Butternut squash soup. There are fewer things in life that make me happier than butternut squash soup. Seriously…THIS is comfort food to me. The rich, creamy flavor of soups made from squash just hit the mark for me. Some people consider comfort food a casserole or a rich dessert. To me, nothing beats a steaming bowl of soup.
Why?
Well, soups have potential. Every soup can act as a base for something else. But the true challenge of any soup is if it can stand on its own.
As far as pre-packaged soups go, I’ve had a lot of success with Pacific Natural Foods. Even better, quite a few of their savory flavors are available with 50% less sodium. Since The Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments released the dietary guidelines earlier this year, lowering American’s intake of sodium to 1500mg a day (or about half a teaspoon), sodium has been the topic of conversation. But, it is something that my roommate and I have been watching for years. High blood pressure runs in her family, so keeping an eye on sodium intake is just something we’ve always done when choosing processed foods.
My local grocery store has quite a huge lineup of different soups from Pacific Natural Foods. Since I LOVE squash soups, their Creamy Butternut Squash soup was one of the first to hit the cart during a recent sale. And nothing could be easier to make. Pour out serving, heat on stove. Serve. It’s that simple. You have time to make a grilled cheese sandwich to accompany it if you so desire.
I had high hopes for this soup when I settled in one chilly evening for dinner. One spoonful and I was swimming in soup heaven. This creamy soup has so much going for it. It has a slightly nutty flavor in part due to the fresh butternut squash that Pacific Natural Foods ensures is used in their soups. But, it’s seasoned and there is a hint of a spice behind that initial flavor. Closer inspection of the ingredients show that hits of nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger are used to season this soup. Flavor. This soup is bursting with it. From the smooth, creamy texture to the hint of spice as you swallow…this is everything a butternut squash soup should be. And only 280mg of sodium per serving. Winning!
This soup is also gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free. Which fits right into my dietary guidelines. Well done, Pacific Natural Foods…for once again showing that less really is more and that processed foods don’t have to load up on sodium to be packed with flavor. Food can naturally be good. And Pacific Natural Foods proves it over and over again with their delicious soup lines.
It’s soup season…don’t just take my word for it…savor it for yourself.
The Celiathlete 