Campbell’s if you don’t want to sip on the same contents that are found in a food scientist’s test tube.
Healthiest Beef Stock: Kitchen Basics Original Beef Stock
A staple for French onion soups, beef stock is a tricky product to purchase. That’s because store-bought versions are littered with flavor-enhancing chemicals and not much beef. For example: Knorr’s Beef Stock Concentrate contains inflammatory palm oil, four versions of MSG, sugar, two types of gums, and carcinogen-containing caramel color.
If you don’t have time to make a stock at home , go for Kitchen Basics’ Original Beef Stock, which contains real beef stock rather than just beef flavor, vegetable stock, honey, salt, and spicesmuch simpler than Knorr’s. Plus, it’s a surprisingly great source of protein!
Also Check: Knorr Veg Soup Recipes
Zero Nutritional Difference Between Campbell’s Healthytomato Soups And Regular Just Higher Price
3.5.1010:51 AM EDT By Ben Popken
A new ABC7 investigation shows Campbells Healthy Request and Low Sodium tomato soups contain the same nutrients and exact same amount of sodium as regular tomato soups, but they cost more. Eek! Waiter! Theres a scam in my soup!
FINDINGS:* Both the LOW SODIUM and normal tomato soups contain the same amount of sodium, 480mg.* The HEALTHY and regular tomato soups are nutritionally exactly the same* Except HEALTHY contains 1.5 grams of fat while regular has 0 grams of fat.* Normal soup costs $.99
* Healthy varieties cost more is because the recipes are different* And theyre made in smaller batches.* Fat was added for flavor* And to help the body absorb nutrients* Healthy claim falls within American Heart Association guidelines* 25% less sodium claim is as compared to the average all varieties of condensed soup, not just tomato.
CONSUMERISTS TAKE:* Classic example of two-tiered pricing, and deceptive marketing* It seems we live in a culture where everything is perceived as unhealthy until a marketing message tells us otherwise* Always read the fine print, even on your freakin cans of plain tomato soup
Best Bouillon Cube: Better Than Bouillon Reduced Sodium Chicken Base
If you’ve ever examined a bouillon cube’s ingredient list before, you’ve most likely noticed that salt is often the first ingredient. That really shows in Knorr’s version, as just a half a cube racks up over half a day’s worth of the stuff, leaving you more than parched for a glass of detox water. Not to mention, it’s loaded with five versions of MSG, potentially trans-fat-laden hydrogenated palm oil, caramel color, artificial colors Yellow 5 and 6, as well as TBHQa corrosion inhibitor also used in biodiesel. Instead, grab a broth concentrate like that from Better Than Bouillon . This stock is super-reduced until it’s just a paste-like product that’s packed with flavor. Our pick is made up of real chicken meat with natural juices, spices, only one source of MSG, and colored with turmeric instead of coal-derived artificial colors.
You May Like: Sloppy Joes With Chicken Gumbo And Tomato Soup
Healthiest Minestrone Soup: Amy’s Organic Light In Sodium Minestrone Soup
Both options are low in sodium, but only canned soup is worth eating: Amy’s Organic . Minestrone soup is supposed to be teeming with vegetables and a rich broth, not riddled with additives like corn syrup, natural flavor, caramel color, soy lecithin, and faux-thickening-agent calcium chloride like in Progresso’s option.
Better Than Campbells Tomato Soup
Plus, all my gluten-free friends out there cant even enjoy a simple bowl of Campbells tomato soup because of the added wheat. But thats okay. Thats why Im here and am sharing this easy, healthy gluten-free recipe thats bound to be a hit with the whole family.
Did I mention its CHEAPER per serving than Campbells soup AND vegan?SCORE.
The BEST homemade tomato soup youll ever have! This copycat Campbells recipe is vegan, gluten-free, low in fat & calories, and is ready in LESS than 10 minutes.
