Colder temperatures call for soup season. Not only are soups a great way to warm your body but they can also prove to be a means to get your vegetable intake as well as being a comfort food. To make a complete balanced meal, try to have 3 food groups in your bowl. Here are some examples of foods that you can include in your soup to make it a hearty balanced meal.

Proteins
Meats (Chicken, beef, veal, pork, etc.)
Fish
Seafoods (shrimps, mussels, clams, etc)
Legumes (beans, edamame, chickpeas, lentils, etc.)
Tofu (either firm tofu cut in cubes or soft tofu blended with the rest of the ingredients)
Other vegan options include adding nutritional yeast and sprinkling some seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds on top of the soup
Cheese on the side

Starch
A starchy vegetable such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnip, celery root
A cereal such as quinoa, barley, rice, pasta
Whole wheat crackers or bread on the side

Vegetables
One of the best parts about soups is that you can use pretty much any vegetable! Even frozen ones which are a healthy alternative to fresh ones during winter time when season vegetables are less readily available.

Now this is how I applied all the guidelines above to make my butternut squash soup.