12 Easy and Healthy Vegetable Soup Recipes that Your Kids Will Love
It is very important that your children get nutritious food at a young age. Diet plays the most important role in their development as children, and it has a direct effect on who they grow up to be. However, there is a problem- children do not like healthy food. Children do not usually prefer veggies and other nutritious food items since they do not taste great. Getting kids to eat vegetables can be a challenge, but a flavourful bowl of soup might be just the trick! With these vegetable soups for kids, you just might be able to sway their taste buds and have them clamouring for more.
Simple and Delicious Vegetable Soup Recipes for Children
Learning how to make vegetable soup for kids is easier than you think—just use fresh ingredients, mild flavours, and playful textures to create dishes that little ones will love. Here are some amazing recipes for homemade vegetable soup for kids, which are sure to be a hit at your household.
1. Creamy Broccoli Soup
Broccoli has never been a favourite among children, but this soup is sure to change that in a jiffy.
What You Need
Olive oil, chopped onion and broccoli, beans, fresh dill, rice milk, soft tofu and water.
How to Make
First, pour the oil into a pan and heat it. Add the chopped onions to it and sauté it so that it turns brown. Then, add broccoli and water, and let them boil. The mix is to be then put into a blender, and the beans are to be added before blending. Then, heat the mix on the pan, and add dill, rice milk, seasoning and tofu.
2. Tofu and Vegetable Soup
Tofu is highly nutritious, with huge amounts of protein- it is sure to help your child be healthy and strong.
What You Need
Vegetable broth, red bell peppers, chopped baby corn, baby spinach leaves, broccoli, peas, ginger paste, minced scallions, tofu and water.
How to Make
Add the baby corn, ginger and broth to a pot and bring it to simmer. Then, add the bell peppers, broccoli, peas and tofu, along with water. Next, stir after adding the spinach and the scallions. For seasoning, add soy sauce, pepper and salt.
3. Tomato Soup
Tomato soup is a classic comfort food that’s both delicious and nutritious, making it a perfect choice for kids. Not only is it rich in vitamins A and C, but it’s also an excellent source of lycopene (1).
What You Need
Onion, basil, garlic, chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, butter, seasoning, flour and sugar.
How to Make
Add the veggies together in a pot, and let it all cook over a medium flame until it boils. Then, reduce the heat and let it simmer- add salt and pepper to condition, too. The mix is to be then blended and kept aside. In a pan, add some butter and flour and saute until you get a brown mix. Add the tomato mix to this, along with sugar to cook until the soup is thick. Garnish the dish with basil.
4. Split Pea Soup
Green peas contain high amounts of nutrients, which have a telling effect on the growth of the child.
What You Need
Vegetable broth, green peas, chopped potatoes, water, onion, celery, garlic, thyme, sage, dry mustard, bay leaves, cumin, salt and black pepper.
How to Make
Combine all the ingredients in a soup pot. Then, let it cook together for around 2-3 hours on a medium flame.
5. Carrot and Beetroot Soup
Both the vegetables contain high amounts of Vitamin A, which help in improving the immune system of your child.
What You Need
A quarter cup each of peeled, diced carrot and beetroot, along with water and seasoning.
How to Make
Fill a pressure cooker with about a one-fourth cup of water, and add the veggies to it. Flame the cooker until it whistles thrice. Then, blend the mix and strain it with a strainer. Add some water to gain the required consistency and heat it again in a pan. Add salt and pepper for seasoning.
6. Potato and Beetroot Soup
Another favourite of children, this will give them all the energy they need for an active lifestyle.
What You Need
A quarter cup each of potato and beetroot, peeled and diced- water and seasoning, too.
How to Make
Fill a cooker with a fourth of a cup of water, and add the veggies to it. Keep it over the flame until the cooker releases four whistles- after that, mash the mix well (or use a blender). Add water to achieve the right thickness and heat it in a pan. Add seasoning as required.
7. Lentil Soup
Lentil is healthy, tasty and easy to make- what better combination for soup?
What You Need
Two tablespoons of moong dal, filtered under running water, along with a pinch of turmeric powder and water.
How to Make
Add the turmeric powder and the dal with some water into a pressure cooker, and heat it until it releases three whistles. Mash the mix after removing it from the cooker, and strain it with a soup strainer. Add some water and heat it on a pan again to reduce thickness. Add salt and pepper to taste, too.
8. Sweet Corn Soup
Sweet corn is becoming a delicacy in India and is healthy enough to be consumed regularly, too.
What You Need
Milk, sweet corns, corn flour, chopped spring onions and coriander leaves and salt and pepper for seasoning.
How to Make
Cook the corn separately in a cooker until it becomes tender, and blend it into a smooth paste after adding half of the milk and salt. Put the mix on a pan, over low heat- then add some coriander and milk, and heat it for 5 minutes over a medium flame. The extra milk is to be used to dissolve the cornflour and then added to the pan along with seasoning. Add spring onions and pepper for seasoning.
