{yummy} italian vegetable soup.

everyone's trying to be better, exercise more, and eat healthier. i, myself, have made numerous such 'vows' to do so in yesterday's post of my 100 things to do in 2014. and with tools like weight watchers, i know i have the skills to be a healthier version of myself.

one of my FAVORITE go-to meal options that are filling and healthy are homemade soups. when i first started weight watchers over 3 years ago, i became addicted to soups of the canned variety. they were easy and yummy. but once i transitioned to eating a 'cleaner' lifestyle (limiting processed foods with artificial ingredients and preservatives), i searched for soups i could easily make myself. i stumbled on the following recipe and have not looked back! it's filling, hearty, and can be altered to fit your tastes. i tend to make this on sundays so i can have it on hand all week long!

picture care of weight watchers

Italian Vegetable Soup

Ingredients 10 oz fresh spinach, baby leaves    2 medium uncooked carrot(s), chopped    2 rib(s) (medium) uncooked celery, chopped    1 large uncooked onion(s), chopped    1 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced    4 cup(s) reduced sodium vegetable broth    28 oz canned diced tomatoes    2 leaf/leaves bay leaf    1 Tbsp dried basil    1 tsp dried oregano    1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed    Instructions Place all ingredients in a slow cooker; stir, cover and cook on high power for 5 hours. Remove bay leaves, stir and serve. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

LAUREN'S TIP: i like to make this either in the slow cooker or stove-top...it works either way. i also do tend to spice it up with some hot sauce. ;-)

xoxo Lauren