Homemade Soup and the South Beach Diet

Eating soup may or may not be beneficial when you are on the South Beach diet, a weight loss program that focuses on losing weight by eating healthy fats and carbohydtrates. If soup contains complex carbohydrates such as white pasta or potatoes, it is not South Beach friendly, as this program calls for monitoring carbohydrate intake based on the glycemic index. If soup is homemade with a variety of foods taken from the South Beach diet food lists (these foods will depend on which phase you are currently in), the soup can be enjoyed while on this diet.

Soup During Phase 1

• During phase 1 of the diet, which last two weeks, your foods will be very limited. Soup may or may not be a good idea at this time. If you prefer a chunky stew with a large variety of vegetables and or beans, you may want wait until phase 2. Soups which are permitted during this time can have ingredients which include skinless chicken breast or chicken stock; lean beef or beef stock; Italian, soy and black beans; green beans; cabbage; celery; mushrooms; onion; okra; peppers; and tomatoes.

  Examples of soups to eat during the first phase include homemade chicken soup containing only chicken, chicken broth and celery as well as homemade tomato soup containing tomatoes pureed with a bit of basil and, optionally, a dash of low fat cream.

Soup During Phase 2

• During phase 2, which will last until you have reached your desired weight loss, you will have more options when it comes to making a soup. At this time, you may incorporate ingredients such as whole wheat pasta, whole grain rice, barley, pinto beans and black-eyed peas.

Soup During The Final Phase

• After you have reached you weight loss goals on the South Beach Diet, you made add ingredients such as carrots and potatoes to your soups. Remember to eat these foods in moderation in order to keep off those lost pounds.

Other Considerations

• A filling food, soup is an excellent addition to any diet and is often packed full of nutritious, lowfat and high-fiber ingredients. However, you must be weary of consuming too much salt from soup, especially when buying canned soup. Excess salt intake may cause to you to feel bloated, and you may actually gain weight due to water retention.

  If you decide to eat canned soups instead of homemade, check the nutrition labels to determine sodium content. There are many low-sodium soups available. Avoid eating any soup that contain over 140 mg of sodium per serving. Also pay close attention to the label's ingredient list in order to avoid eating the wrong foods during phase 1 and phase 2 of the diet.