Is soup a meal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies, everyone. The guests are my sister, her husband, and their 8 year old who will be staying for 4 nights. Everyone is a healthy weight (since someone asked). My thought was the soup could be made ahead, with leftovers available for lunches (lunch isn’t a formal sit-down meal in our house, it’s fixing a sandwich or warming up leftovers on your own). Enough people here are saying no, so I’ll probably skip it, but I still think it’s a meal and will continue serving it to my immediate family, and DH can continue making himself scrambled eggs or a grilled cheese later in the evening if he so desires. Thanks again!

- OP

Great follow up OP! Some people understood the assignment and some did not.

For those that did, we actually had a consensus. It is absolutely a meal for many/most families. It is not a meal to serve to guests. Since you provided more info on your guests and your plan, I think it's a perfect option (warm up soup, make a sandwich or both) and I would absolutely not skip it. Make the soup! (bonus it gets better as it sits in the fridge!)

[Anonymous]

Make the soup OP, but maybe make grilled cheeses as well.

[Anonymous]

I'd make the soup and have my husband make grilled cheese, since it seems that he thinks that soup and grilled cheese is a meal.

In our house we have soup and grilled cheese or soup and quesadilla a lot. Also soup and cheese and crackers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people want protein in a meal.

The soups OP mentioned are full of protein.

[Anonymous]

yes.

[Anonymous]

Of course, but only if it has all the carbs and protein one needs for a meal. So we're talking about hearty versions of soup here, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people want protein in a meal.

The soups OP mentioned are full of protein.

I think it depends on the recipe. My minestrone is mostly vegetables with a small amount of beans, so not enough protein or calories for a meal. On the other hand, I might make chicken tortilla soups with a lot of chicken and then that’s different.

But the fact that OP’s husband eats the soup and then an hour or two later is seeking other food is telling to me. Being an overnight guest and hungry is hard, people post about it here every holiday because it’s common. I wouldn’t risk that for other people. Adding sandwiches, or protein on the salad or cheese and crackers is an easy fix.

[Anonymous]

It can be if it's really hearty. I make a thick, chunky potato stew that I serve with salad and crusty garlic bread. But something like chicken noodle soup or tomato soup would not work, even if served with bread/salad.

[Anonymous]

Yes if there is a lot of bread available and a hearty soup.

[Anonymous]

Not according to Kenny Bania!

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who hosts a monthly get together that starts with a buffet/sit down meal. She's a light eater, so I never expect to leave particularly "full" but it's lovely.

She made chicken tortilla soup one time, and I was in the buffet line behind a guy who basically cherry picked every single piece of chicken out of the pot. His bowl looked like a pile of chicken with some broth at the edges.

I imagine he got his fill. The rest of us? Not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a starter. It needs something else served with it to complete the meal.

+1

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Yes in our family.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I’m going to make a big batch of chicken tortilla soup for dinner for my immediate family (DH can supplement if he wants) the night before our guests arrive, with leftovers in the fridge as a lunch option, along with sandwich and salad stuff, cheese, crackers, etc. I won’t serve the soup as dinner to guests (I agree with a pp that being hungry as a houseguest is miserable). Then if anyone wants a heartier, stick to your ribs kind of lunch they’re welcome to use the kitchen to cook something, or go out.