This deli-style soup is soooo low in calories, easy to make and really delicious!!  If you’ve never tried this type of soup you’re in for a treat.  To make it skinny, I used lean ground beef instead of fatty short rib meat.  In addition, to cut the normal amount of sugar way down, I’ve used a combination of brown sugar and a sugar substitute.  The skinny for a generous 2 cups serving, only 157 calories, 2 grams of fat and 4 Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS.  It makes a huge pot but you can easily cut the recipe in half or freeze the leftovers for many meals in the future. This main course soup is hearty enough for dinner so all you’ll need to serve with it is a simple salad. I love this soup and hope you decide to try it!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound (96%) extra lean ground beef, see shopping tip

6 cups water

4 cup reduced-sodium beef stock or beef broth

2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained

1 medium head cabbage, sliced into 1-inch slices

2 cups onion, chopped

1 cup celery, chopped

1 cup carrots, chopped

¾ cup ketchup

⅓ cup brown sugar, substitution tip below

12 packages of Truvia, Stevia, Splenda or your favorite sugar substitute, see substitution tip below

⅓ cup cider vinegar

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Brown beef in a large nonstick pan. Pour into colander and drain all fat.

2. In a large soup pot, add all ingredients including browned beef.  Bring up to a boil.  Cover and turn heat down to simmer for 30 minutes.

3. To serve: Ladle 2 cups into each soup bowl.

Makes 22 cups (11 servings) each serving, 2 cups

Healthy Benefits
Cabbage is a nutrient dense, low calorie, food that provides an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, B6, biotin, calcium, and a respectable amount of fiber. In addition, studies have shown that cabbage has anticancer benefits.

Cooked tomatoes contain lycopene. This carotenoid is found in tomatoes (and everything made from them) has been extensively studied for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties.

Carrots have been renowned for their health benefits. They’re just about the best source of vitamin A.

Shopping Tip
Happily most supermarkets sell lean ground beef. I used the 96% lean ground beef from Trader Joe’s. In addition, you cut the fat even further when draining the fat after browning!

Substitution Tip
I’ve called for using both brown sugar and some kind of sugar substitute to keep the calories and sugars down in this recipe.  If you want to use only brown sugar, increase from ⅓ cup to ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar.
Skinny Facts: using with ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
194 calories, 2g fat, 12g protein, 35g carbs, 503mg sodium, 25g sugar

Weight Watchers (old points) 3
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 5 (using ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar)

Weight Watchers (old points) 3
Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 4 (using ⅓ cup brown sugar and 12 packages sugar substitute)