Is Lentil Soup Plant Based?

A bowl of warm lentil soup serves as the perfect appetizer and soother in cold weather. People use different types of lentils to make their own version of lentil soup which makes a healthy option and provides essential nutrients. However, it is natural to wonder whether lentil soup suits a plant-based diet. 

So, is lentil soup plant-based? Yes, lentil soup is plant based. Lentil soup is largely made of lentils that come from plants and don’t contain any dairy or animal-based ingredients. Lentil soup is generally prepared by boiling lentils with ingredients like onion, salt, oil and vegetables. Some recipes even include garlic and other herbs.

In this article, let us try to learn more about lentil soup to find out whether you should add it to your plant-based diet.

Why Lentil Soup Is Plant Based?

Lentil soup is basically made by boiling any variety of lentils with some other ingredients. As lentils are obtained from plants, this food is plant based to a great extent. It does not involve the use of any dairy ingredient or animal product. 

Sometimes, however, a lentil soup can contain animal fat or dairy ingredient like cream, making it far from being plant-based. It is, therefore, advisable to enquire about the ingredients when ordering lentil soup at a restaurant or buying it from a store. 

What Are The Main Ingredients in Lentil Soup?

The primary ingredient in a lentil soup is one or more types of lentils, green, black, red or yellow. Lentil soup is generally prepared by boiling lentils with ingredients like onion, salt, oil and vegetables. Some recipes even include garlic and other herbs. 

While the lentil soup generally has a few simple ingredients, it can sometimes use vegetable stock for better consistency. Some restaurants may use cream, cheese or animal-based stock to make lentil soup. Such ingredients should be avoided when adding lentil soup to a plant-based diet. 

Lentil Soup Nutrition

Though lentil soup can be prepared in several ways, it is considered to be a healthful meal that provides a variety of essential nutrients. Lentils are a healthy source of energy for the body and provide the daily carbohydrate requirement. They are also excellent sources of plant-based protein, particularly important for those who avoid animal products. 

Here is the nutritional information for one serving of lentil soup.

• Calories – 163
• Carbohydrates – 27g
• Protein – 8g
• Fiber – 11g
• Fat – 7g

The fat content of lentil soup is not too high; however, you can bring it down by choosing a low-fat broth variety. Including lentil soup in your diet boosts your dietary fiber intake. It improves digestion, prevents diarrhea and constipation and boosts gut health. 

Lentil soup is also an amazing source of iron. A serving of this food meets your daily iron requirement to a great extent. One serving contains about 16mg of iron and helps promote red blood cell production, keeping away anemia. The soup is also rich in niacin, riboflavin, zinc, manganese, thiamin, potassium, calcium, vitamin A, C, E and B6. 

Conclusion

So, can you add lentil soup to a plant-based diet? Absolutely! Lentil soup is not only a healthy and wholesome plant-based food but also a tasty and versatile recipe. Add your favorite plant-based ingredients to the soup to get your daily protein and carbohydrate intake without ruining your health goals.