Minute Minestrone Soup

Minute Minestrone Soup
Bridget Swinney MS, RDN, LD

February 5, 2025 Recipes

Warm up with this healthy, hearty soup. This recipe is a great way to use leftover veggies and is yummy with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese on top! Serve with toast cut in the shape of hearts.

This soup is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, lycopene, and fiber. Lycopene is an antioxidant and gives tomatoes, watermelon, and grapefruit their color. Lycopene has been shown to protect against heart disease and some cancers including breast cancer. By using whole-grain pasta, this soup is even healthier!

Ingredients

1 cup frozen spinach, thawed or cooked in a minimal amount of water, not drained (or use leftover cooked spinach or other green)
1-8 oz can tomato sauce
1-14 ½ oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup cooked green beans
1 cup cooked chickpeas or any beana
1 cup cooked pasta—macaroni or small egg noodles
2 cups water
1 teaspoon each: onion powder, garlic powder, Italian spice, basil
2 bay leaves
¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste

couple gbaby crib in background

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until heated. Add more water for a thinner soup. Remove bay leaves before serving.

You can change this recipe to make it the way you like!

couple admiring baby

Get Creative!

  • Skip the pasta and add another cup of beans or a cup of cooked brown rice or barley
  • Substitute the green beans with any other cooked veggie – like zucchini or carrots
  • Substitute the spinach with any other cooked green – like baby kale or Swiss chard
  • Make it a main dish soup by adding cooked chicken or other protein cut into bite-size pieces
  • You can start with uncooked veggies and dry pasta and cook both in the soup at the same time. Just add another ½ cup or more of water, depending on the pasta, and cook another 5-10 minutes
Side-Lying-Hold

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
cross-cradle-hold-1

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football-hold

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
CRADLE-HOLD​

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
laid-back

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position