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Prepared foods

Chicken soup (caldo de pollo)

Per 100 g (3.5 oz), chicken soup (caldo de pollo) provides 6.2 g of protein, 0.8 g of fiber, and 55 kcal, a very low energy density.

USDA description: Chicken soup (caldo de pollo)

  • Easy to digest
  • Low energy density
  • Hydrating

Estimated satietyHow it is calculated

Starting point+1
Very low energy density: 55 kcal/100 g+2
Protein: 11.3 g/100 kcal+2
Fiber: 1.5 g/100 kcal0
Soup or stew, not a drink, with 87.2 g of water+1
Sum6
Capped at 55

Our own estimate from the values per 100 g: useful for comparing foods with each other, not a measurement in people. Holt index (1995): this food was not measured.

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Sources
6 primary
Data
USDA FDC 2707135

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Nutrition facts

Calories
138 kcal per serving
55 kcal per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Protein
15.6 g per serving
6.2 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Carbohydrates
10.1 g per serving
4 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
of which sugars
2.8 g per serving
1.1 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Fiber
2 g per serving
0.8 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Fat
4 g per serving
1.6 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
of which saturated
1.1 g per serving
0.4 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Water
218 g per serving
87.2 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)

Source: USDA FoodData Central (FNDDS 2021-2023): Soup, sopa or caldo de pollo (FDC ID 2707135), accessed September 23, 2026.

A typical 250 g (9 oz) serving provides about 138 kcal, 15.6 g of protein, and 2 g of fiber.

The typical serving (250 g (9 oz)) is a common amount used for the math, not a recommendation. Ounces and cups are rounded US equivalents; the values come from the database entry cited in the sources.

What it is and how to eat it

It is a chicken soup with vegetables; USDA's recipe named sopa or caldo de pollo is 40% water, 30% vegetables, 20% chicken and 10% a cooked base of onion, carrot and celery. It has 55 kcal, 6.23 g of protein and 87.2 g of water per 100 g; homemade recipes change with the chicken cut, the amount of meat and the rice, noodles or potato added, so the figure is a reference, not an exact measure.

A 250 g (8.8 oz) bowl, similar to the 245 g cup USDA uses for this soup, provides 138 kcal, 15.6 g of protein and about 218 g of water. The 2025 nutrition advisory on GLP-1 therapy notes that when hunger is low, soups are often more appealing than heavier foods such as red meat, cold cuts or hard cheeses, and suggests small, frequent meals and adequate fluids. With nausea, a few sips of broth can be a first step, but the protein is in the chicken, so it is best not to leave it for last, as the same advisory suggests eating protein-rich foods first; for more, you can add shredded chicken or an egg.

What the evidence says

A 250 g bowl provides about 218 g of water, a little over a tenth of the 2.0 liters of total water a day EFSA sets as the adequate intake for adult women (2.5 liters for men), a reference that counts water from both drinks and food. It has 295 mg of sodium per 100 g according to USDA, about 740 mg per bowl, more than a third of the 2,000 mg a day the WHO recommends not exceeding. With USDA's reference recipe, protein supplies about 45% of its energy, above the 20% the EU requires for a "high protein" claim (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006), but that reflects how few calories it has: it is 6.2 g of protein per 100 g and about 15.6 g per 250 g bowl. If you make a big pot, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service advises dividing it into small containers so it cools quickly, refrigerating it within 2 hours, eating it within 3 to 4 days and reheating soups and broths to a rolling boil.

The sources for this section are listed under "Sources" at the end of the page.

Satiety

The 1 to 5 score is our own estimate: it starts at 1 point, adds points for low energy density, for protein and fiber per 100 kcal, and for the water in solid foods, and subtracts points for drinks with calories. It is useful for comparing foods with each other; it is not a measurement in people.

What to keep in mind on a GLP-1 medication

Easy to digest
It is a soft or low-fat food that many people tolerate well when they feel nauseous or get full quickly. This is an editorial judgment based on common patient guidance, not a measurement: everyone tolerates foods differently.
Low energy density
It has 100 kcal or less per 100 g: plenty of volume for few calories, which helps you feel full. On a GLP-1 medication, which already reduces your appetite, make sure these foods do not push protein foods off your plate.
Hydrating
It has 85 g of water or more per 100 g, so it contributes to hydration. That helps because with a smaller appetite people also tend to eat and drink less, and not drinking enough can make constipation worse.

Frequently asked questions about chicken soup (caldo de pollo)

How much protein is in a 250 g (9 oz) serving of chicken soup (caldo de pollo)?

100 g (3.5 oz) of chicken soup (caldo de pollo) has 6.2 g of protein. A typical 250 g (9 oz) serving has about 15.6 g of protein. That is 11.3 g of protein per 100 kcal.

How many calories does a 250 g (9 oz) serving of chicken soup (caldo de pollo) have?

100 g (3.5 oz) of chicken soup (caldo de pollo) has 55 kcal. A typical 250 g (9 oz) serving has about 138 kcal. That is a very low energy density.

Does chicken soup (caldo de pollo) have fiber?

100 g (3.5 oz) of chicken soup (caldo de pollo) has 0.8 g of fiber. A typical 250 g (9 oz) serving has about 2 g of fiber.

Is chicken soup (caldo de pollo) filling?

Yes, very filling for the calories it provides: our estimated satiety score is 5 out of 5. It is based on: our rule adds points for low energy density, for protein and fiber per 100 kcal, and for water in solid foods, and subtracts points for drinks with calories. It is an estimate based on its composition, not a measurement in people.

How does chicken soup (caldo de pollo) sit with nausea from a GLP-1 medication?

Based on our tags, this is what matters about chicken soup (caldo de pollo) on a GLP-1 medication. “Easy to digest”: a soft or low-fat food that many people tolerate well when they feel nauseous or get full quickly. “Low energy density”: plenty of volume for few calories; make sure it does not push protein foods off your plate. “Hydrating”: a lot of water, which contributes to hydration when you eat and drink less. These are general guidelines, not medical advice: everyone tolerates foods differently.

What counts as a normal serving of chicken soup (caldo de pollo)?

We use 250 g (9 oz) as a typical serving. That amount provides about 138 kcal, 15.6 g of protein, and 2 g of fiber. It is a reference for calculations, not a recommendation of how much to eat.

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Sources

Sources for the data on this page, with the access date.

  1. Official databaseU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.USDA FoodData Central (FNDDS 2021-2023): Soup, sopa or caldo de pollo (FDC ID 2707135).accessed .
  2. Clinical guidelineObesity (Wiley).Mozaffarian D, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: A joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity. 2025;33(8):1475-1503. doi:10.1002/oby.24336.accessed .
  3. RegulatorEFSA Journal.EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for water. EFSA Journal. 2010;8(3):1459. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1459.accessed .
  4. InstitutionWorld Health Organization.Sodium reduction.accessed .
  5. RegulatorOfficial Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex).Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (Annex).accessed .
  6. RegulatorU.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS).Leftovers and Food Safety.accessed .