Soup's On: Why You Should Enjoy Soup More Often

Nothing hits the spot on a cold winter day like a warm bowl of savory soup.

As a matter of fact, you're not alone in this desire. A recent survey conducted by Campbell Soup Company found that we're more alike in our love for soup than many other things. Of the 2,000 respondents, researchers found that 95% of them love or like soup.

Still, a from-scratch pot of soup is definitely a chore, especially on a weeknight after working all day. So follow the lead of the nearly one-quarter of respondents to the Campbell survey who admitted that they have served canned soup to dinner party guests as if it were homemade.

And you can easily jazz up a from-the-can bowl of soup to make it taste if it were simmering on the stove for hours. One secret is to choose a brand that has slow cooked the soup prior to canning. Look for this detail right on the label.

Or, make it a vitamin-packed creation by adding a handful of fresh chopped kale, says Sheila Miller, project manager at Campbell's Consumer Test Kitchen. Finish off with either diced avocado and/or a small dollop of plain yogurt. By doing so, you're feeding your body protein, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, and potassium, while the yogurt gives you probiotics.

If you're not a part of the kale fan club then use spinach or collard greens or any green leafy vegetable that you love. This is also a good way to get picky eaters to consume veggies, as soup cleverly disguises the taste.

Season with crushed peppers, add one clove of garlic — which has been linked to lowering blood pressure — a sprig each of parsley and thyme, and some diced carrots to finish it off. Serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich and it will make you feel as you did after a long day in elementary school when your mom had one waiting for you.

But, there is one concern that comes with canned soup: many tend to have a lot of sodium, which, when consumed in high amounts, has been linked to high blood pressure. With seventy five percent of us suffering from this disease, it behooves us to limit our exposure. Consider using brands that are organic or boast that they're low in sodium; check the label to ensure that they are.

Some regular versions can contain over a 800 milligrams (mgs) of sodium, which you might want to skip since the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mgs a day with the preferred amount being no more than 1,500 mgs daily for adults.