As temperatures drop, many people prefer a hot bowl of soup.

While some may opt for instant soups high in cream or sodium, nutrition experts recommend healthier alternatives that can aid weight loss, provide essential nutrients and promote a feeling of warmth and satiety.

According to "Eat This, Not That", Dr Courtney D’Angelo, a nutrition expert and author of GoWellness, the healthiest soups for weight loss are those containing ingredients rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. She identifies vegetable chicken soup as a prime example.

Dr D’Angelo emphasises that selecting the right vegetables is crucial. “Vegetable chicken soup is both delicious and nourishing,” she says, highlighting the value of including ingredients such as cabbage, beans, tomatoes, broccoli, celery and zucchini. Among the many varieties of vegetable chicken soup, she recommends prioritising three key ingredients.

Cabbage

Cabbage provides significant nutritional benefits, including beta-carotene, vitamin C and fibre, all of which can contribute to weight loss.

Broccoli

Broccoli is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, A, K and B9 (folate), and is high in fibre. Research published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition indicates that broccoli may help reduce inflammation in the body, lowering levels of C-reactive protein, a key marker of inflammation.

Chicken

Adding chicken supplies the body with protein, which is essential for a weight-loss diet. Protein-rich foods require more energy to digest, increasing calorie burn.

For additional fibre, Dr D’Angelo suggests adding a scoop of rice to the soup, prolonging the feeling of fullness.