Health » Healthy Eating Menus » Super Soup recipes

 

Below are recipes for soups which are not only delicious but they also contain fantastic nutrients
and are full of goodness to help keep you in optimum health in pregnancy and to provide
the best food for your developing baby
They are packed full of essential minerals, enzymes, vitamins and nutrients to
keep your body healthy not just for pregnancy but are great family meals as a mum..... 

 

 

 

sweet cherry tomatoe and roasted pepper soup

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 2 red peppers
  • 1 small red onion
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled
  • 12 cherry tomatoes, stalks removed
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • Crushed black pepper
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / Gas Mark 4.
  • Remove the stalks and seeds from the peppers and chop into small chunks
  • Peel the onion and chop into chunks
  • Place the peppers, onion, garlic and tomatoes on a large baking tray, drizzle with the oil and roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
  • Prepare the stock by dissolving the stock cube in 1 pint (570ml) of boiling water.
  • Remove the vegetables from the oven and empty into a large saucepan, add the stock and seasoning, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and, using a blender (hand or jug) blend the soup until smooth.
  • Pour into a bowl and enjoy.

 

Why this is so good for your health

Peppers are high in vitamin C and B6 and flavonoids.  Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and vital for the growth of healthy body tissue.

As it is water soluble vitamin our bodies can't store it in large amounts so we rely on a constant source in our diet to supply our needs.

There is vitamin C in tomatoes as well as lycopene, a phytochemical with powerful anti-cancer properties. Once tomatoes have been heated lycopene is more readily available to the body then in raw tomatoe.

 

 

 

Spinach, watercress & sweet potato soup

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bag (140g) of watercress, spinach and rocket

Instructions

 

  • Peel and chop the red onion and sweet potato into small pieces.
  • In a large saucepan heat the oil and add the onion and potato.
  • Gently sweat the vegetables over a medium heat with the lid on for 10 minutes.
  • Prepare the stock dissolving the stock cube in 1 pint (570ml) of boiling water.
  • Add the stock, seasoning, spinach, watercress and rocket to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and using a blender (hand or jug), blend the soup until smooth.
  • Pour into a bowl and enjoy

Why this is good for your health

 

Spinach, watercress and rocket are all deep-green salad leaves and, as such, have many health benefits. They are packed with chlorophyll, the part of the plant that quite literally traps sunlight energy and releases it into your body's cells.

Spinach is also a great source of iron and essential in pregnancy and post natal as many women can become anaemic at this time.

Watercress is a brilliant source of vitamin C and magnesium. The role of calcium helps to to build a healthy skeleton and bone growth for your baby. Magnesium works in partnership with calcium which is why it's important in pregnancy

 

 

Pea & Mint Soup

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion
  • 750g frozen peas
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 litre vegetable stock
  • 1 garlic clove
  • handful mint leaves
  • shaving of parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

 

  • Peel and chop the onion 
  • In a large saucepan heat the oil and add the onion and garlic
  • Add two thirds of the peas and the mint leaves.
  • Cover with the stock, bring to boil then simmer for 5 mins
  • Puree the mixture in a blender
  • Return to the pan and add the rest of the peas and simmer for 5 mins
  • Serve into bowls and scatter with parmesan cheese

 

Why this is good for your health

 

This is a perfect standby soup when you have no fresh veggies in the house

Peas provide protein which is essential for your body to build and repair tissues, muscles and organs.

In pregnancy protein is required not just for the growth your baby, but also for the building of extra blood cells and the uterus and placenta

Peas also contain folic acid which is essential for healthy blood cells.