- Healthy Helper
salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
You May Like: Onion Soup Beef Roast
Health Valley Organic No Salt Added Vegetable Soup
Sodium content: 50 mg per 1-cup serving
“It only has 50 milligrams of sodium per serving. Plus, it’s a good source of fiber and vitamins A and C, and most importantly, it tastes great! It’s also a convenient way to add more veggies to your diet.” says Melissa Nieves, LND, RD, MPH, Founder of Fad Free Nutrition.
Healthiest Chicken Broth: Imagine Foods Organic Free
When shopping for the best chicken broth, look for low-sodium options so you can adjust the seasoning yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with an option like College Inn that soars to almost 1,000 milligrams per cup. We also like organic stocks, which use chickens not raised with antibiotics or hormones. Otherwise, look for a short list of ingredients without any MSG, hydrolyzed protein, or yeast extract. College Inn contains two out of the three of these along with a type of trans fat, mono and diglycerides, as well as added sugar , vegetable juice concentrates , and xanthan gum.
If you can’t find Imagine, make your soup with Swanson’s Organic Low-Sodium Chicken broth. It’s a taste-tester favorite, but it was just a little too high in sodium for it to take our first spot. Speaking of making your own soup, whip up a bowl of one of these high-protein soups for abs!
You May Like: Mrs Grass Meatloaf Recipe
How Much Salt Should You Have Per Day
Find out what the Institute of Medicine, comprised of the nation’s leading scientists, recommends. How much salt should you have per day?
So, for example, if your serving of soup is 200 calories, keep your serving of sodium at 200 milligrams or less.
The good news is, there are some genuinely low-in-sodium, ready-to-eat soups out there.
Check out, for example:
- Trader Joes Low-Sodium Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup
- Pritikins Low-Sodium Chicken Noodle Soup
- And, in the freezer section of many grocery stores, Tabatchnicks Low-Sodium Soups .
The above are truly mmm mmm good for you. They wont shoot your sodium allowance for the whole day.
Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup Low Sodium 1075 Oz Can Pack
Recommended Reading: Campbells Soup Recipe For Chicken And Rice
Parks And Nash Tuscan Vegetable Bone Broth Soup
Sodium content: 390 mg per 1-cup serving
This bone broth-based soup provides under 400 mg of sodium per serving, thanks to the chef-created recipe that uses real vegetables for flavor. Although not canned, it is a shelf-stable, convenient, and rich solution when you need a quick cup of filling soup in the middle of a busy day. Simply add water to the soup powder and heat in the microwave for two minutes to enjoy a rich soup that provides 20 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber to help keep you fueled and satisfied throughout the day.
Sodium content: 170 mg per 1-cup serving
Another non-canned option that is delivered right to your door, this soup is under 200 mg of sodium per serving and is ready to serve after heating. It is loaded with real pumpkin and butternut squash, two vegetables that help support heart health. In one study published in Scientific Reports, eating one additional yellow-orange vegetable resulted in a 23 percent heart disease risk in a certain population.
Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup Light In Sodium
Sodium content: 330 mg per 1-cup serving
Pacific foods soups are all organic, with as many ingredients being sourced as locally as possible. Their organic roasted red pepper and tomato soup light in sodium provides 330 milligrams of sodium per serving and is naturally packed with an antioxidant called lycopene. This antioxidant naturally occurs in tomatoes and has been found to support heart health.
Read Also: Oven Pot Roast With Onion Soup Mix
Imagine Foods Unsalted Free Range Chicken Broth
Sodium content: 40 mg per 1-cup carton
Chicken broth is a versatile staple found in many pantries. Pre-made broths tend to be loaded with sodium, so it is exciting to find a good-tasting broth that only provides 40 mg of sodium per serving. The broth is made from organic free range chicken and a blend of organic vegetables, herbs, and spices with no added salt. A perfect solution for broth lovers everywhere.
Healthiest Lentil Soup: Pacific Organic Vegetable Lentil & Roasted Red Pepper Soup Reduced Sodium
Some of your best weapons against fighting fat are foods high in protein and fiber, and lentil soup has significant amounts of both. While Progresso packs a third of your day’s worth of sodium in just a cup , Pacific is packed with protein in their hearty, clean soup, which is why they earn the title of best soup in this category.
