The Soup and Sandwich combo

Picture source

I have great memories of my childhood (and teenage years) when my dad would often make me and my brother grilled cheese and tomato soup. It was one of my dad's most favorite go-to meals (perhaps a close second to spaghetti with meatballs).

The soup was from a can, the bread was found on the grocery store shelf (soft and white), he used Kraft singles American cheese (found inside a plastic wrapper) and the secret to making the grilled cheese extra crisp, was buttering the toast before placing the bread on the skillet.

Although this creation was far from being described as "gourmet" and would not meet any guidelines of what people would now call "healthy, clean or wholesome", it was prepared by my dad and he loved making it for me and my brother....thus, it is a meal that I will always remember as a happy meal. 

As I miss my dad every day since his passing in May 2014, I often finding myself craving tomato soup and grilled cheese because it reminds me of him and his contagious smile and positive attitude. 

Now is the time of the year when soup (and chili) is heavily craved as it's hot, delicious and comforting. There's not much to dislike about this meal that warms your body with each spoonful.
And you can never get bored of soup as there are countless recipes with different ingredient and spice/herb combinations. 

For a busy athlete was often finds him/herself too exhausted to cook, I highly suggest to experiment with several soup/chili recipes with the help of a crock pot, to ensure that you always have a warm meal ready for you after a long day of life.

And to make my dad happy, no bowl of soup should be consumed without a delicious side sandwich. 

Here are a few sandwich recipes from Eating Well:
Healthy Sandwich Recipes

Here are a few (actually, 100+) soup recipes from Cooking Light:
Healthy Soup Recipes