Soup’s On

When the familiar call from the kitchen is “soup’s on”, this could mean that any one of hundreds of soups is set on the table waiting to be eaten.

Technically, a soup is usually defined as any liquid food in which a solid is cooked. Solids can be meat and/or bones, poultry, seafood, pasta, vegetables, or fruit. Because of such variety, soups can be hearty or thin, clear or thick, hot or cold. There is seemingly no end to the types and kids of soups from which to choose.

Even the word “soup” has many derivations. Some say that it was named after the bread, referred to as sops, that was dipped into a liquid before being eaten. Others say it came from the sound that was made when soup was drunk from a cup.

Early soup like mixtures were often referred to as pottages. They were thick and generally were made of vegetables. As time went on meat was added to the vegetable mixtures. Then, as the art of cooking developed still further, or perhaps out of necessity, clear, broth type soups were introduced. Thinner soups were often prepared that way because of a lack of solid ingredients during times of food scarcities. In earlier days in the United States, a pot of soup stock was often found simmering on the back of the stove.

Soup is as nutritious as the ingredients that are used in the preparation. Hearty soup can play an important part in the daily diet for the entire family. Not only is it a source of liquid, which is a dietary necessity, but many soups furnish concentrated nutrients in a form easy to eat and digest. An example is soup prepared with milk, where you get the nutrients of the milk as well as the nutritional value of whatever other ingredients are used in the mixture.

In addition to being nutritious, soups have a wide range of caloric counts. Some are especially good for dieters. Soup is so filling that is should be planned in the calorie counter’s menu. A serving of chicken broth contains 11 calories, while beef broth has 23 calories. Other soups such as cream soups, chowders, bean and pea soups are among those that rank higher in calories. Regardless of the calories, soups can be used to vary the menu for dieters and no dieters alike. Everyone gains nutritionally from a bowl of soup.