Soup and a sandwich

By Nancy Fox

Though they have year-round appeal, soup-and-sandwich duets are particularly inviting when wintry weather howls and appetites are hearty. And what's more comforting on a cold day than the heady aroma of soup bubbling on your back burner? Research has shown that if you begin your meal with soup you may cut down your calorie intake on the rest of the meal. Better yet, you won't spend much time chopping and dicing for the soup recipes here. They're simple, quick to prepare, delicious and loaded with nutrition.

The grilled turkey club and Reuben sandwich recipes may sound decadent, but these reduced-fat versions have fewer calories than most salad meals. Grilled with reduced-fat margarine and served hot, they're ultrasatisfying with the same incredible taste as their high-fat counterparts.

Whether for lunch or dinner, you can mix and match these soups and sandwiches into combos of your liking, or simply prepare a soup or sandwich alone. If you choose a combo, the key to quick preparation is to make the two simultaneously: Put the soup on and, while it cooks, assemble the sandwich.