Friday, May 6, 2011

Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup is a tomato based broth loaded with lentils, celery and carrots.  Its super healthy and so easy.  You can just assemble it in the pot and go do something else while it cooks. 

Lentils are high in fiber and iron rich.  Lentil soup is loaded with veggies and the broth is made of tomato.  I tell my kids if it were any healthier for them they would need a prescription.

Healthy living is an integral thread in our home.  I encourage my children to make good food choices. My kids love junk as much as the next child.  I teach them to listen to their bodies.  When they are tired, I will remind them of the not so great food choices they made that day.  When they are cranky, I remind them of the overindulgence in one thing or another.  When they are sick, I encourage them to eat to help fight off the infection.

My belief is to teach children that food is not just about taste or hunger.  Food brings us together at the table.  Cooking allows us to express our creativity.  Food in my home is my expression of caring and love for my family and their well being.  Food is so important to the body and mind.  I tell them how eating the wrong foods makes you tired and sick and how eating the right foods will make you smart and good looking!  Just kidding, but you get my point.

When they want a snack I show them the label (even though 3 of them can't read yet) and say "See how this has alot of fat.  Well that fat goes to you heart and clogs things up. Luckily our bodies are able to move that fat out, but we have to be aware and not give our bodies too much, so we can have a little bit of things that are high in fat (or salt or sugar) just so long as you take care of your body".

I get my little ones involved in the growing, prepping and cooking of our meals.  With 4 of them its not easy, but the lesson is worth it.  My thought is if they are part of the growing of their veggies, the preparation of the meal and the presentation at the table, they are more willing to try new and healthy things and more likely to make good food choices on their own. Spring is here! Why not start a little garden in a flower pot for them?


Ingredients:

  • 6 celery stalks, big ones, chopped
  • 5 carrots, or about 12 baby carrots, chopped
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion, chopped small
  • 1/4 olive oil
  • 1 lb of dry lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 10 cups water
  • 1 cup of perfect every time tomato sauce
  • 3 small chicken bouillon cubes, or 1 larger rectangle bouillon, whichever you have
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper, fresh ground preferably

Instructions:
In a large pot sauté celery, onions and carrots on medium flame in oil for about 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add lentils, tomato sauce, water, bouillons and pepper. Cook at a slow simmer for 1 hour or until lentils are tender.

Servings: Serves 8
Print

3 comments:

  1. Julia,
    I am making this right now. I can't wait to have it for lunch!!! I love lentils.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Try the lentil salad. Hands down my fave way to serve lentils

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can't wait to try this! One question: what's the measurement for the oil?

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...