Tomato Soup with Parmesan Crisps

1. ​Add oil to a large pot over medium high heat. Add the carrots, celery, garlic and onion and sauté for 3 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Add the stock, bay leaf, oregano and basil. Bring to a boil.
3. Turn heat down to medium low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
4. Remove the bay leaf from the soup. Blend until smooth*, either with a hand blender or by carefully transferring to a stand blender.
5. For the parmesan crisps, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place 1 tbsp mounds of grated parmesan on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle a few fennel seeds onto each mound. Bake for about 3 to 5 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Use as garnish for soup.

   *^{For some added protein and creaminess add 1/2 cup of skim milk powder before blending.}

• Soup is a comfort food that is easy to swallow. You can make soup thinner by adding more water, stock or milk. You can make it thicker by adding pureed potatoes, squash or beans. If you need to stop losing weight or to gain weight, add extra calories by adding cream, grated cheese or olive oil to your soup. To increase the protein in this soup, add skim milk powder.
• This soup freezes well, so it can be made ahead in large batches and frozen in individual containers. This is helpful when you or your loved one are preparing for treatment or when you are dealing with fatigue. Cook once and eat several meals to save energy and time.
• Some people experience taste changes during cancer treatment, which can make food taste metallic or bitter. The acidity of tomatoes can help you manage taste changes by helping to cover up unpleasant tastes. If you have a sore mouth, avoid acidic foods. 
• Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that helps prevent free radical damage. Lycopene may also help lower the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer.
• Garlic has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Eating 2 cloves of garlic each day may help lower the risk of stomach and colorectal cancers. Garlic also contains compounds that may help lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are fats in the blood that increase the risk of heart disease.