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Soup
When soup is eaten as appetizer, it can decrease hunger, increase fullness and reduce the total calories consumed for the entire meal.
In one study, participants got four soups with the same ingredients in different forms: separate broth and vegetables, chunky vegetable soup, chunky-pureed vegetable soup and pureed vegetable soup.
Researchers found that varying the form of soup did not significantly affect satiety or food intake: As long as soup was eaten before an entrée of cheese tortellini, individuals consumed 20% fewer calories for their entire lunch compared with when skipping soup.
What's so special about soup? Thanks to its high water content, it's got low energy (calorie) density. That means you can fill up on a big portion and feel full without consuming the heavy calorie load that typically comes with large portion sizes.
"Binding water into foods slows down gastric emptying, which means your stomach stays fuller for longer," said study co-author Barbara Rolls, professor of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University and author of the "Ultimate Volumetrics Diet."
And as an ingredient, few that are more waistline-friendly than water. "The most effective way to reduce calories is to bulk up food with water. You get lots of volume without calories," Rolls said.
Still, the total amount of calories in soup counts. A lobster bisque may sound delicious, but the calories add up quickly, so a smaller portion may be necessary to keep calories in check.
"If you're filling up with soup first, you don't want it to have many calories," Rolls said. "A soup that is less than 150 calories works well." Chicken vegetable, red lentil or chilled cucumber soup are all good choices.
Here's more soup for thought: Research has suggested that eating soup as a snack can help keep hunger at bay. "If you choose soup rather than energy-dense snack foods like chips and crackers, you'll do better with your weight management," Rolls said. "Aim for 100 calories if you are just a little hungry or 200 calories if you have a big case of the munchies."
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