Nutrient-Rich Spring Soup Recipes

It's not always easy to decide what to make for a meal in the spring. Some days the sun is shining and then the next you need your heavy jacket and boots again. For those iffy spring days, there's no better meal to rely on than soup. Equally perfect for grey afternoons with a soft drizzling rain and warmer dry days, spring soup is a healthy and delicious meal choice. This season, consider these four spring soup recipes: Raw Cream of Carrot-Sweet Potato Soup From the Fall in Love With Food Again archives, this Hallelujah Diet recipe for a smooth and hearty bright orange soup delivers on flavor and nutrition. Sweet potatoes make for a great source of fiber and are filled with manganese and vitamins A and C, according to Dr. Axe. This healthy form of carbohydrates has been shown to even blood sugar levels, help with weight loss and provide lots of antioxidants. Ingredients:

• 4 carrots
• 1 small onion
• 1 bullion cube (No MSG)
• Small sweet potato
• 3 pinches fresh nutmeg
• 1/2 cup rice milk
• 3 cups hot water

Directions Chop and dice carrots, onion and potatoes before blending. Combine all ingredients in Vita-Mix Machine or similar appliance until smooth. The hot water and blending will help to make this soup steamy and smooth. Serve warm and enjoy. Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Soup For a sweet and zesty soup recipe, give this raw, gluten-free and vegan recipe from One Green Planet a try. It's easy to make and can be served two different ways: chilled or heated to just 110 degrees, to preserve the vitamins. This recipe makes two servings, at under 250 calories per dish. Ingredients:

• 4 ripe tomatoes
• 5 sun dried tomatoes
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup of basil (loosely packed)
• 1 small garlic clove
• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder
• Some chopped basil and tomato for garnish (optional)

Directions Soak sun-dried tomatoes for one to two hours until they are soft. Meanwhile, chop tomatoes, basil, garlic and once softened, the sun dried tomatoes. Keeping soak water, basil and garnish tomato aside, blend all ingredients. If needed, add more water until soup reaches the consistency you want. To serve cold, pour into bowls and garnish with basil and tomatoes. If eating soup warm, continue to blend until it reaches desired temperature. You can also heat this soup over the stove top, on the lowest heat. Leek Potato Soup Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, leeks are a great allium vegetable to add to your diet, according to Dr. Mercola's health blog. They've been shown to have properties that may help fight back against cancer and heart disease. If you're new to using leeks in your meal preparation, consider this soup recipe from Earthyandy to get started. It's packed with taste and filled with nutrients. Ingredients:

• 5 or 6 large leeks sliced thin (6 cups)
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
• 1 pound russet potatoes, diced
• 3 tablespoons coconut butter (may be omitted)
• 4 to 5 cups vegetable stock
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• Salt to taste or squeeze lemon

Directions Sweat the leeks and onion on the lowest heat for about 15 minutes with a cover, without letting them brown. Add potatoes until they become soft. Once these ingredients have cooled, add all to a blender and process until smooth. When soup has reached desired consistency, serve and top with a pinch of salt or squeeze of lemon. Raw Vegetable Soup If you're looking to reach nearly all your nutritional needs in one meal, consider this vegetable-packed spring soup from Superfood Evolution. It's colorful, packed with minerals and filled with lots of herbs and spices for great flavor. This soup is even better when topped with kimchi or fennel seeds. Ingredients:

• 2 cups nutritive herbal tea
• 1 cup lacinato kale
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup chopped fennel bulb
• 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup chopped zucchini or yellow squash
• 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
• 1/2 avocado
• 8 yellow cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 clove of garlic
• 2 teaspoons miso
• 1 teaspoon kelp powder
• 2 teaspoons Italian spices
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or pink salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions In a high speed blender, combine all ingredients and pulse until smooth. If needed, add more water for a creamier texture. Serve chilled and top with garnishes if desired.