Sunday, September 4, 2016

Healthy Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe

Submitted by: Stella
Many American children today have been so exposed to processed junk and fast foods that they simply turn away from whole foods, particularly green leafy vegetables. They find the natural taste of these greens simply off-putting – which is actually a shame, as vegetables are among the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet.

For all you parents out there who are resorting to different tricks to “hide” vegetables in your children’s meals, look no further: here’s a healthy soup recipe that will do exactly that. Submitted by one of my readers, Stella, this unique recipe combines two very potent superfoods: broccoli and avocado. Your children will love the creamy flavor of this hearty soup so much, they’ll be asking for seconds!

Ingredients:
1 head of broccoli (steamed and cut into smaller pieces)
4 ½ cups chicken broth
2 to 3 Hass avocados
1 cup of shredded raw cheddar (you can certainly add more if you want to)
Salt and pepper to taste
Procedure:
1.    Steam broccoli for 4 to 5 minutes, let cool, and then cut up.
2.    Combine broccoli, chicken broth, and avocados, and blend to desired consistency.
3.    Cook over medium heat until thoroughly warmed, and add cheese. Stir well.

This recipe makes 4 servings.

Eating Broccoli Has Never Been This Enjoyable!

You can’t beat the benefits of broccoli – it has twice the vitamin C of an orange, almost as much calcium as whole milk (in a more absorbable form, too), and modest amounts of vitamins A and E. Broccoli also has selenium, which is found to have anti-cancer and anti-viral properties. It has shown promise in helping slow down osteoarthritis, promote normal blood pressure levels, immune, and kidney function, and even support heart health.  You can read the many benefits of broccoli in this article.     

When buying broccoli, make sure that you choose those with tight green florets, firm and moist-looking stalks, and are heavy for their size. Avoid those that have dried out stems or yellowing florets. If bought very fresh, broccoli will keep for up to 10 days, stored in the refrigerator.  

Avocado lends not only its creaminess but also its wide array of nutrients to this recipe. As you probably know by now, avocado is one of my top superfoods because of its superb nutritional profile (personally, I eat one avocado every day). Aside from its abundance of healthy fats, avocado also has vitamin E, B vitamins, potassium, and folic acid.

Carotenoids that may help fight cancer are also found in avocado, but you can get them mostly from the dark-green portion of the fruit – the part closest to the skin. So to preserve the area with the greatest antioxidant concentration, peel the avocado with your hands, similar to how you peel a banana.
 
One final tip: use homemade chicken broth for this recipe instead of canned chicken stock. Homemade bone broth is rich in amino acids that have anti-inflammatory effects, as well as high amounts of magnesium, calcium, and other nutrients that promote healthy bone formation. Bone broth also helps heal the lining of your gut, and is excellent for speeding healing from illness.

from La Mav Combined http://snip.ly/cycvj
via IFTTT

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