Do-It-Yourself Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 small onion (about 1/2-cup chopped)

• 2 medium carrots, sliced

• 1 stalk celery, sliced

• 1 clove garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic flakes)

• 1 tablespoon pot herbs

• 1 14-1/2-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth (about 2 cups)

• 1 14-1/2-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes plus 1 can of water

• 1 19-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) or other beans, no salt added

• 1/2 cup frozen peas

• 1 cup cooked elbow macaroni

Directions

In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and pot herbs. Cook, stirring, just until onions look slightly wilted. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, water, and beans. Bring just to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer about 10 minutes or until carrots are done. Add frozen peas and macaroni to hot soup and serve.

Serves four

Each 1/2-cup serving contains about 250 calories, 10 g protein, 4 g fat, 41 g carbohydrates, 10 g fiber, and 404 mg sodium.