Comparing calories for a whole can
If the soup will be your main dish, compare the amount you intend to eat rather than relying on a per-100 g figure. Tesco Groceries lists Baxters Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup at 132 kcal for its 400 g can.
Who is each option for?
Choosing a vegan or vegetarian bean soup
M&S labels its Mexican-style Chilli and Bean Soup vegan and vegetarian. If you have a milk or egg allergy, also check the allergen statement: Marks & Spencer says this product is not suitable for people with those allergies.
Serving soup alongside Mexican dishes
If the soup itself need not taste Mexican-style, a familiar tomato or chicken soup may work as an accompaniment. Tesco Groceries lists low-fat options in those flavours; check each product’s own nutrition panel before choosing.
What should you compare?
Start with the portion you will eat, then check whether the flavour and dietary details fit the rest of your meal.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion calories | Tesco Groceries lists 33 kcal per 100 g and 132 kcal per 400 g can for Baxters Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup. Marks & Spencer lists 62 kcal per 100 g for its 400 g Chilli and Bean Soup, equivalent to 248 kcal for the can. | If I plan to eat the whole can, I want to compare whole-can figures and account for toppings and sides separately. |
| Dietary fit | Baxters Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup contains chicken. M&S labels its Chilli and Bean Soup vegan and vegetarian, but states that it is not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy. | A bean-based soup fits my vegetarian or vegan menu; if allergies matter, I will check the current allergen statement as well. |
| Salt | Compare the same portion basis as for calories. Tesco Groceries lists 1.64 g salt per Baxters can; Marks & Spencer lists 0.50 g per 100 g for its 400 g bean-soup can, equivalent to 2.0 g per can. | When serving soup with cheese, crisps or seasoned sides, I want to know the salt figure for the soup portion I will eat. |
| Flavour and label | Check whether the soup itself is Mexican-style or will sit alongside Mexican dishes. Compare calories, fat, sugars and salt on a consistent serving basis, using the nutrition panel and any traffic-light labelling. | Mexican-style flavour matters if the soup is the centre of my meal; otherwise, I can choose a different soup and get those flavours from the other dishes. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Comparing only per-100 g calories
The figure for a full can can tell a different story from a small reference portion: Tesco Groceries lists Baxters at 33 kcal per 100 g and 132 kcal per can, while Marks & Spencer’s 62 kcal per 100 g for its bean soup equals 248 kcal for the 400 g can.
Compare the calories for the amount you will eat, then consider toppings and sides separately.
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Assuming the calorie figure tells you about salt
The two Mexican-style soups also have different whole-can salt figures: Tesco Groceries lists 1.64 g for Baxters, while Marks & Spencer’s per-100 g figure equals 2.0 g for its 400 g bean soup.
Read the salt figure on the same portion basis as the calorie figure.
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Putting a chilled soup in the cupboard
Sainsbury’s lists Tideford Mexican Style Corn and Red Pepper Soup as a chilled pot that must be kept refrigerated, rather than a cupboard-stored tin.
Check the packaging and storage instructions if you are buying ahead for Mexican night.
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Using a vegan label instead of an allergy statement
Marks & Spencer labels its Chilli and Bean Soup vegan and vegetarian but says it is not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.
If an allergy affects your choice, follow the current product allergen statement.
Relevant brand references
Baxters
Its Supergood Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup is a 400 g tinned option for a Mexican-style menu that includes chicken.
- Tesco Groceries lists 132 kcal per can for this product.
- It contains chicken, and Tesco Groceries lists 1.64 g salt per can.
M&S
Its 400 g Chunky Mexican-style Chilli and Bean Soup offers a bean-based choice labelled vegan and vegetarian.
- Marks & Spencer lists 62 kcal and 2.7 g fibre per 100 g for this soup.
- Marks & Spencer states that it is not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy.
Tesco
Tesco own-label low-fat tinned soups are worth considering when a Mexican-style flavour is not essential.
- Tesco Groceries lists Low Fat Tomato Soup and Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup.
- Check the nutrition and ingredients of the particular soup you choose rather than treating a low-fat label as a whole-can calorie or salt figure.
Heinz
A non-Mexican soup option if it will be served alongside the Mexican-style dishes rather than provide their flavour.
- Tesco Groceries lists Heinz Weight Watchers Tomato Soup among its low-fat tinned soups.
- That listing does not establish the nutrition of a different Heinz soup; compare the exact product’s label.
Joybuy product option
This chicken noodle soup is an option when a non-Mexican soup will sit alongside the rest of your Mexican-night meal. Check its label for the portion and nutrition details that matter to you.
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Heinz Chicken Noodle Soup 400g
Consider this 400 g chicken noodle soup if a non-Mexican flavour suits your menu. Check the can’s calories, salt and allergen information for the portion you plan to serve.
Common questions
How do I compare calories between tinned soups?
Compare the amount you will eat. Tesco Groceries lists 132 kcal for a whole 400 g can of Baxters Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup; Marks & Spencer lists 62 kcal per 100 g for its 400 g Chilli and Bean Soup, equivalent to 248 kcal for the full can. Consider toppings and sides separately.
Does a low-fat description tell me how much salt is in the can?
No. Read the salt figure for the portion you will eat: Tesco Groceries lists 1.64 g per can for Baxters Mexican Chicken and Lime Soup, while Marks & Spencer’s figure of 0.50 g per 100 g equals 2.0 g for its 400 g Chilli and Bean Soup.
Is M&S Mexican-style Chilli and Bean Soup suitable for someone with a milk or egg allergy?
Marks & Spencer says it is not suitable for people with milk or egg allergy, despite labelling the soup vegan and vegetarian. Check the current pack’s allergen statement before choosing it.
What can traffic-light labelling help me compare?
Traffic-light labelling can help you compare calories, fat, sugars and salt, as described in GOV.UK’s “Check the label” guidance. Use the same portion basis for each soup and read the full label for ingredients and allergens.