Overview: They key to any weight loss diet is a solid nutrition plan. GetFitOKC.com will deliver healthy recipe’s each week to add to your diet plan arsenal. Classic Tuscan healthy soup perfect for vegetarians and those looking for a lycopene boost. Tomatoes are especially good for adult males as the cooked tomatoes really aid in prostate health. The flavors from this soup are amazing and completely worth giving it a shot.

Prep time: 30 minutes.

STEP 1: Gather your ingredients. The following makes enough for 4 adults, double this if you are the Brady Bunch.

- small bunch basil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
- 1 lb cherry tomatoes
- 1 whole grain hoagie bun or equivalent amount of whole grain bread
- (2) 14 oz cans of diced tomatoes
- 4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- Sea Salt
- Black Pepper

Step 2: Prepare your ingredients.

Chop the basil and set aside. Cut the crust off of the bread entirely and tear in to small bite size chunks and set aside. Halve all of the cherry tomatoes and set aside. Press the garlic and set aside.

Step 3: Heat up a deep pan (I use a dutch oven) on medium heat. Once heated, add in 2 TBSP of the extra virgin olive oil and garlic. Brown the garlic until it is aromatic. Once you have browned the garlic, add in the 2 TBSP of balsamic vinegar and cook it down until it becomes a bit thicker.

Step 4: Add in the tomatoes and basil. Cook on medium heat until the tomatoes, basil, garlic, and balsamic are a sticky texture. The time this takes can vary, but usually about 7-8 minutes until this occurs. Essentially you do not want much water left from the tomatoes as we want the flavors from the balsamic, basil, and garlic to adhere to the tomatoes.

Step 5: Add in both cans of diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil.

Step 6: Once boiling, fill one of the empty tomato cans with water and add to the pan. Toss in your bite sized chunks of bread and remaining 2TBSP of extra virgin olive oil coating the bread as best as possible. Turn heat down to medium and stir every few minutes until the bread breaks down and creates a velvety texture. This can take 10-15 minutes.

Serve and enjoy. Please post your comments on this recipe. Recipes such as this are critical if you are serious about your fat loss diet. Gaining control over your food intake is easier if you have certain go to recipe’s that are easy to make. This tomato pappa fits the bill nicely and can be quickly and easily made with a minimum of experience.

Christian Henning, NASM-CPT
GetFitOKC.com