20+ Blue Zone Soup Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Which soup eaten by longest living people in the world is so simple and perfect for rainy day? ›

Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones series, says minestrone is a 'bountiful dish that is eaten every day for lunch by some of the world's longest-lived families in Sardinia'. This Italian soup has many variations and no set recipe, but it usually contains lots of vegetables and pasta.

People in Blue Zones areas eat meat about once a week and typically their servings are no larger than a deck of cards. Their diets do not include processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, and sausages. Instead, they favor free-range chicken and family-farmed pork or lamb.

While it's known for its rugged coastline and welcoming hospitality, one of the most intriguing facts is that the islands, particularly the areas of Ogliastra, Barbagia di Ollolai and Barbagia of Seulo, are designated a 'Blue Zone'—a region of the world where people live much longer than average.

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

Eating wisely is one of them. People who live in Okinawa, Japan have a wise strategy when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight. They call it “hara hachi bu”, which means to stop eating when you are 80% full. Studies show that cutting back on calories can lead to better heart health, longevity, and weight loss.

Eggs are consumed in all five Blue Zones diets, where people eat them an average of two to four times per week. Cut down your consumption of cow's milk and dairy products such as cheese, cream, and butter. Try unsweetened soy, coconut, or almond milk as a dairy alternative.

Avoid dairy when possible. If cheese is a must, try ice-cube size portions of sheep (pecorino) or goat (feta) cheese to flavor foods. If you eat eggs, limit intake to three times a week.

Broth-based soup diets generally last for 7 days. However, some can last as long as 10–14 days. Over that time, proponents of a broth-based diet claim you can lose up to 10 or even 20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg). On a broth-based soup diet, cream-based soups are restricted, as they're higher in calories and fat.

The soup diet may work for some people, but it is not recommended by health professionals, particularly for long periods, because of its restrictive nature.

What is soup kitchen homeless? ›

The term “soup kitchen” means a public or charitable institution that, as an integral part of the normal activities of the institution, maintains an established feeding operation to provide food to needy homeless persons on a regular basis.

In fact, bread and cheese are eaten at most meals. It is estimated that about 45 to 50% of Sardinian caloric intake comes from these food groups! A typical breakfast is a few ounces of fresh sheep's milk ricotta served with marmalade or vegetables.

Sardinians stay active all day long, especially in their culinary pursuits. They tend to their sheep, milk their goats, forage for wild greens, cook, clean and garden. While you most likely won't be herding sheep or searching for mushrooms, you can still find ways to stay active throughout your day.

Sardinian cuisine offers a surprisingly diverse range of food choices for such a concentrated area. Given its geographical positioning, it's no surprise that seafood is one of the main choices on just about every menu around, from squid and enormous prawns to sweet rock lobster and fresh sardines.

3-bean minestrone soup

Buettner said the family eats a chunky minestrone made with a variety of garden vegetables grown nearby, and it always contains three types of beans: garbanzo, pinto and white bean. “People who live the longest, healthiest lives tend to eat half a cup to a cup of beans daily.

Notable examples include beef and goat noodle soup served by Wattana Panich in Bangkok, Thailand, which has been cooking for over 49 years as of 2024, and oden broth from Otaf*cku in Asakusa, Japan, which has served the same broth daily since 1945.

Follow a mostly plant-based diet – Blue Zone centenarians follow a predominantly plant-based diet, eating 95-100% plant-based. They primarily eat a variety of in-season fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and beans.