Just Give Me a Coke! (and a recipe for Spicy Mexican Soup under 150 calories)

Going into this diet, I really thought I would be the one to not struggle, and I doubted my parents would last the week, but they are the ones who constantly ask me how many calories everything contains and when my mom goes to make my dad a sandwich I hear him say, "Wait! How are you spending my calories? Let's skip the cheese today."  Last night, after a week without a cold Coke (my biggest addiction) I decided I wanted a small 20oz bottle (240 calories) for my snack. It had just been one of those days. My parents were out running errands so I called them to have them pick one up for me on their way home. I spent the next 10 minutes on the phone with them trying to convince them that yes, I DID want to spend my calories that way and no I wouldn't regret it. Well I did end up getting that Coke, and no, I don't regret drinking it. That icy, cold, refreshing first sip was utopia, and it was just enough to hopefully get me through a month without drinking it this time.

Anyways, one of my favorite soups has to be this Mexican Soup I've adapted over the past couple years from a friend's recipe. It's really quiet simple to make, takes minutes and is so low in calories you can add it on to almost any meal or beef it up as much as you want with chicken, avocados, a side of chips, bread, ect. The first version below is all from scratch and especially wonderful to make in the summer when tomatoes, corn and peppers are in season. The seconds version is for when you don't even have 15 minutes to chop vegetables and need a quick fix, or just to stock the pantry with these ingredients and be able to make this soup on a whim.

Organic Homemade Spicy Mexican Soup (4 servings, 1 1/2 cups=130 calories)

5 cups low-sodium chicken broth (50 calories)
1 large tomato diced (about 20 calories)
1 c black beans -I prefer canned, but if you use dried, soak them overnight first (200 calories)
1 c corn kernels (160 calories)
1/4 c diced red pepper (about 10 calories)
1/8 c thinly diced sweet onion (less than 5 calories)
5 T tomato paste (75 calories)
Juice from 1/2 lime
1/2 t black pepper

Optional:
1 c cooked diced chicken (not added into calorie count)

To add Spice:
Mild Spice- add 1 t red pepper flakes
Very Spicy- add as much diced jalapenos as you like (use gloves when handling and take out the seeds to eliminate some of the intense heat)

Directions:
1) Mix all the ingredients together in a medium size sauce pan and let simmer 15-20minutes (or you can leave in a crockpot on low for a couple hours)


Easy Mexican Soup:
2 cans Green Giant Southwestern Style Corn
1 can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 c low sodium chicken broth (add another cup for thinner consistency)
1 c cooked, diced chicken (optional)


To add Spice:
Mild Spice- add 1 t red pepper flakes
Very Spicy- add as much diced jalapenos as you like (use gloves when handling and take out the seeds to eliminate some of the intense heat)


Directions:
1) Mix all the ingredients together in a medium size sauce pan and let simmer 15-20minutes (or you can leave in a crockpot on low for a couple hours)