Chicken and Noodles

Chicken noodle soup is one of the iconic traditional foods as medicine.

It is a nutrient dense food option for people struggling with a poor appetite, a cold, or the flu.  It keeps us hydrated, has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, nutritious vitamins and other substances in the onions, carrots, and other vegetables that boost our immune systems to fight infections and nourish us in many ways; and amino acids in chicken that thin mucous in the lungs. 

It also provides us emotional/mental well-being from being nurtured by good comfort food.  This traditional tool against colds and flu is a great way to nourish ourselves or loved ones to keep us healthy and comfort and heal us when we get knocked down. 

But Chicken and Noodles's nutrient dense, fiber-rich nourishment is also a powerful food-as-medicine for preventing, managing, and even reversing chronic disease many of us modern people struggle with:  heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol, etc.  

AND, it's another easy, quick one-pot meal that saves us time and money while supporting good health.

Over the next several weeks, we'll be celebrating one of these one-pot meals each week. 

And what better one-pot meal than soup!  Soups are a great way to pack in those vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nutritious broths, etc. that really fuel a healthy body and help heal chronic disease. Last week we made delicious Carrot Soup, which you can find here. 

You can get a copy of all 5 Week Night One Pot recipes free, here.

My recipe has evolved over the years from the Chicken and Noodles my grandma made, which was just chicken, broth, and noodles.  I've kept these comforting and filling ingredients, and added colorful vegetables to boost it's nourishing powers. 

You should feel free to add more or different vegetables to your liking, experiment, and continue to allow the recipe to evolve.  Also experiment with healthier types of pasta (whole grain, legume, vegetable pasta or soba noodles) or alternatives such as whole grains like barley, wild rice, and farro, or even spiralized vegetables.

Vegetarian Options:

In place of the chicken you could substitute portabella mushrooms, sautéed tofu cubes, or cooked dry beans (such as cannellini, kidney, pinto beans, etc.).  

Use a good vegetable broth and olive oil in place of the chicken broth. 

Whatever you add, know you are adding years to your life and life to your years by eating nourishing, real food and meals like this made at home.  Enjoy!

Join me over on Facebook for healthy cooking classes and videos.  I'll be making one "Week Night One Pot" recipe per week, plus other nourishing recipes, demos, Q&A's and more.

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