Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
My favorite healthy, real food soups & stews for busy families can be found below. All recipes are grain-free, dairy optional and kid-approved. Need help meal planning? Check out my meal planning service!
In our house, we’re always looking for creative ways to add more soup to the menu. It’s the perfect, easy weeknight meal full of nourishing veggies, protein, and broth. This white chicken chili recipe is the newest addition to our meal plan and you might find it’ll be a new family favorite! White Chicken Chili …
‘Tis the season for soup. Even though we’ve moved to where it doesn’t get that cold, our family still eats a lot of soups. They’re yummy, nourishing, and perfect when cooler weather hits. This creamy potato soup made in the Instant Pot is no exception. Delicious soup is the perfect comfort food and it’s even …
Now that fall is officially here, I’ve been making a lot more soups and stews. Whether they’re in the slow cooker, the stovetop, or cooking away in the Instant Pot, there are plenty of different options. This pumpkin chili makes a hearty weeknight meal and it’s packed with fall flavor (and nutrition!). I originally created …
I love soup weather. From tomato soup to this roasted red pepper soup, I can’t get enough. A delicious soup makes a great weeknight meal and they’re perfect to reheat on busy days. Here’s my recipe for how to make a flavorful red pepper soup that’s naturally gluten-free and dairy optional. Roasted Red Pepper Soup …
Having some Louisiana roots, Cajun Gumbalaya (also spelled gumbolaya) is a family favorite around here. It combines the flavors of gumbo and jambalaya for an intensely flavorful recipe. As they say: “Laissez les bons temps rouler” (Let the good times roll!). What Is Gumbalaya? I’ve also always been somewhat of a rule-breaker, so while gumbo …
Ever heard the saying “A bowl of garlic soup a day keeps the doctor away”? Ok, maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but in my book, this garlic soup is one case where good health and good taste unite! Garlic is a wonderful herb and culinary ingredient that I always keep in the kitchen in …
There’s nothing I love more than soup on a chilly night! This chicken taco soup is the perfect way to mix things up when you need a break from the Tuesday Taco Night routine, and bonus — most of it can come from your pantry and freezer for a quick emergency meal, but still be …
People who are new to eating real food often wonder how it’s possible to cook every meal at home when you are a busy family. I cook most meals at home and I don’t feel overextended. The reason is that I’m always looking for simple one-pot meals that I can throw together quickly. This tomato …
Looking for a festive St. Patrick’s day lunch after a healthier shamrock shake for breakfast? I have the solution for you! I like to eat seasonally when I can and this soup takes perfect advantage of that. It makes good use of spring favorites like leeks, asparagus, artichokes, and spinach. It’s also satisfyingly creamy but still surprisingly light. What’s …
Oh, chicken soup… they call it food for the soul, and it certainly hits the spot on a cold winter day or when I’m under the weather. I also just love making this chicken soup (and other soups) during the winter to get some extra homemade bone broth into my diet. It seems like even …
Soups have got to be one of my favorite things to make. They fall into that wonderful one-pot meal category — proteins, veggies, everything you need all in one bowl. Granted they don’t always work year round (no one wants to eat a steaming bowl of mulligatawny soup in August), but for several seasons of the …
I love a filling one-pot meal, and soup is a great place to pack in a wide variety of colorful vegetables. This hearty, veggie-filled soup with Italian sausage is a nice change from the usual and one I make whenever the weather is cool enough. Goal for this year: Freeze my garden zucchini (which is …
I used to love making potato soup, clam chowder, and other potato-based soups and stews. Now that we don’t eat white potatoes very often, I hadn’t made any of them in years. I found my old potato soup recipe when I was cleaning out my cabinets, and decided to try a sweet potato version instead. …
My family loves Indian food so I’m always looking for healthy Indian recipes to try at home. This mulligatawny soup recipe has become one of our favorites. It’s so simple to make, but packs a lot of flavor. What Is Indian Mulligatawny Soup? Mulligatawny soup is an Indian soup that became popular in England during British …
I’m a huge fan of soup. It’s easy to throw together, easy to freeze for later, and a healthy meal choice. My family also loves southwestern and Mexican flavors, so I created this chicken tortilla soup to meld the two. Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup I’m all about taking old favorite recipes and making them healthier. …
Soups and stews are a great meal choice for cool evening or afternoons when you want something hearty to warm you up. They are also easy to make and packed with nutrients too, making them one of my go-to meal ideas for busy nights. Healthy Tom Kha Gai Recipe Thai food is typically pretty healthy …
I love the approach of soup weather at our house, when the Instant Pot starts to live on the counter and all of the favorite cold-weather comfort foods start their rotation. In fact, tomato soup was one of my favorite soups before switching to a real-food diet. Now, I don’t think I could eat the canned …
Sometimes when the weather is chilly or you’re simply feeling under the weather, there is nothing better than a warm brothy soup. This miso soup combines nutrient-rich bone broth with the probiotic benefits of miso. And you get the benefits of vitamins and minerals from vegetables too. Make a big batch for the whole family or just …
I’m happy to say that my meal planning and preparation skills have improved quite a bit in the years since college. Those days, most meals involved grabbing food at the food court on campus. Thankfully, they had a decent salad bar and some sushi or I don’t know that I would have consumed many vegetables at all! …
Soup is so good! What I love most about soup is that it is a comfort food that is also nutritious. Soup contains healthy protein and collagen from the broth (if it’s made from meat) and is usually an easy way to get lots of antioxidant-rich vegetables in the diet. This broccoli cheddar soup is …
After my husband and I watched Julie and Julia (good movie!), I went on a French cooking kick. Boeuf Bourguignon (also known as Beef Burgundy) was already pretty healthy to begin with, and I could make it with ingredients I already had on hand. It really is everything it is made out to be in …
Depending on your family traditions, the day after Thanksgiving usually takes two shapes: a full day of Black Friday shopping or (what we do) a day of ultra-relaxation and absolutely no cooking! Thanksgiving leftovers are delicious the first time, but less tempting for the third or fourth meal in a row. This homemade leftover turkey …
‘Tis the season… for pumpkin anyway! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin lattes, and more are everywhere this time of year. Some of us love it and some of us hate it… but I’m totally in the love it camp! This made-from-scratch pumpkin soup recipe is a quick and filling fall meal. Extra bonus… in a …
Growing up I loved the French onion soup made from dried soup packets (now I make the same mix at home with real food ingredients). Now, I love serving a big pot of homemade soup for dinner. One pot meals are always really convenient and make great leftovers. And soups usually fit the healthy requirement as well. …
