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Click to view Bell-Lap's profile Expert
Bell-Lap
57 posts since
Apr 8, 2006

Nov 25, 2006 8:09 AM

Soup Diet ?

So here is my idea, tell me if it has any merit.

I'm too busy to count calories/nutrients and make these perfectly balanced meals, day in and day out.

I don't really care too much about variety, and I have come to grips that I can't disclipline myself enough to not 'forage' especially when it is a freebie just waiting for me...

How crazy is this?- I can make a big pot of soup, with a good mix of everything I'm supposed to be eating (different color veggies, healthy meats, just the right amount of rice/pasta). Put these into 1 cup servings and freeze. Then eat one every 3 hours. With my typical oatmeal and fruit breakfast with milk, and eating ~ 5 of these a day, my daily caloric intake would be around ~2000 calories a day (about where I should be to lose a pound a week).

I would make my life much simplier, get better balanced meals, and reduce my calories. It would help me fight the 'foraging' effect.

Anyone ever tried anything like this?
Click to view Ice Cream's profile Legend
Ice Cream
602 posts since
Dec 28, 2003
1. Nov 25, 2006 8:16 AM in response to: Bell-Lap
I do not see how you could get enough calories if you eat one cup of soup every three hours. I am assuming you are adding liquid, either broth or water. Then you should have approximately 3/4 cup of food.
As for the idea f eating soup, nothing wrong ith it. Just make sure it's not too high in sodium.
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slow_n_steady
137 posts since
Aug 23, 2007
2. Nov 25, 2006 11:51 AM in response to: Bell-Lap
I see nothing wrong with it if you are getting the proper calories and nutrition and can deal with the boredom factor. Just one thing though....unless you are planning on getting rid of all other food in your house, what's to stop you from "foraging" anyway, espeically when the soup boredom sets in or there is a "freebie" waiting for you? In my opinion and experience, overeating and foraging has much less to do with hunger and nutrition and more to do with other psychological issues.
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kponds
100 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
3. Nov 26, 2006 10:54 AM in response to: Bell-Lap
You are just going to have to eat a lot of it. I eat soup at least once every day, but you need to eat 2 or more servings to make a meal, about 300-400 calories depending on the types of soup.

I like lentil and black bean types the best. I know you're making your own soups, but I really like Amy's organic brand canned soups too.

If you aren't having a lot of meat in your soups (I don't do meat), a good way to make your bean protein complete is to add barley meal as a thickener.
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Click to view turkey2006's profile Amateur
turkey2006
9 posts since
Apr 5, 2006
4. Nov 27, 2006 12:33 PM in response to: Bell-Lap
thanks all. Any good soup receipes? I'd like to balance the diet using the mypryamid.gov web site for 2000 calories a day. Also, I estimate that each 1 cup serving will be about 300 calories, so (less 300 for breakfast oatmeal/fruit), I will need to eat 7 'meals' (6 being soups) a day. Does this sound about right?

Thanks
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Spanky420
69 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
5. Dec 8, 2006 11:39 AM in response to: Bell-Lap
Hey Turkey....I actually do this every couple months or so. I have bad stomach problems and I found that this one soup helps put me back on track. I make a huge pot to last a week or so. I put all my fav veggies in it (tomatoes, carrots, onions, celery, peas, zucchini).....and some potatoes....love those with vegetable broth or sometimes a beef broth...one not high in sodium.....and add some spices. I love it. I put in 4 BOXES of broth and always end up estimating how much of everything else to put in as I go along.
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Click to view turkey2006's profile Amateur
turkey2006
9 posts since
Apr 5, 2006
6. Dec 8, 2006 2:45 PM in response to: Bell-Lap
Cool, thanks for the advice. I've been trying this for about a week now, working great. I do find that I'm still attracted to eat lunch out with work associates, it's just too easy. Also, in the afternoons, I'm snacking a little (humus and chips usually, but not too much). Today I had a donut, just one, but showing my weakness. I'm going to give it another week, its so convienient to make the big pot of soup and freeze. I like knowing how many calories per 1 cup bowl and being able to just throw it from freezer to microwave, all too easy.
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Click to view LifeIsAMarathon079's profile Amateur
LifeIsAMarathon079
20 posts since
Jul 28, 2006
7. Dec 8, 2006 4:21 PM in response to: Bell-Lap
quote:<HR>Originally posted by turkey2006:
Cool, thanks for the advice. I've been trying this for about a week now, working great. I do find that I'm still attracted to eat lunch out with work associates, it's just too easy. Also, in the afternoons, I'm snacking a little (humus and chips usually, but not too much). Today I had a donut, just one, but showing my weakness. I'm going to give it another week, its so convienient to make the big pot of soup and freeze. I like knowing how many calories per 1 cup bowl and being able to just throw it from freezer to microwave, all too easy. <HR>


Easy is all relative to what you're trying to accomplish. I find it incredibly easy to not count calories at all. I just make good choices most of the time, eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full, splurge when I feel like it, and keep my taste buds interested.
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