Don’t Miss: Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe With Frozen Meatballs
Amy’s Low Sodium Split Pea Soup
Sodium content: 310 mg per 1-cup serving
While this soup has a little over 500 mg of sodium per can, it has other redeeming qualities that makes it a dietitian favorite when it comes to heart health.
This soup “has 510 mg of sodium per can, which equals about a quarter of the sodium content of most canned soups. It is high in plant protein, has veggies for added vitamins, and only 200 calories per can, 7 grams of fiber, no added sugar, and it tastes great!” says Cristina Svec, RD, a registered dietitian based in California.
Health Valley Chicken And Rice Soup No Added Salt
Sodium content: 85 mg per 1-cup serving
Nothing hits the spot like a warm bowl of chicken and rice soup when feeling under the weather. Unfortunately, many canned options can provide more than half of the recommended sodium intake for the day! Health Valley Chicken and Rice Soup No Added Salt provides only 85 milligrams of sodium per serving and is certified by the American Heart Association.
Choosing a protein source like chicken is recommended by experts when taking care of your heart health. This chicken and rice soup makes it easy to comply with expert recommendations in a convenient and nourishing way.
Sodium content: 290 mg per cup serving
Using nutritional yeast instead of salt for flavor results in a delicious soup that is under 300 mg sodium per serving. This soup is frozen instead of canned, so the veggies taste fresh and are not as mushy as canned tends to be.
When it comes to vegetables, leeks are a dietitian’s favorite when it comes to heart health due to the potential for reducing the risk of developing heart disease or experiencing stroke. While this soup already contains a good amount of real leeks, feel free to add more yourself!
Recommended Reading: Lipton Onion Red Potatoes
How We Chose Healthy Canned Soups
Manufacturers have come out with countless waistline-friendly options that can warm you up without filling you out. Because many labels are more than misleading, we’ve done the dirty work and combed through the dozens of picks on your supermarket shelves to find Eat This-approved soups.
Each of the healthiest canned soups is:
- less than 200 calories
- less than 870 mg sodium
We’ve listed many of the popular flavors, as well as ranked the building blocks that you’d use to whip up your own favorite recipe at home. Don’t have a killer go-to soup recipe yet? Make it one of these best-ever fat-burning soupsand take it easy with the salt shaker.
Healthiest Black Bean Soup: Pacific Organic Spicy Black Bean And Kale Soup
Looking for some protein without the beef? The beans in these soups deliver big time. But even more so if you’re grabbing a carton of Pacific’s organic as opposed to Amy’s. They both offer options with Eat This-approved ingredients, but Pacific is lower in calories, sodium, and sugar, and higher in protein than their organic comrade. For more meat-free options, check out these best vegetarians sources of protein.
You May Like: Lipton Onion Soup Potatoes Recipe
Campbells Mmm Mmm Salt
We couldn’t resist sharing this new meme “Campbell’s Mmm mmm salt” that’s been going around social media, created by George Takei of Star Trek fame.
George nailed it! Most Campbell’s soups are in fact full of “mmm mmm salt,” which make them “mmm mmm good” for increasing our risk of getting sick and dying prematurely.
An overwhelming body of research has found that a high-salt diet leads to high blood pressure, which leads to kidney failure, strokes, heart attacks, dementia, and other maiming, life-threatening woes.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American consumes about 3,500 milligrams of sodium every day, more than twice the upper limit of 1,500 milligrams recommended by leading health groups like the American Heart Association and Centers for Disease Control.
Thats right, were supposed to be consuming no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. But guess how much sodium is in one typical can of Campbells soup? About 1,400 to 1,800 milligrams.
So with just one can of Campbells soup, were often using up our total daily allotment for sodium. Mmm mmm good? Not even close if we want good arteries, good blood pressure, and good health.
Even Campbells Healthy Request soups are packed with sodium. Most cans tally up more than 800 milligrams of sodium. Thats more than half the amount of sodium we should be eating for the entire day. If our request is stiff arteries, these soups will do the job.
