Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (2024)

  • Recipes By Diet
  • Low-Fat Cooking
  • Low-Fat Mains

By

Diana Rattray

Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (1)

Diana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 02/22/24

Tested by

Danilo Alfaro

Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (2)

Tested byDanilo Alfaro

Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 60 mins

Total: 80 mins

Servings: 7 servings

405 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

The cabbage soup diet is often used to jump-start a long-term diet plan. It was one of the original "soup diets" that became popular in the 1980s, and if you're going to diet, you might as well have a delicious recipe. This basic cabbage soup is an excellent choice and can be made with beans, ground meat, or chicken if you're not dieting. Cook the soup on the stovetop for about an hour or combine everything in the slow cooker and cook all day on low.

Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (3)

The diet plan centers around the cabbage soup, which is eaten throughout the week. In addition, it begins with a few days of fruit and vegetables and with little or no protein. Then, bananas and skim milk are added. Later in the week, beef or chicken and rice are added along with the soup.

By consuming low-calorie and low-fat foods, the diet burns fat fairly quickly. It's not recommended as a long-term diet but as a means to get you started. How much weight you lose will depend on your metabolism. If you have any special health concerns or dietaryrestrictions or issues, you should speak to your health care professional before starting any diet, including this one.

"While I can't comment on how effective this soup is at producing weight loss, it is certainly a delicious and satisfying soup. If you were skeptical of soup made from canned vegetable juice, rest assured that vegetable juice is basically tomato soup anyway, so you’re just adding cabbage, celery, and the rest of the ingredients." —Danilo Alfaro

Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 6 large scallions, sliced

  • 2 green bell peppers, chopped

  • 1 or 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes

  • 1 bunch celery, sliced

  • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped

  • 1 packagedryonion soup mix(such as Lipton)

  • 1 or 2 cubes bouillon, optional

  • 1 (48-ounce) can tomato-based vegetable juice (or 6 cups water)

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Curry powder, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, optional for seasoning

  • Parsley, optional for seasoning

  • Garlic powder, optional for seasoning

  • Paprika, optional for seasoning

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (5)

  2. Add the scallions, bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, cabbage, onion soup mix, and bouillon, if using, and tomato-based vegetable juice to a soup pot or slow cooker.

    Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (6)

  3. Cover and cook on low in a soup pot on the stove for 1 hour or in a slow cooker for 5 hours.

    Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (7)

  4. Add the salt, curry powder, and any optional seasonings, and continue cooking for a few minutes on the stovetop or 1 to 2 hours more in a slow cooker.

    Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (8)

  5. Eat all the soup you want. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

    Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (9)

Tip

  • The recipe calls for curry powder "to taste," but if you're not familiar with cooking with curry powder, you might not know what sort of quantity to start with. If you're unsure, try 1/2 teaspoon initially, and add more later, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, if it needs it.

Recipe Variations

To embellish this basic recipe, try adding an extra ingredient or two (diet permitting), such as:

  • 1 pound browned ground beef or ground turkey.
  • Zucchini or summer squash.
  • 1 can drained Great Northern, navy, red, pinto, or black beans.
  • Leftover diced ham or corned beef.
  • 1 can condensed (or double-strength) beef broth or condensed French onion soup instead of bouillon.
  • 1 cup chopped fresh spinach or kale.
  • 1/2 cup diced or thinly sliced carrots.
  • Diced cooked bacon, garnish.

The Diet Plan

The cabbage soup diet allows you to eat all of the cabbage soup you like in addition to adding certain foods on specific days throughout the week. No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, including diet sodas.

  • Day 1: Any fruit except bananas.
  • Day 2: Any and all vegetables, baked potato with butter for dinner.
  • Day 3: Combine Days 1 and 2 without potato.
  • Day 4: Up to 6 bananas, skim milk.
  • Day 5: 10 to 20 ounces of beef or skinless chicken, can of tomatoes, 6 to 8 glasses of water.
  • Day 6: All the beef or chicken and vegetables you want.
  • Day 7: Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices, and vegetables.

How Does the Cabbage Soup Diet Help You Lose Weight?

In general, soup diets focus on reducing calories and fat for several days. This can lead to quick weight loss and shedding a few pounds, helping some people stay motivated to eat healthier as they move on to a long-term diet. The cabbage soup provides many essential nutrients, and it can increase satiety, helping you feel fuller, so you eat less. However, diets like this should only be temporary because they do not include all food groups and can lead to nutrient deficiencies.

Easy Stovetop Cabbage Soup

  • Low-Fat Mains
  • Vegetable Recipes
  • Pepper Recipes
  • Recipes By Diet
  • Low-Fat Cooking
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
83Calories
1g Fat
18g Carbs
4g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 7
Amount per serving
Calories83
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g1%
Saturated Fat 0g1%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 727mg32%
Total Carbohydrate 18g7%
Dietary Fiber 6g22%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 86mg428%
Calcium 130mg10%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 696mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Pepper
  • Diet
  • entree
  • american

Article Sources

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Navaro DA, Raz O, Gabriel S, Shriqui VK, Gonen E, Boaz M. Functional foods in fad diets: a review. Functional Foods in Health and Disease. 2017;7(9):702-715. doi:10.31989/ffhd.v7i9.346

  2. Zhu Y, Hollis JH. Soup consumption is associated with a lower dietary energy density and a better diet quality in US adults. Br J Nutr. 2014;111(8):1474-1480. doi:10.1017/S0007114513003954

  3. Hart, K. Chapter 4.6: Fad diets and fasting for weight loss in obesity. In Hankey C, ed.Advanced Nutrition and Dietetics in Obesity. Wiley; 2018,177–182.

