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As a rule of thumb, soup is usually a good meal choice when it comes to weight loss because most soup recipes are low in carbs and fats, yet high in protein, vitamins and nutrients. Most soups include a high amount of vegetables, which give you the most nutritious benefits, while including a meat or bean will ensure a good portion of protein.
But there is a way you can make your soup even better for you. There is actually a very common soup vegetable that you can cut out of your recipes to cut down on carbs and starch, without cutting down on flavor.
Potatoes are high in fiber, potassium and vitamin C, however they also contain a lot of starch and carbs with very little protein to make up for it. Though there are benefits to this vegetable, it is the one that you could afford to do without in your soup recipes.
In fact, potatoes have been found to contribute to weight gain in certain studies. Potatoes have a high glycemic index, which means that they can spike your blood sugar and cause weight gain.
Many soup recipes call for potatoes because they are a great thickening agent. They can help bring your soup to a consistency you like, without using ingredients that contain even more carbs, like flour, or fats, like heavy cream.
If you do decide to ditch the potatoes next time you make soup, you have two options: you can either settle for a thinner consistency with your soup, or you can substitute the potatoes with cream as a thickener. You just have to be careful not to use a cream that adds extra fat and carbs to your recipe, so look for a good half and half with low fat.
