A great bowl of soup is satisfying, comforting and, it has been said, good for the soul.

LARRY CROWE/The Associated Press

Homemade vegetable soup can be tastier, healthier and nearly as easy as store-bought varieties.

It also can be a quick and easy dinner solution that's good for your health as well as your waistline.

Soups, especially those that are broth- rather than cream-based, are an excellent way to fill up on vegetables and liquid, which is a good strategy for consuming fewer calories without feeling deprived.

Making soup from scratch is the best way to control the nutritional content, and it can be quicker and easier than you might think to prepare something that is tastier than store-bought.

If you are making a broth-based soup, start with reduced-sodium broth, then add plenty of chopped fresh or frozen vegetables. Except for tomatoes and beans, skip canned items, as they lose nutritional value and contain excessive sodium.

If you want to put pasta in the soup, choose whole-grain varieties, which will add nutrients along with a pleasant, nutty flavor. And add it only during the final 10 or so minutes; otherwise it can get mushy.

If you want to make a creamy soup, consider pureeing some of the vegetables or beans to use as a base.

This bitter greens, tomato and white bean soup is a delicious example of a healthy soup. It takes only 30 minutes to prepare and is loaded with beans, vegetables and pasta.

The soup is garnished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. But for an even more luxurious experience, swirl a tablespoon of prepared pesto into each bowl just before serving.

Add the broth, tomatoes, orzo, red pepper flakes, black pepper and water. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook until the pasta is tender, about 6 minutes.

Add the beans and greens, then cook, stirring often, until the greens are tender, about another 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings.

PER SERVING: Calories 279 Fat 8 g (2 g sat) Cholesterol 5 mg Sodium 473 mg Fiber 8 g Carbohydrates 36 g Protein 16 g