How many calories are in the Juice Press soup?
Introduction
Juice Press is a popular juice and plant-based food chain with locations across New York City and other major cities in the United States. Their menu features a variety of soups made from fresh, organic ingredients. For health-conscious consumers watching their calorie intake, the calorie counts of Juice Press soups may be an important consideration.
In this article, we will analyze the calorie content of Juice Press soups. We will look at the calorie counts for each soup variety on their menu and identify the soups with the highest and lowest calorie counts. We will also discuss how Juice Press soup calories compare to other popular soup brands.
An Overview of Juice Press Soups
Juice Press offers a rotating daily selection of vegan soups made in-house using fresh produce and other plant-based ingredients. Their soup menu changes seasonally to highlight ingredients at their peak.
Some staple Juice Press soup varieties include:
- Tomato basil
- Butternut squash
- Creamy mushroom
- Broccoli cheddar
- Carrot ginger
- Roasted cauliflower
- Roasted red pepper
In addition to these classic flavors, they also offer trendy seasonal soups like celery root and pear soup in the fall and asparagus leek soup in the spring.
The soups are prepared fresh daily in each Juice Press location. They do not use any artificial preservatives or thickeners in their soup recipes.
Analyzing the Calorie Counts of Juice Press Soups
To determine the calorie counts for Juice Press soups, we will look at the nutritional information published on their website for each soup variety.
Here is a table summarizing the calorie content per serving of Juice Press soup:
Soup Variety | Calories per 12 oz serving |
---|---|
Tomato basil | 60 |
Butternut squash | 130 |
Creamy mushroom | 100 |
Broccoli cheddar | 210 |
Carrot ginger | 180 |
Roasted cauliflower | 80 |
Roasted red pepper | 120 |
A few key observations:
- The tomato basil soup has the lowest calorie count at just 60 calories per 12 oz serving.
- The broccoli cheddar soup has the highest calories at 210 per serving.
- The cream-based soups (broccoli cheddar, carrot ginger) tend to be higher in calories than broth-based soups.
- Roasting vegetables before making them into soup (cauliflower, red pepper) seems to slightly reduce the calorie density.
Overall, most Juice Press soups range between 100-200 calories per serving. This is a reasonable calorie count for a moderate portion of vegetable soup made without heavy creams or oils.
Comparing Juice Press Soup Calories to Other Brands
To provide more context, let’s see how Juice Press soup calories compare to some other popular soup brands:
Soup Brand | Sample Soup Variety | Calories per 12 oz serving |
---|---|---|
Juice Press | Tomato basil | 60 |
Amy’s Organic | Minestrone | 110 |
Campbell’s | Chicken noodle | 140 |
Progresso | Chicken and wild rice | 180 |
Pacific Foods | Roasted red pepper bisque | 190 |
Juice Press soups tend to be on the lower end of the calorie spectrum, likely thanks to their minimal use of oils and reliance on vegetable ingredients. Their tomato basil soup has one of the lowest calorie counts per serving amongst leading soup brands.
However, other organic brands like Amy’s Kitchen also offer relatively low-calorie options to compete with Juice Press. Mainstream brands like Campbell’s and Progresso tend to have higher calorie counts, especially in cream-based and meat-based soups.
So while Juice Press soups are generally low in calories for their category, they are not necessarily outliers compared to other natural soup options.
Lower Calorie Options at Juice Press
If you are following a strict diet and want to keep soup calories minimal, these Juice Press varieties are your best options:
- Tomato basil: With only 60 calories per serving, this flavorful tomato soup is your lowest calorie choice.
- Roasted cauliflower: The roasted cauliflower soup contains just 80 calories per 12 oz serving.
- Creamy mushroom: For a cream-based soup, the mushroom soup is one of the lightest at 100 calories per serving.
Broths and tomato-based soups will generally be lower calorie than heavy cream-based soups at Juice Press. Avoiding mix-ins like cheese, croutons, and cream swirls can also help reduce the calorie count.
Some other tips for lowering calories in Juice Press soups:
- Opt for a 8 oz serving instead of the full 12 oz size.
- Request the soup without oil or ask for it on the side.
- Avoid soups with cheese or cashew cream.
- Add extra vegetables like spinach instead of croutons or bread.
With smart choices, you can enjoy Juice Press soups as part of healthy diet. Focus on tomato, vegetable, or broth-based soups and avoid heavy mix-ins to keep the calorie content reasonable.
Higher Calorie Soups at Juice Press
While Juice Press soups are relatively low in calories overall, these varieties tend to be higher in calories:
- Broccoli cheddar: The creaminess of the cheddar cheese makes this their highest calorie soup at 210 calories per 12 oz.
- Carrot ginger: Another creamy blended soup, this one has 180 calories per serving.
- Butternut squash: Winter squashes get their richness from higher natural sugar content, bumping this soup up to 130 calories per 12 oz.
As a general guideline, blended soups will tend to be higher in calories than broth-based due to the need for some type of cream or fat to achieve a smooth puree. Cheese and coconut milk are common ingredients that increase the calorie counts.
If you are watching your calorie intake, avoid the cheese-based, coconut milk-based, or heavily blended cream soups. Opt for lower fat broth soups made with tomato, vegetables, or lentils instead.
Nutritional Benefits Beyond Calories
While this article has focused on calories, it is important to remember that Juice Press soups provide a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from their natural ingredients.
For example, a serving of carrot ginger soup provides over 300% of your daily vitamin A needs. The tomato basil soup offers a full day’s worth of vitamin C. Even the butternut squash soup contains 10% of your daily iron along with vitamin A and fiber.
So while calories are important, don’t forget the nutritional value beyond the calorie count when evaluating the soups. The whole foods ingredients like organic produce make Juice Press soups a nutritious addition to your diet, even in higher calorie varieties.
Conclusion
In this nutrition analysis, we have reviewed the calorie counts of Juice Press soups. Their soups range from 60 to 210 calories per 12 oz serving. Lighter tomato and vegetable broth soups tend to be lower in calories, while heavy cream-based soups are higher.
Overall, Juice Press soups are relatively low in calories compared to other leading soup brands. But they are comparable to other organic, plant-based soup options.
When choosing a Juice Press soup, opt for tomato basil, roasted cauliflower, or mushroom varieties if you are limiting calories. Avoid broccoli cheddar and heavier cream-based soups for lower calorie options.
While calories are important, don’t forget the micronutrients and antioxidants you obtain from a wholesome, plant-based soup. Juice Press soups can be part of healthy diet when consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutrient-dense foods.