The importance of incorporating soup in your diet this autumn

As we begin to adjust to the cooler temperatures this fall, the perfect meal or addition to any meal is a hearty bowl of soup. Vegetables including pumpkins, butternut squash, and broccoli are in season right now, making it the perfect time start incorporating soup in your diet.

Vegetables in season are often at it’s freshest and most nutritious. The average adult should be consuming 7 or more cups of fruit or vegetables daily which can be made achievable when adding vegetable soups into your diet.

Whether you like to make your soup at home or order at a restaurant, there is a lot of options to choose from. Butternut Squash Soup, also known as Zuppa di Zucca, is a popular soup dish for the season. Butternut squash is a nutrient packed vegetable; high in fiber, vitamin A (an antioxidant), B-group vitamins such as thiamin and vitamin b-6, and low in calories and fat. At La Bottega of Farmingdale, pair this soup with one of their artisan paninis, such as the the Gubbio, which has roasted portobello, goat cheese, basil pesto, and roasted pepper on whole wheat bread, or the Como, which has imported smoked prosciutto, fontina, baby arugula on ciabatta bread.

Another popular soup dish is the Broccoli Cream Soup, also known as Crema di Broccoli. Creamy in consistency, broccoli serves as the main ingredient in this dish. Broccoli is also a nutrient packed vegetable; high in fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium, and low in calories and fat. This soup is a very delicious way of incorporating more nutrients in your diet. Try this soup with the Torino panini, featuring slowly roasted porchetta, mozzarella, tomato, and baby arugula on rustic bread, or one of their Brushette’s such as the Mozzarella Basilico.

Another very popular soup dish is the chicken and vegetable soup, also known as Zuppa di Polla Ai Vegetali. This hearty soup is protein and fiber packed. The vegetables can be seasonally changed allowing for many different variations, and is perfect for pairing with a salad such as the Bietole, which contains mixed greens, roasted red beets, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, corn, and tomatoes with honey dijon, or one of their Brushette’s such as the Firenze.

Soup, in addition to being an excellent source of nutrients, can be extremely delicious too. Hungry yet? Come down to La Bottega of Farmingdale tonight and don’t forget to order soup with your meal!