Soup, a great way to start a meal

Filling up on soup can be a great way to start a meal or make an entire meal as long as you're savvy in the soup selection.

Power to Progresso for their 1 and even 0 point soups. The entire can (1 pointers) is 120 calories for 18 ounces of tasty soup. No fat and 8 grams of fiber delivers the low points. 70% of your daily allotment of sodium though. I'm told you can microwave the soup in the can (top off) but I don't have the guts to do it.

The roast beef has been a mainstay for my lunch. I remember hearing a Weight Watcher leader scolding our group not to eat the entire can because it was 2 portions and 2 portions of 0 point soup can be 2 points. I sat there thinking 'who cares.'

But what a difference in choosing between a nice creamy tomato soup and clam chowder. It pays to know your soups.

Although my lunch is often a Progresso point saver, I have coughed up enough lunch points to have Campbell's new butternut acorn squash soup. It comes in a container not a can. Easy to pour into a microwavable dish and heat for 2.5 minutes.

I know Campbells has come out with a line to rival the Progresso low points line. Maybe someone out there can give a shout out for their favorite.