There are two reasons people generally choose to eat well: better health or trimmer figures. Residents of LA are notorious for jumping on both bandwagons, perhaps in an effort to maintain both a strong physique, as well as a palatable one year-round. Juice cleansing, raw foodism, exercise fads. You name it, you can find it here in droves. But what about getting back to basics? Why not just purely focus on nourishing your body to make it strong, healthy and, as a by-product, slimmer? That is exactly what Elina Fuhrman set out to do when, in 2009, she found herself fighting breast cancer while living in the sunny city.
What was initially meant to be her own healing experiment has now turned into a full-fledged business called Soupelina. With Soupelina, Fuhrman aims to help kickstart a healthy lifestyle for her customers through delicious and organic creations. All of her soups are gluten free, soy, sugar, nut, and dairy free, vegan, and don't have any preservatives or additives. While you may wonder if the flavors are bland, she’s quick to suggest that since her dishes are hand-crafted from farm fresh, organic seasonal ingredients, saying “[they] are so addicting, you won’t believe that something that tastes so good could be also so good for you.”
“Ask anyone what soup means to them and they will tell you that they identify soup with love, nurturing, health and comfort. We think of our mothers, grandmothers, and cozy times with our families when we eat soup," said Fuhrman. "You can't gulp soup, people take time to enjoy a bowl of soup, and that leads not only to healthy digestion but also to a leaner body, healthier mind and less stress.”
In her Sweet Coconut Thai Oh My! recipe, Fuhrman mixes sweet potato, red curry, cocounut milk, galangal, red onion, lemon grass, kaffir lime leaf and Thai basil. The I Can’t Believe It’s Butternut is blended with Givens Farm butternut squash, heirloom tomato, onion and red lentils infused with ginger.
Aside from being able to order soups à la carte, customers can also purchase seasonal cleanses to fit specific health challenges, individual needs and goals. In 2014 we saw a rise in juicing and juice bars popped up all over the country. As we move forward to a new year, it looks like soup cleanses are gaining speed and taking over juicing, possibly because dieters are left feeling fuller than with juices.
“I see a cleanse as a jump-start to a healthier lifestyle. It's a time for your body to relax and nourish itself,” shared Fuhrman. “The reason soup is so powerful is simple: its therapeutic value comes from the ease with which our bodies digest all the nutrients from the high-quality ingredients that have been broken down by simmering. The absence of fruit in soups allows the optimum digestion and proper digestion is the key to a healthy and lean body.”
“And one of the most important factors in soup is fiber. As much as we talk about protein in the United States, it's fiber we are all lacking. Our diets are stripped of fiber and I believe this is one of the reasons for obesity and various health problems,” added Fuhrman. There have also been studies conducted that suggest soup to be anti-inflammatory, and according to Dr. Stephen Rennard, M.D, the psychological effect of the dish can be therapeutic as well.
Not convinced yet? Check out her Taste-imonials page where celebrities such as Matt LeBlanc, Angela Bassett, Dennis Quaid, RJ Mitte and Natalie Zea sing her praises. Soups start at $13 and three- to five-day cleanses range from $195-$325. At time of publication, deliveries could only be made to: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Burbank, Toluca Lake and Valley Village
