Kitchen Table Nutrition
Explore the health benefits of these Valentine’s Day favorites and their impact on well-being.
Valentine’s Day is a special day to celebrate love and chocolate. You get double happy endorphins from both love and that velvety richness of the chocolate that melts in your mouth.
Nutrition facts and calories of chocolate depend on the chosen kind, the way it was prepared and the amount eaten. Dark and milk chocolate contain similar calories, about 150-180 calories per ounce. Most of the calories come from fat. Dark chocolate contains more nutrients.
Chocolate contains a small amount of protein, approximately 3 grams per ounce. Vitamins and minerals are limited in chocolate; there is a small amount of Vitamin B12, copper, manganese, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and calcium in every bite.
If you think chocolate is a lovely Valentine’s treat, consider receiving chicken soup as the ultimate loving gesture. It is warm, aromatic and even the noodles are mushy.
Homemade chicken soup supports the immune system. The combination of chicken, carrots, celery, onions and herbs provides vitamins, minerals, and the antioxidants zinc and vitamins A and C, which help the body fight off infections.
It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, and the hot liquid thins mucus and opens clogged airways. Chicken broth is a highly effective way to stay hydrated, which is crucial during dry winter months or when dealing with illness. A wide range of nutrients is important because they all work together to maintain a healthy body and recover if necessary. If you want to get even more from your soup, feel free to add other healthy ingredients.
Butterflies swarm in the gut of a person in love. Chicken noodle soup is light, easy to digest and quite nourishing. It provides just enough nutrients to maintain energy when you don’t feel like eating much. Rich, yellow chicken soup is a gentle, nutrient-dense meal that provides necessary protein and calories without overwhelming a sensitive stomach.
To maximize the benefits, make the soup from scratch, using the meat from a real chicken carcass and plenty of vegetables. Compared with the high-sodium canned alternatives, homemade soup can be salted to taste. A large pot on your stove will contain protein, iron and selenium. When made with chicken on the bone, the collagen infused into the broth helps repair and rebuild tissues.
The beauty of chicken noodle soup is you can add as many or as few ingredients as you like. You can make your soup heartier by adding a can of beans or extra chicken. It’s an easy way to nourish the body and feed the soul.
Chicken noodle soup makes a great fallback for cold winter days because of its wonderful nutrients. The ingredients are soothing to the throat, easy to digest and taste great. The familiar, warm and nutritious nature of chicken noodle soup can reduce stress, boost your mood and provide a sense of comfort.
Isn’t that what love does? It reduces stress in your life. It boosts your mood, and love provides a sense of comfort that can’t be described. Nothing says I love you more than a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. Happy Valentine’s Day. Hope you receive both chocolate and chicken soup.
Bobbie Randall can be reached at bobbierandallrd@gmail.com.
