The cabbage soup diet is a short-term weight loss plan that revolves around consuming large quantities of cabbage soup along with specific foods each day for seven days. Many people use this diet as a quick way to lose a few pounds before an event or to kickstart a longer-term weight loss journey. This article will guide you through the cabbage soup diet, provide a delicious slow cooker recipe, and answer common questions about the diet.
What is the Cabbage Soup Diet?
The 7-day cabbage soup diet has been around for years and revised over and over again. You are likely to find several different versions online. It involves eating unlimited amounts of cabbage soup, also known as wonder soup, weight loss soup, or miracle soup, along with other specific foods each day. This unlimited soup rule is a major draw for those who hate being hungry on a diet.
Benefits of the Cabbage Soup Diet
The cabbage soup diet is often used to give a jump-start to weight loss or as a pre-diet cleanse. Some find it to be a quick fix for losing weight before a special occasion. It can also provide a boost of confidence on the scale and can be a great way to start a real diet or eating plan with a variety of healthy foods and a decent balance of calories.
The 7-Day Cabbage Soup Diet Plan
During the 7-day cabbage soup diet, you follow a specific eating plan every day, in addition to eating cabbage soup as often as you’d like. It is also important to drink eight glasses of water each day. Here's a sample of the diet plan:
- Day 1: Eat nothing but fruit (except bananas) and as much cabbage soup as you’d like. Stick with fruits that have lower sugar content, such as apples and blueberries.
- Day 2: Eat nothing but vegetables (except corn or other starchy veggies). Start the day with a baked potato (russet or sweet).
- Day 3: Eat fruits and veggies (except bananas, corn, and other starchy vegetables). No potato today.
- Day 4: Eat only bananas and milk/yogurt. You can just have bananas and milk or unsweetened yogurt.
- Day 5: Eat only tomatoes (6-8) and protein like fish, turkey, and chicken.
- Day 6: Eat protein and veggies. Unlike yesterday, you can have other vegetables besides tomatoes.
- Day 7: Eat just fruits, vegetables, and juices.
Delicious Cabbage Soup Recipe for the Wonder Soup Diet Plan
This crockpot cabbage soup recipe is not only delicious and flavorful but chock full of vegetables with lots of fiber and is very satisfying. It’s an easy healthy dinner idea made with satisfying and nutritious ingredients! Adding in fresh healthy vegetables, this hearty cabbage soup is great to get all your daily vegetables in one meal.
Read also: Low-Carb Cabbage Roll Casserole
Ingredients:
- Cut and chop all the vegetables evenly to help them cook together. The celery, onion, green cabbage, green beans, bell pepper, zucchini and carrots are all fresh and produce that needs to be chopped ahead of time.
- Grab a can of diced tomatoes and add to the slow cooker. This will help save time but it also can be flavored to add in more depth to your healthy dinner.
- Tomato paste: Thicken your soup with a bit of flavor in the cabbage soup.
- Italian seasoning: Always an easy favorite to add several seasonings at once.
- Garlic: This adds in a subtle hint of earthy flavors with a nutty and raw flavoring.
- Flavorful broth: Pick from nonfat vegetable broth, beef broth, or chicken broth.
- Salt and pepper: Add a little or more depending on your tastebuds!
Instructions:
- Chop and prepare: Place all of the chopped vegetables in the bottom of the slow cooker base.
- Tomatoes and seasoning: Add in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Next sprinkle the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper over the vegetables.
- Cook time: Pour in the broth. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 hours, or until the vegetables are tender.
- Serve: Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Crock pot cabbage soup is a dump-and-go soup so the slow cooker does all the work! Take your time slowly cooking this on low for 8 hours or speed it up to have dinner in less than 4 hours by cooking it on high! You can also cook it on the stove top in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat for about 30 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.
Variations and Additions
Create the best cabbage soup you love with these additions:
- Vegetables: You can absolutely substitute vegetables with this easy soup recipe as long as you end up with a total 8 cups of vegetables. I like to avoid starchy vegetables, like potatoes, but you can definitely add them in to make it heartier.
- Broth: Vegetable, beef stock, or chicken broth all taste great in this recipe. You can also add in a can of V-8, tomato juice or tomato sauce to thicken it up and add flavor.
- Beans: Sometimes I’ll add in a can of kidney beans or white beans as well to make it go a little further.
- Meat: There’s nothing stopping you from adding in some cooked ground beef, Italian sausage or shredded chicken to thicken the consistency.
- Spice: If you like heat, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, taco seasoning or a little bit of chili powder. You can also use fire-roasted diced tomatoes for an extra kick.
- Fresh herbs: Right before serving add some garnishes such as fresh parsley, dill or basil and a squeeze of lemon juice for a pop of bright flavor!
Storage and Reheating
The beauty of slow cooker recipes is that they make a lot, so you’re bound to have leftovers. This soup makes a great lunch the next day or freezer meal for a busy weeknight. It will stay fresh in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers. Thaw before reheating, then enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Calories: 46kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 0.3g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Sodium: 64mg, Potassium: 323mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 3763IU, Vitamin C: 38mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 1mg Nutrition provided is an estimate.
Common Questions About the Cabbage Soup Diet
- Is cabbage soup good for weight loss? It is a healthy soup that can be a part of any diet plan. This detox soup is known as the cabbage soup diet and can cause weight loss.
- Can you overcook cabbage soup? Yes, you can! This slow cooker cabbage soup does not need to be cooked too long. The cabbage will become limp and smell unpleasant.
- Do you remove the outer layer of cabbage? Yes! It is best to remove the outer layer of fresh cabbage before chopping. The outer layer of a head of cabbage is usually used in salads or coleslaw.
- Can I substitute it with other foods? There’s only one way to find out; try it and see!!
- Can you drink coffee on the cabbage soup diet? You’re only supposed to drink water, black coffee, or unsweetened herbal tea.
- Can I do this beyond seven days? It’s not recommended. Your body will start to hold on to weight if you cut it’s calories too much for an extended period.
- Can I exercise on the cabbage soup diet? Not recommended. Your calories are minimal on the cabbage soup diet. Do not work out for the seven days while on this plan or a few days afterward.
- I feel so tired of this diet, help! This diet may not be for you, especially if your days are high-energy. 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.
- I regained all the weight I had lost shortly after completing this diet. 7-day diets work to eliminate mainly water weight, which is why the results are so quick. Be sure to continue drinking lots of water after the diet. Pace yourself after the diet and eat small, frequent portions of fruits, veggies, and proteins: no refined sugars and bad carbs. Don’t stuff yourself either. Start with a balanced eating plan or lifestyle that will support average weight loss along with exercise.
Read also: Easy Cabbage Soup Recipe
Read also: Delicious Keto Meal