This Cheesy Vegetable Soup made in the crockpot has carrots, broccoli, potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions.  So many vegetables in one soup!

The number one question we get from parents is “How can I get my kid to eat vegetables“?  We are actually thrilled you are asking this! If you are asking, it means you understand the huge impact vegetables can have on our childrens health.   Studies have shown us time and time again, that kids who consume more vegetables are:

• Less likely to develop chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease (source).
• More able to maintain a healthy weight.
• Have improved test scores and grades.
• Improves digestive health (source).

That’s why we love to bring you recipes like this cheesy vegetable soup. It gives you a way to introduce your kids to a variety of vegetables in a recipe that they are going to love.

What vegetables to put in vegetable soup?

When it comes to making vegetable soup, root veggies like potatoes and carrots create a good hearty base.   Also, if you want picky eaters to enjoy the soup, these vegetables are a good start because many kids already like them.  Add a little cheese on top, and most kids who give it a chance, usually like it.  But what other vegetables are good in soup?  It can depend on what type of soup you like, creamy or brothy.

• Veggies for creamy vegetable soups:  We usually use root veggies (like potatoes, carrots, and parsnips), starchy veggies (like corn), and flavorful veggies (like onions, mushrooms, and garlic).
• Veggies for broth based vegetable soups:  We usually use veggies that hold their shape in water and have a lot of flavor like green beans, carrots, peas, tomatoes, celery, carrots, zucchini and onions.  Check out this quinoa vegetable soup if you want to try kale as well.

Can you make soup in a slow cooker?

Making soup in a slow cooker or crockpot is always a good idea. Soups thicken up if you want it to, and the flavor is enhanced with slow, low temperature cooking.   The other great thing is that most soups don’t require several steps for cooking ingredients separately.  The best recipes have you combine all the raw ingredients into a pot or slow cooker, and everything cooks at the same time. This makes it ideal for a slow cooker.  And finally, the slow cooker is ideal because you don’t have to watch your soup!  Soup over the stove top can boil over or stick to the bottom of the pan if not watched carefully.

While this recipe can be made in a slow cooker or on the stove top, we recommend the slow cooker. It’s just easier, and you won’t have to stand over a hot stove and watch it.

What do you serve soup with?

It’s actually kind of crazy how often we get this question. It seems that most people don’t feel like soup by itself is a complete meal.  However, it can be a complete meal! Especially with a recipe like this cheesy vegetable soup. We’ve got some carbs (potatoes), the veggies, and some protein (a little from the milk and cheese)

But I get it! We want to serve our soup with a little something extra to make sure it’s a filling meal for those we make it for.  Some of our favorite things to eat with soup are:

• Rolls or bread. Who can resist dipping bread into creamy, cheesy soups?
• A green salad.  Although a lot of soups already have vegetables, if you want a little something fresh or cold on the side, a fresh green salad is great.
• Fruit salad.  Also for a fresh side dish, fruit salad is yummy with a hot soup.
• A protein.  Although it seems like it should be the main part of the meal, try having a “side” of chicken, or a piece of meat that is smaller than the soup itself.

So, try this creamy soup in the slow cooker. Don’t hesitate to try different veggies or include one or two more that you are interested in your kids getting used to!  Let us know in the comments what your kids think of it, and what other veggies you decide to try!

For more simple crockpot soups

• Slow Cooker Tortilla Soup
• Crockpot Enchilada Soup
• Creamy Tortellini Soup! (MY FAVORITE!!)
• Sweet Potato and Apple Soup