The Story Behind Our Soups
It all started with a soup-er suggestion...
Sometimes it is the simplest of suggestions that can help shape a whole new product line. I am beyond proud to say that one of those suggestions came from my 14-year-old daughter. It was a brisk, fall afternoon when my daughter came home from school looking for a snack. After rummaging through our cabinets, she asked me, “Mom, why don’t you make me soups?” And, that’s all it took to start our market research!
I thought about it for a bit. I asked my husband, son, and some family members. Did some Googling. The verdict was in, I was going to try my hand at making some soups!
Looking back, the idea is so obvious to me now. Growing up in Czech Republic means that an earthy, rich soup graces you at almost every lunch and dinner – whether you are at home or school. Soups are an extremely important staple in Czech culture. Don’t believe me? My husband and I fed Liver Dumpling Soup to each other at our wedding, as part of a long-practiced Czech wedding tradition. We even included a picture from exactly 20 years ago to prove it! I know, we both look really young, I can't believe how grown up we thought we were.
My Go-To Soups
Right now, Wild Zora has a total of 5 soups that are all Grain-free, Gluten-free, Paleo, Keto, Whole30 compliant, and made from the best of the best ingredients. Now, I’m not supposed to have favorites, but I think I can have a few go-to’s. Right? Well, in no specific order a few of my front-runners are the Lemon Chicken, Mushroom Beef, and Savoy Beef. Personally, I am obsessed with these soups, and as an added bonus, they are all Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Compliant recipes.
Lemon Chicken
The Lemon Chicken Soup was inspired by a traditional Greek soup with a chicken and lemon base called Avgolemono. When Josh and I lived in Chicago, I instantly fell in love with 2 things: Greek Town and this soup. The AIP Chicken Soup is citrusy, slightly-tangy, and full of flavorful herbs and free-range chicken.
One of the most wonderful and powerful ingredients in this soup is Turmeric. Turmeric is full of antioxidants and natural compounds that help with inflammation. I love it as an AIP Breakfast! It helps my gut feel good right away in the morning and eases any bloating I may have.
Mushroom Beef
The Mushroom Beef Soup is a rich, savory broth that will take you right back to grandma's beef stew. And that’s exactly where the idea came from. One of the fondest memories of my grandparents I have is picking wild mushrooms from the forest. You had to be extra careful to only gather the ones you knew were safe to consume or you would poison your entire family (talk about some serious pressure). Once we got back home, we would slice them, dry them, and add them into soups until we would run out.
So, it may not be a surprise that my favorite ingredient from this AIP soup recipe is the champignon mushrooms. Mushrooms are rich in B vitamins and beta-glucan which is strongly linked to improving cholesterol and boosting heart health. I like this one in the afternoon when I want a warm cup of something savory. It is really a treat.
Savoy Beef
The Savoy Beef Soup was inspired by my nostalgic love for Russian Borscht. Now, growing up in Czech you never-ever admitted to liking anything Russian. Never. However, I do remember always stopping at the same restaurant on family road trips just so that my father could get a bowl of this soup.
The sour, vinegar-based broth calms the stomach and the beets pack a nutritional punch making it the perfect afternoon AIP snack. Beets themselves are a great source of nutrients, including fiber, folate, and vitamins. Plus, it’s full of 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef that supplies 5g of protein to keep you going!
The Real Reason I love our Soups
Now don’t get me wrong, each soup is extremely important to me and it’s incredibly hard to pick a favorite. They each carry a story. A significance. But perhaps my favorite thing about the soups is that they have provided my family with a quick and healthy snacking option for our busy day-to-day schedule.
When I see my kids enjoying these soups as a savory and nourishing breakfast it makes me so happy and proud that I can provide an easy option for my family and other families out there. So whether you are looking for a quick and healthy breakfast, snack, or substitute for your 5th cup of coffee we got you covered with our Instant Soups.
Make it a Meal
You can even add a few more ingredients to turn this snack into a meal. Just add some rice and a soft-boiled egg and make sure to stir. If you are in the reintroduction phase of the AIP diet, just add the egg yolk to start with and white rice. And if you’re new to AIP and looking for some tips and tricks, you have to check out Phoenix Helix’s book, Simple Guide to the Auto Immune Protocol.
If you are already a fan, I’d love to hear more about how our soups help nourish your life. Send me an email!
Happy soup sipping!
Zora Tabin (Founder, Mom & Healthy-Snack Enthusiast)