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

403 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

Can you lose weight on the cabbage soup diet? ›

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.

Is cabbage good for weight loss? ›

Weight Loss: With a mere 33 calories per cup, cabbage is high in fiber and contains zero fat. Cabbage is frequently recommended to people who want to lose weight since it is packed with so many nutrients and its high fiber content makes it quite filling.

How does the 7 day soup diet work? ›

One of the most popular soup diets, the cabbage soup diet is a 7-day eating plan that involves eating a chicken- or vegetable-broth-based soup that contains cabbage and other low carb vegetables. In addition to cabbage soup, you can also have one or two other low calorie foods, such as skim milk or leafy greens.

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.

What are the disadvantages of the cabbage soup diet? ›

Cons:
  • Cabbage commonly causes bloating and flatulence because of its high fiber content. ...
  • The diet is strict, allowing only relatively bland foods. ...
  • The diet may cause weakness and fatigue due to low-calorie and low protein intake.
Jan 5, 2021

What happens if you do the cabbage soup diet for 2 weeks? ›

It will likely leave you feeling hungry, weak, and bored. You might even feel sick. And if you follow the Cabbage Soup Diet for more than a week, you could run short on key nutrients. Nor does the diet encourage the necessary lifestyle changes you need to make in order to be healthier and have lasting weight loss.

How to lose 10 pounds in a week? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

Which soup is best for belly fat? ›

9 Best Soups To Burn Belly Fat
  • Vegetable Soup: Low in calories and high in fiber and nutrients, it contains carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and onions.
  • Chicken or Turkey Soup from lean protein sources is satisfying and nutritious without many calories.

Can you eat eggs on the cabbage soup diet? ›

They are high in calories and sugar, so they are not recommended on the cabbage soup diet. High-Fat Foods: Foods rich in saturated fats, such as fried foods, fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy products, vegetables like avocado, and high-fat sauces or dressings, should be avoided. It is also recommended to avoid eggs.

Why is the cabbage soup diet not working? ›

What Experts Say. "The cabbage soup diet promises quick weight loss, but experts agree it's not a sustainable option. Protein and vegetables are a focus, but any weight lost is likely to be gained back. Plus, cutting food groups can lead to nutrient imbalances."

How many bananas can I eat on cabbage soup diet? ›

Day 3: Eat cabbage soup and raw, low fat fruits and vegetables, but no potatoes or bananas. Day 4: Eat cabbage soup, skim milk, and no more than eight bananas. Day 5: Eat cabbage soup, six tomatoes, and 565 grams of beef (or a substitute for beef, such as pork, fish, or chicken).

Can you drink coffee on a cabbage diet? ›

Most versions allow black coffee while following the cabbage soup diet, but not coffee with milk.

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

Some anecdotal sources say that people following the cabbage soup diet may lose 10 pounds per week or more. 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.

Can you eat cabbage every day? ›

It is important to note that, while it is true that eating cabbage may support weight-management goals, this veggie should not be overconsumed, as too much cabbage can lead to gastrointestinal side effects, like bloating. It is also important to enjoy cabbage as a part of a balanced and healthy diet.

Can you burn belly fat? ›

Exercise can help reduce your waist circumference. Even if you don't lose weight, you lose visceral belly fat and gain muscle mass. Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days, such as brisk walking or bicycling at a casual pace. Also create opportunities to add motion to routine tasks.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Zonia Mosciski DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5762

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Zonia Mosciski DO

Birthday: 1996-05-16

Address: Suite 228 919 Deana Ford, Lake Meridithberg, NE 60017-4257

Phone: +2613987384138

Job: Chief Retail Officer

Hobby: Tai chi, Dowsing, Poi, Letterboxing, Watching movies, Video gaming, Singing

Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.