9. Potato Soup
Potato contains a lot of carbohydrates, which will give your child much needed energy for development and growth.
What You Need
Potato cubes, celery, diced carrots, onion, shredded cheddar cheese, vegetable stock and cream.
How to Make
Add the carrots, potatoes, onion, stock and celery into a pan and heat over a medium flame with a lid. When the vegetables become tender, remove the heat and add the cheese and cream. Season if necessary.
10. Lentil and Vegetable Soup
Lentil and vegetables is an irresistible combo, even for young children.
What You Need
Olive oil, carrots, garlic, onion, chopped celery, potatoes, spinach, vegetable broth, bay leaves, green lentils and seasoning.
How to Make
Saute carrots, celery, onion and garlic on a pan in some olive oil until they cook or they become soft. Then, add the broth, bay leaves and lentils. Cook this mixture over a medium flame for half an hour, before adding potatoes to the mix- then cook for twenty more minutes. Add the spinach and salt, then cook until the mix becomes tender.
11. Pumpkin and Carrot Soup
Pumpkin and carrot soup is a nutritious dish perfect for cosy autumn days. This vibrant soup is a rich source of vitamins A and C and fibre, which support healthy digestion (7).
What You Need
Small pumpkin, carrots, onion, vegetable broth, olive oil, salt and nutmeg
How to Make
Sauté the onion in olive oil until soft. Add pumpkin, carrots, and vegetable broth, then bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Blend the soup until smooth, then season with salt and a pinch of nutmeg.
12. Creamy Cauliflower Soup
This nutritious soup is rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium, making it a healthy option for kids (6).
What You Need
Chopped cauliflower, diced potato, onion, vegetable broth, milk, salt and pepper
How to Make
Cook the onion in olive oil until soft. Add cauliflower, potato, and vegetable broth, and simmer for 15 minutes. Blend the soup, then stir in milk for creaminess. Season with salt and pepper. This creamy texture will appeal to kids without being too heavy.
FAQs
1. What vegetables are best for making soup for children?
The best vegetables for children’s soups are those with a naturally mild and slightly sweet taste, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, and zucchini. You can also add vegetables like cauliflower, spinach, and broccoli, but blending them with a base of potatoes or carrots can help mask stronger flavours and create a creamier texture that kids will enjoy (4).
2. What are the benefits of vegetable soups for kids?
Vegetable soups are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre that support healthy growth and development in children (5). Ingredients like carrots and spinach provide vitamin A for eye health (2), while broccoli and peas offer vitamin C to boost immunity (3). The high water content in soups also helps keep kids hydrated, and the fibre from vegetables supports healthy digestion.
3. How often should I serve vegetable soup to my child?
Vegetable soup can be served to your child 2-3 times a week as part of a balanced diet. It’s a great way to ensure they get a variety of vegetables and nutrients without too much effort.
4. Are vegetable soups a good option for children with food allergies?
Yes, vegetable soups can be an excellent option for children with food allergies, as they can be customised. You can easily adjust the ingredients to avoid allergens like dairy, gluten, or nuts.
These simple vegetable soups for kids ensure they get essential nutrients while enjoying their meals. There are many ways as to how to make vegetable soup for kids, and most of these recipes are a perfect nutritive addition to your child’s diet.
References/Resources:
1. Khan. U. M, Sevindik. M, Zarrabi. A, et al.; Lycopene: Food Sources, Biological Activities, and Human Health Benefits; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8626194/
2. Da Silva Dias. J; Nutritional and Health Benefits of Carrots and Their Seed Extracts; Food and Nutrition Sciences; https://www.scirp.org/html/5-2701422_52066.htm
3. Syed. R. U, Moni. S. S, Break. M. K. B, et al.; Broccoli: A Multi-Faceted Vegetable for Health: An In-Depth Review of Its Nutritional Attributes, Antimicrobial Abilities, and Anti-inflammatory Properties; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10376324/
4. Kaenkumchorn. T, Anderson. J; Building Balanced Snacks to Feed to Toddlers; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Selecting-Snacks-for-Toddlers.aspx
5. Fernández-López. J, Botella-Martínez. C, Navarro-Rodríguez de Vera. C, et al.; Vegetable Soups and Creams: Raw Materials, Processing, Health Benefits, and Innovation Trends; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7764940/
6. Vegetable of the month: Cauliflower; Harvard Health Publishing; https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/vegetable-of-the-month-cauliflower
7. Agusala. B; 6 health benefits of pumpkin and its spices – beyond the latte; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; https://utswmed.org/medblog/pumpkin-health-benefits/
Also Read:
Delicious Fruit Salad Recipes for Kids
Tasty Summer Drink Recipes for Children
Healthy Juices for Kids With Their Recipes
Vegetarian Recipes that your Child would Love
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