Phoebe Schilla's healthy, fast vegetable minestrone

Did you read the post with tips about losing baby weight from Phoebe Schilla, Personal Chef and founder of San Francisco's Studio of Good Living?  

Phoebe actually sent six tips, but I trimmed the first article into five tips and make this one into  a separate article.  It's a great soup for new moms to help them lose baby weight. But it seems equally great for anyone who wants a fast, healthy meal. The notations in parentheses are hers, not mine. 

As a personal note, I make a similar soup at least once or twice a month, more often in summer, and I always start by sauteing onions, garlic and carrots in the pot. It might not do anything for the flavor but the aroma spreads through the house and makes me feel like eating healthy.  Once my taste buds are expecting healthy food, I find the entire meal more satisfying.  Of course, your mileage may vary.

Healthy, fast vegetable minestrone from Phoebe Schilla

One of the healthiest snacks/meals that I can recommend is vegetable minestrone.  Don’t buy the canned high sodium soup please!! 

Just follow this easy recipe:  Pour the contents of one box (4cups) of vegetable broth or chicken stock into a pot.  Add 1/2 cup of chopped onion, a few smashed cloves of garlic, one sprig of rosemary (about 1 tsp. dried) ½ cup of carrots, sliced plus whatever other veggies are lying around the fridge (up to a cup. I like mushrooms, corn, zucchini...). Add 1 (14 oz) can of diced tomatoes and 1 (14oz) can of beans. ( I like the white cannellini beans or chick peas here.)

Simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Voila!   Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!   Super easy, uses leftovers and is FAST.  Plus it’s much healthier than any soup that you could buy at the deli or from a can.  Add left over diced chicken or beef if you would like to add more protein.