Soup Season

Finding small things to get excited about is a great way to improve overall optimism. Since my sophomore year of college, I have found joy in making soup during the winter. It is incredibly affordable, easy and comforting activity to do during the winter months. I wanted to share a bit about some of my favorite recipes and how this trend can benefit everyone’s well-being in the winter. 

I love the creative opportunity that a soup pot provides. It serves as a blank canvas that can be filled with infinite combinations of colors and favors. I have found that it is nearly impossible to mess up a soup. Even if a spice is added that may not work well with the overall amalgamation, it can be easily masked by introducing other ingredients. Standing over a steaming soup pot with a spoon and spice rack makes for an engulfing experience filled with endless experimentation.

With this said, I also love to follow the loose scaffold of a well-crafted recipe. My favorite recipe comes from a close family friend that I have been recreating and altering it for years to fit my preferences. It is an African chicken peanut soup that uses a rich tomato base. One reason I love it is because I find that African flavors are misrepresented in our regular diet. This last summer after my study abroad program in Spain, I visited Morocco with my parents and experienced a rich cuisine in its full authenticity. I was blown away by it and while on my trip which led me to buy a spice blend from deep within the medina (a fortified city center) of Fez. I now incorporate the mix in this soup recipe. It slingshots me back to this unique travel experience and I get to once again indulge in its splendor. 

According to Australian dietitian, Simone Austin, “[a]s well as making us feel good emotionally, which is important for health in itself, soup nutritionally can be a power house of nutrients to help support our immune system that is working hard to fight off colds and flu”. This creates a full cycle of winter-wellness. It is important to note that the annual flu season introduces a formidable opponent to mental health. “There is evidence that children and adolescents with the flu will experience worsening mood and anxiety during the infection,” (The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds). The point is that making your favorite soups in the winter could be an effective strategy for dodging this cycle. 

Sources

https://australianalmonds.com.au/why-soup-is-good-for-your-health-in-winter/ https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/psychological-effects-of-the-flu/