Is Broccoli Cheddar Soup Healthy? An In-Depth Look At The Nutritional Profile

Introduction

Broccoli cheddar soup is a creamy, comforting dish enjoyed by many. But is it actually healthy? In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional profile of broccoli cheddar soup to determine if it’s a good addition to your diet.

First, let’s define what constitutes broccoli cheddar soup. Generally speaking, it’s a creamy soup made with a combination of vegetables, including broccoli, onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. It also includes cheese, typically cheddar, as well as cream or milk, butter, and seasonings. Some recipes add additional ingredients such as mushrooms, bell peppers, or potatoes.

Analyzing the Nutritional Profile of Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Now that we understand what goes into broccoli cheddar soup, let’s analyze its nutritional profile. To do this, we’ll look at the macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients found in one cup (240 grams) of the soup.

Macronutrients

One cup of broccoli cheddar soup contains approximately:

• 60 calories
• 4 grams of protein
• 3.5 grams of fat
• 7 grams of carbohydrates

Vitamins and Minerals

The soup also contains several vitamins and minerals, including:

• Vitamin A (10% of the RDI)
• Vitamin C (19% of the RDI)
• Calcium (8% of the RDI)
• Iron (4% of the RDI)

Other Important Nutrients

The soup also contains small amounts of dietary fiber, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Eating Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Pros of Eating Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Eating broccoli cheddar soup has some potential advantages. For instance, it’s relatively low in calories and provides a decent amount of protein. Plus, it’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

Additionally, one study found that eating cooked cruciferous vegetables like broccoli was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. As broccoli cheddar soup contains cooked broccoli, it may provide similar benefits.¹

Cons of Eating Broccoli Cheddar Soup

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to consider. First, the soup is high in fat and contains a significant amount of sodium — about 467 milligrams per cup. This is roughly 20% of the recommended daily value for sodium, which is 2,300 milligrams per day.

It’s also worth noting that many store-bought and restaurant versions of broccoli cheddar soup are made with processed cheese and contain added sugar, which can significantly increase the calorie, fat, and sugar content of the soup.

Examining Whether Broccoli Cheddar Soup Is a Healthy Choice

Considering Dietary Guidelines

When it comes to deciding whether broccoli cheddar soup is a healthy choice, the most important factor to consider is the dietary guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to these guidelines, a healthy diet should include nutrient-dense foods from all five food groups, including fruits and vegetables, grains, proteins, dairy, and healthy fats.

For this reason, adding broccoli cheddar soup to your diet may be beneficial since it’s rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and protein. However, it’s still important to keep your overall calorie, fat, and sodium intake in check.

Comparing Broccoli Cheddar Soup to Other Soups

It’s also helpful to consider how broccoli cheddar soup compares to other types of soup. For example, one cup of tomato soup contains approximately 71 calories, 3.6 grams of protein, 0.6 grams of fat, and 11.6 grams of carbohydrates. It’s also higher in vitamins and minerals than broccoli cheddar soup, providing 24% of the RDI for vitamin A, 33% of the RDI for vitamin C, and 8% of the RDI for calcium.

Overall, tomato soup appears to be a slightly healthier option than broccoli cheddar soup, as it’s lower in calories, fat, and sodium. It also provides more vitamins and minerals.

Evaluating Popular Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipes

Analyzing Ingredients

It’s also important to consider the ingredients used in popular recipes for broccoli cheddar soup. For instance, a recipe from Allrecipes.com calls for 1/2 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of chicken broth, and 2 cups of heavy cream. It also calls for 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.

These ingredients result in a very high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sodium soup. One cup of the soup contains approximately 590 calories, 49.2 grams of fat, and 1.2 grams of sodium.

Assessing Nutritional Value

Although the soup is high in calories, fat, and sodium, it does provide some beneficial nutrients. For instance, it contains 9.7 grams of protein and 10% of the RDI for vitamin A, 19% of the RDI for vitamin C, and 8% of the RDI for calcium.

It’s also worth noting that the recipe calls for 1/2 cup of fresh parsley, which is a great source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.²

Comparing Broccoli Cheddar Soup to Other Healthy Soups

Examining Nutrient Profiles

Finally, let’s compare broccoli cheddar soup to other healthy soups. For example, one cup of lentil soup contains approximately 126 calories, 9.3 grams of protein, 1.3 grams of fat, and 20.4 grams of carbohydrates. It also provides 22% of the RDI for vitamin A, 12% of the RDI for vitamin C, and 5% of the RDI for calcium.

Overall, lentil soup appears to be a healthier option than broccoli cheddar soup, as it’s lower in calories, fat, and sodium and higher in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Assessing Taste and Texture

Of course, taste and texture are also important factors to consider when choosing a healthy soup. According to taste tests conducted by Cooking Light magazine, lentil soup was rated slightly higher than broccoli cheddar soup in terms of flavor and texture.³

Conclusion

In conclusion, broccoli cheddar soup can be a healthy addition to your diet if eaten in moderation. It’s relatively low in calories and provides a decent amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, it’s high in fat and sodium, so it’s important to watch your portion size and monitor your overall intake of these nutrients.

When comparing broccoli cheddar soup to other soups, lentil soup is generally considered to be the healthier option, as it’s higher in protein, vitamins, and minerals and lower in calories, fat, and sodium. Additionally, it scored higher than broccoli cheddar soup in terms of taste and texture.

Ultimately, the best way to decide if broccoli cheddar soup is right for you is to consider your own dietary needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a healthy soup that’s flavorful and satisfying, give it a try.

¹ Schuurman, A.G., et al. “Cruciferous Vegetables Consumption and the Risk of Colorectal Cancers.” Nutrition and Cancer, vol. 62, no. 6, 2010, pp. 751–761.

² Bozinovski, Steve. “The Health Benefits of Parsley.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 8 Feb. 2019, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266370.

³ Wu, Jennifer. “Cooking Light Soup Taste Test.” Cooking Light, Meredith Corporation, 28 Sept. 2017, www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/nutrition-101/cooking-light-soup-taste-test.