The Worst Chicken Noodle Soups on Shelves
There really is no comfort soup quite like chicken noodle. Whether you're a bit under the weather, just want to feel all warm and cozy on a cold night, or are in the mood to slurp on something that tastes familiar and delicious, a bowl of chicken noodle soup often does the trick. Not everyone has the time (or patience) to make chicken noodle soup from scratch, so that's where the canned stuff comes in. It's not only a cheap pantry item that lasts for a while, but it results in a meal that is ready in minutes. Can't beat that!
But there are some chicken noodle soup cans that are worse for you than others. The problem with canned soups, in general, is the amount of sodium they often contain, along with some questionable ingredients. But the sodium is the real issue, as the American Heart Association recommends most adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams a day, moving toward an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 milligrams.
So to help you make the best choice, we uncovered the unhealthiest chicken noodle soup. We ranked the most commonly found options from the not so bad to the worst of the bunch that you'll find on supermarket shelves, looking mostly at the sodium per can.
And while you're making healthier changes, be sure to purge your kitchen of any of the 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.
Healthy Choice Chicken Noodle
While we would like to see no sugar in this soup, we will give credit to its high protein content. The list of ingredients isn't as clean as we would hope, either. If you stick to the serving size and not eat the whole can in one sitting, you'll be consuming 390 milligrams of sodium, which compared to other options on this list, isn't that terrible.
Health Valley Organic Chicken Noodle Soup
Taking one look at the ingredients of Health Valley's chicken noodle soup and you'll see water, carrots, chicken, and celery are listed first. A major plus! There is also a strong serving of protein and vitamin A in this soup, too.
Pacific Foods Organic Chicken Noodle Soup
This chicken soup option from Pacific Foods is serving up some fiber and protein, which gives it major points. The ingredients list is rather short compared to others on this list, too.
Annie's Organic Chicken Noodle Soup
The downside with this soup from Annie's? Well, besides the high sodium count is the lack of fiber. One whole can is only serving up 1 gram, and fiber not only helps your digestive system but help you feel fuller, longer.
Gardein Plant-Based Chick'n Noodl'
This is a vegan take on the classic soup, as it's made with chunks of planet-based chicken. While it does dish up a solid serving of protein, the sodium here is still far too high.
Amy's Soups No Chicken Noodle
If you're following a vegetarian diet and still want to enjoy chicken noodle soup, this option from Amy's is your best bet, as it has tofu. So this means it's not lacking in protein, either. But again, the sodium will make you stop right in your tracks. One can of this soup sets you back more than 1,000 milligrams, or as much sodium as you would get if you ate six small orders of McDonald's French fries.
Lipton Extra Noodle
If you're feeling extra hungry, going for a packet of Lipton's Extra Noodle seems like an ideal option. What you'll find, though, is a soup that has a super long list of processed ingredients and more sodium than three bags of Lay's potato chips.
Progresso Chicken Noodle
Progresso's soup is free of any artificial flavors, and it's a decent protein serving. But again, the sodium isn't ideal, as it's packing more of the salty stuff than you would get if you ate 15 pretzel rods.
Wolfgang Puck Organic Free Range Chicken Noodle
A can of this soup doesn't look all that bad at first glance, but the sodium is still high. There's more sodium here than if you ate six small orders of Wendy's fries. There are better options out there!
REALTED: We Tried 7 Fast-Food Fries & These Are the Best!
Campbell's Chunky Creamy Chicken Noodle
When it comes to which soup is better left on the shelf, that title goes to none other than Campbell's Chunky Creamy Chicken Noodle. We will praise the high protein content, as 15 grams per can is rather solid. That all quickly goes out the window, though, seeing the amount of calories, fat, saturated, and sodium content. They're all simply troublesome. The Classic Chicken Noodle version of this soup isn't much better on the sodium front either, as one can is packing 1,700 milligrams.
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