Our weather may be waffling between 20 and 70-degrees, but that doesn’t keep me from craving soup all Winter, and the heartier the better! We spent the night with Mama Sugarplum over the holidays, and she whipped out a delicious soup for dinner…a soup that both my kids inhaled, and then asked for seconds. So of course I had to have to the recipe! Turns out, it’s extra-healthy, and from her diet plan.

Many of you noticed her drastic weight loss in recent Dressing Room Diaries posts, and have asked how she did it. It’s called the Ideal Protein Diet, recommended and monitored by her doctor. She definitely wanted to lose weight, but her first goals were to her health. It utilizes prepackaged foods in the early stages, but I’ve asked her for ways of applying the principles to everyday life, and will hopefully be able to share some of those tips soon. But for starters, this soup is a regular for her now!

Tuscan Vegetable Soup

{What You Need}

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup chopped kale or cabbage
1 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
1 cup diced zucchini (about 1 medium)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tsp. dried)
1 tbsp. chopped fresh sage (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
1/2 tsp. sea salt, plus more to taste
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper, plus more to taste
4 cups chicken broth (fat-free & low-sodium)
14 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
2 handfuls baby spinach (about 2 cups packed)
1-2 cups shredded chicken (optional)

{What You Do}

1. Heat oil in medium-sized soup pan over medium-high heat. Add veggies and spices (kale through pepper), and cook until tender (about 5 minutes)

2. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and chicken, and bring to boil. Add the spinach leaves and cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.

Soup Bowl | Dinner Plate | Gold Flatware (on sale!) | Striped Napkin 

So easy, right?! I double the recipe for hearty-sized bowls, and serve with crusty bread (which isn’t on the diet, but whatevs). The chicken is optional, but with a teenager in the house, all-veggie dinners don’t quite cut it for us! #humandisposal I was hoping to have leftovers for lunch today, but no such luck! What’s on your menu tonight? Find more easy dishes here or under the Lifestyle tab.

Pssst…the Container Store is here all day photographing the closet, so follow along for peeks on my Instagram Story!