Soups and chili are a great way to add variety your diet, especially if you are eating Lean and Green meals or trying to lower your carbohydrate intake.  This one is fast and easy to prepare.

Chicken and Spinach Soup

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray to sauté
• ½ cup carrots or diced red bell pepper
• Boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 1 pound, cut into cubed size pieces)
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried marjoram
• 6 ounces frozen spinach, drained
• 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans or great northern beans, rinsed
• Ground pepper to taste
• ½ cup pesto sauce or ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions:

Over medium heat, combine chicken, carrots or bell peppers and sauté with cooking spray until chicken is lightly browned.  Add garlic and sauté for a minute.  Next, add the broth and marjoram and reduce heat when broth boils.  When chicken is cooked, add spinach and beans and bring the pot to a boil.  Add tablespoon of pesto as garnish when serving.

Makes 6 servings.  158 calories and 13 g carbohydrate per serving without pesto