Making Sense of Soups: Sweet Potato & Chicken Soup

December 7, 2022 General /FamilyRecipes

When the weather turns cold and windy, warm up with our hearty and healthy winter soups. Homemade soups are easy to prepare, they’re fun for kids to slurp, and they taste great too. Our black bean and sweet potato soups are made with lots of vegetables, so every spoonful brings great nutrition to your family’s diet.

It’s hard to avoid stuffy noses and colds in the winter, but eating foods rich in vitamin A (like sweet potatoes!), can keep your family’s immune system going strong. This soup is sweet (from the sweet potatoes!), so even if your kids tend to shy away from vegetables, chances are they will love every steamy spoonful.

Sweet Potato & Chicken Soup

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

TIP: If you follow a vegetarian diet, switch from chicken broth to vegetable broth, and leave the chicken out. For more protein, add 1 to 2 cups of chickpeas or diced tofu.

Nutrition Information per Serving (1 generous cup):

140 calories, 3.5g fat (0.5g saturated), 510mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 13g protein, 160% vitamin A

Making Sense of Soups

Many homemade soups are made with beans, proteins, and lots of vegetables, so every spoonful is packed with nutrient-rich flavor.

Here are a few things to consider to smartly shop and sip soups:

Watch the Salt:

Store-bought soups are among the top-10 sources of sodium in a child’s diet, and too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure. To help, when buying canned soups, read labels, compare brands, and choose the lowest sodium options at the market.

According to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, sodium should be limited each day to:

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Side Lying Hold

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Cross Cradle Hold

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Football Hold

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Breastfeeding Holds

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

Breastfeeding Holds

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when: