Healthy Soup Recipes for Kids...They'll Actually Eat

Soup recipes are one of the best ways to eat healthy: an easy way to trick yourself into eating lots of vegetables at once. Guess what? It works on kiddos too. As a parent of a 3 year old, I've seen first-hand how children gravitate toward starches over veggies. (Bread! French fries! Muffins!) But if I serve my son a soup first, he drains his soup bowl clean: veggies and all!

Here are the best healthy soups for kids! What are healthy soups? It's not about calorie counts or specific diets. A healthy soup is one that loads on the nutrient-dense veggies and uses meat or dairy in moderation. Emphasis on the veggies! Pack them for lunch too with our thermos recs below!

Any healthy sides to serve with these soups? 5-ingredient side dishes or any of these non-boring salads.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Here's a healthy take on one of our favorites: broccoli cheese soup! It's a plant-based recipe that's impossibly creamy, relying on a few whole food tricks to take it into addictive status. It'll warm the kids up right down to their toes. (via A Couple Cooks)

Sweet Potato Chili

Kids can't turn down chili! This one features sweet potatoes for a savory and sweet combo. It's packed full of flavor and healthy ingredients like beans and avocados. It's also vegan and dairy-free! If you have a kid who's really sensitive to spice you can skip the can of green chilis and chili powder but they add a great tang! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

You don't have to be under the weather to enjoy this chicken noodle soup. It's always a hit, no matter how old you are. This soul-warming Crockpot recipe is filled with intense flavor, vegetables galore and tender egg noodles. (via Grandbaby Cakes)

Loaded Potato Soup

There's not a kid who doesn't love potatoes! At least, we haven't found one yet. Creamy and comforting, this dish is made with no cream and loads less butter than most potato soup recipes. Load it up with all your kids' favorite toppings! (via A Couple Cooks)

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla soup appeals to all ages, but especially to the kiddos! It's vibrant and packed with nutrient-rich beans and veggies and not at all spicy. This vegan recipe is flavor-packed, budget-friendly, and ready in less than 30 minutes! (via Sweet Simple Vegan)

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

The eye-popping orange puree of butternut squash is always irresistible. Kids love the subtle sweetness of squash, and butternut squash is full of beta carotene, protein, Vitamin C & B6, potassium, and fiber. This soup is is sweet and savory, creamy and dreamy. (via Marisa Moore)

Homemade Vegetable Soup

This homemade vegetable soup is a healthy vegetarian version of chicken noodle soup that's just as tasty. The flavorful broth is flavored with turmeric and loaded with veggies! Stick to the veg that the recipe calls for or add in your kids' faves. (via A Couple Cooks)

Classic Tomato Soup

This classic tomato soup is creamy without the cream! It's a healthy soup that couldn't be more kid-friendly. The luxurious base is made by blending in white beans, but the kiddos will never know. It's gluten-free and can easily be made vegan. (via Cookie and Kate)

Taco Soup

Taco soup? Yes, please! The Mexican-style flavors are family-friendly, and this one is loaded with nutrient-rich beans and tomatoes. Even better, it's so easy to make: just 1 step! Serve with chips, salsa, and guac to round out the meal. (via Well Plated)

Tortellini Minestrone

This genius idea combines two kid-friendly healthy soups: minestrone and tortellini soup! Tortellini minestrone is full of nutrient-rich veggies and a full-flavored broth that your kids (and you) will love. Plus, who wouldn't want a pasta soup? (via Gimmesome Oven)

Want to pack them for lunch? Try these insulated, no-spill containers!