Price: $1.79
Serving: 1/2 can, 9.5 oz.
Calories: 150
Fat: 3%, 2g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 36%, 870mg
Carbohydrates: 21%, 28g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Protein: 9g

Progresso says: A traditional Italian combination of lentils and spinach gives this naturally flavorful soup an authentic Italian taste.

Rebecca says: According to their website, Progresso's slogan is "A Taste of the Good Life." Indeed, Progresso's Vegetable Classics Lentil soup was quite tasty. It had the salty, onion-y flavor of restaurant lentil soup and didn't seem to miss anything by absence of onion pieces, carrots, or tomatoes which were suggested in the recipe I found for lentil soup online.

As one can see from the picture, the lentils sunk to the bottom, which gave the illusion of too much broth. However, unlike the Gumbo I previously reviewed, a quick stir resulted in a nice mix of broth and lentils. The lentils themselves were flavorful and neither too mushy nor too crunchy.

There were pieces of spinach and celery throughout the soup which were, amazingly, the same size as the lentils. This attention to detail must be evidence of the "good life" Progresso reveals to us. As I ate the soup in full spoonfuls, I could not identify the taste of these vegetables as they were outnumbered and out-textured by the lentils. Mostly, I just tasted the lentil-onion combination.

The only thing missing from this meal was a crusty piece of bread which would have been great to help scoop out the lentils. I'll have to make sure to get that for next time. Although the soup claims to be an excellent source of fiber (especially because I consumed both servings), I needed my afternoon snack earlier than usual. Perhaps some bread would have postponed the hunger a bit longer.

Price: $2.19
Serving: 1 Cup, 8 oz.
Calories: 100
Fat: 0%, 0g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 19%, 450mg
Protein: 3g
Carbs: 7%, 22g
Fiber: 11%, 3g
WW Points: 1.5

Progresso says: Finally, just what you’ve been waiting for! The same colorful medley of vegetables as our Progresso Vegetable Classics Garden Vegetable Soup, and also heart smart with half the sodium.

Amanda says: That blurb really sucks, doesn’t it? Apparently we’ve all been waiting for the exact same soup as the soup they already made. Which they kindly gave to us. Again. But in case we didn’t think this was good enough, they point out that they gave us exactly the same soup AND less sodium. Well hey! Thanks Progresso!

I decree 3 stars. The potatoes are delicious in this soup, and plentiful. I appreciate this for both the nice texture (they weren’t too mushy) and the bulk they add to my hungry stomach. The kidney beans were surprisingly firm (a plus in my book), though the green beans and carrots pretty much disintegrated in my mouth. There was a chunk of tomato large enough for me to see where the STEM CAME FROM. It was a REAL tomato! Coming from both a giant corporation and a can, I have to admit I got a little excited at this discovery. However, the tomato surprise didn’t make up for the fact that I saw corn, celery and onions floating around but neither their flavors nor textures were noticeable.

Overall the flavor is pretty typical of canned water and tomato based veggie soup. There’s nothing about the seasoning that blew me away, but nothing to really complain about either. The most remarkable trait of this particular tomato based soup is that the tomato flavor is pleasantly devoid of that weird metallic tanginess present in some canned soups. This is the second time I’ve had this soup and my official opinion is that it’s good to have around when you don’t really feel like anything in particular and just want something quick, warm and easy. I have to admit though, that while there are 2 servings per can, I consumed the entire thing. With Wasa Multi-grain crackers. Which if you haven’t had, you should go out and buy. Right now. And pick up some spicy hummus while you’re at it. And then eat that on the side. Now, that’s a meal. If I’d just had ½ the can? I wouldn’t have had the strength to type this review 40 minutes post consumption.