Rate This Recipe

I don't like this at all.It's not the worst.Sure, this will do.I'm a fan—would recommend.Amazing! I love it!Thanks for your rating!

Diet-Friendly Light Cabbage Soup (2024)

FAQs

Is cabbage soup good for losing weight? ›

Like other very low calorie diets, the Cabbage Soup Diet will likely cause temporary weight loss. But people who follow it tend to regain most of the weight lost unless they make other permanent changes. Additionally, eating only cabbage soup is nutritionally unbalanced and not safe.

What diet is similar to cabbage soup diet? ›

Similar to the cabbage soup diet, the Sacred Heart soup diet is a 7-day eating plan that consists almost entirely of a broth-based soup with non-starchy vegetables. While other low calorie foods are allowed, the diet is very specific as to which foods can be included each day.

What can I eat during a cabbage soup diet? ›

This diet is designed to be followed for a maximum of seven days and should not be considered a long-term eating plan. It consists of homemade cabbage soup, along with specified low-calorie foods such as fruit, vegetables and skimmed milk.

Does the cabbage soup diet meet the Dietary Guidelines? ›

While the cabbage soup diet is high in vegetables, the overall diet does not adhere to USDA guidelines. The diet is highly restrictive and does not provide a wide variety of nutrients or calories. It is not considered a healthy eating plan.

Why am I not losing weight on cabbage soup diet? ›

The diet plan is extremely rigid. Most of the weight lost will likely be water weight. The diet is only meant for short-term weight loss. The diet does not yield long-term results and most dieters will gain the weight back as soon as they stop the diet.

Does cabbage burn belly fat? ›

Does cabbage burn belly fat? Although cabbage is a nutritious low-calorie vegetable, many people associate it with weight loss because of the popular "cabbage soup diet". Some creative marketing has led people to believe that cabbage actually burns body fat. In fact, no food, including cabbage, burns body fat.

How much weight can you lose on a 2 weeks cabbage soup diet? ›

People who follow the diet strictly will likely lose some weight, potentially 10 pounds per week or more. This is because it involves eating so few calories each day. However, in most cases, people quickly regain this lost weight once they return to their regular diet.

Can I drink coffee on the cabbage soup diet? ›

What can you drink on the cabbage soup diet? Beverages allowed on the diet range from skim milk, water, cranberry juice, tea, and coffee.

Does cabbage soup cleanse you out? ›

Cabbage has diuretic properties that helps get rid your body of excess liquid and toxins. It helps cleanse your liver and colon. Which is why cabbage forms the base for this detox cabbage soup. You can add veggies or proteins of your choice such as egg, ground chicken, lamb!

How to get rid of tummy fat? ›

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Can I eat popcorn on the cabbage soup diet? ›

popcorn is just corn that is popped. conclusion: popcorn is part of the cabbage soup diet.

Can you eat watermelon on the cabbage soup diet? ›

DIET PLAN FOR THE CABBAGE SOUP DIET. DAY ONE: All fruits, except bananas. Cantalope & watermelon are fewer in calories than most fruits. Eat only the soup and fruits.

Do I have to eat bananas on cabbage soup diet? ›

Cabbage Soup Diet Rules: A Day-by-Day Meal Plan to Follow

Day 1 “Day 1 is just the soup and fruit only,” says Rothenberg. Bananas aren't allowed on the first day. Day 4 Along with the cabbage soup, you can also have a maximum of 8 bananas and skim milk on this day only.

How long does cabbage soup last in the fridge? ›

To store this soup, let it cool entirely before storing it in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.

What is souping to stay slim? ›

The idea behind a soup cleanse is that you eat only vegetable soups for a certain number of days, and afterward—poof—you're magically slimmer and healthier.

Can you cheat on cabbage soup diet? ›

The cabbage soup diet has low calories. Eat as much cabbage soup as you would like to keep your stamina up and drink plenty of water. If I start to feel sluggish, I cheat and have a baked sweet potato, a protein shake, or some juice.

How many calories are in 2 cups of cabbage soup? ›

Nutrition summary:

There are 142 calories in 2 cups of Cabbage Soup. Calorie breakdown: 39% fat, 41% carbs, 21% protein.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg Kuvalis

Last Updated:

Views: 6125

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg Kuvalis

Birthday: 1996-12-20

Address: 53157 Trantow Inlet, Townemouth, FL 92564-0267

Phone: +68218650356656

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Knitting, Amateur radio, Skiing, Running, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Electronics

Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.