For a student moving into self-catered accommodation, compare kcal per 100g and per serving rather than choosing a soup because it says ‘low fat’. Tesco Groceries lists Tesco Low Fat Tomato Soup at 31 kcal per 100g, compared with 44 kcal for its lentil-and-vegetable soup and 47 kcal for Heinz Vegetable Soup; the tomato soup has the lowest stated figure of these three. Salt, ingredients, heating equipment and leftover storage can still change which tin suits you.
If you are moving into self-catered accommodation, check how each soup is heated and whether you will have fridge space for an opened tin. The serving size also matters if you expect one can to cover more than one meal.
Compare kcal per 100g before looking at the stated serving. A ‘low fat’ description answers a different question from how much energy the soup provides.
Check the dietary declaration and ingredients on the exact soup you buy. A vegetable-based name or vegetarian declaration is not a substitute for checking allergens.
Start with comparable nutrition figures, then check whether the tin fits your kitchen, dietary requirements and plans for leftovers.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and portions | Compare kcal per 100g, then the energy and size of the portion you expect to eat. Read ‘low fat’ and energy information separately. | I want to compare tins on the same basis, rather than assume a front-of-pack claim tells me the calories in my portion. |
| Salt | Read salt per 100g and per serving alongside the energy figures. Tesco Groceries lists 0.69g salt per 200g serving for its Low Fat Tomato Soup and 0.93g for its Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup. | If soup will be a regular cupboard meal, I want to know how much salt my usual portion contains. |
| Heating | Check the instructions for the microwave or hob you will use, including the required container. Tesco Groceries instructs shoppers to empty its Low Fat Tomato Soup into a non-metallic bowl before microwaving. | A quick meal is useful to me only if I have the equipment and container needed to heat it as directed. |
| Ingredients and leftovers | Check vegetarian suitability and allergens on the exact label. Before opening a tin you will not finish, read its instructions for transferring, refrigerating and using leftovers. | I need a soup that fits my dietary requirements, and I want to know whether I can store the remaining portion as directed. |
Fat and energy are different nutrition measures. A per-100g energy figure is useful for comparing these soups, but it does not by itself establish a ‘low calorie’ claim for a liquid.
Compare kcal per 100g and for the portion you expect to eat. Treat any claim on the pack according to its exact wording.
Salt can differ between soups. In a February 2026 analysis of 481 chilled and ambient soups, Action on Salt reported that 23% exceeded the government’s voluntary maximum salt target; that figure describes products analysed, not student preferences.
Read salt per serving as well as kcal, particularly if soup is likely to be a frequent meal.
Storage instructions differ by product. Tesco Groceries instructs shoppers to transfer, cover and refrigerate unused Tesco Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup and consume it within four days; Joybuy’s Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup 4 x 400g listing specifies two days for its leftovers.
If you will eat only part of a tin, check its own instructions and make sure you can refrigerate the rest.
A vegetable soup’s name does not tell you everything in its ingredient or allergen declaration. Suitability can differ between recipes.
Check the current label of the exact variant for ingredients, allergens and any vegetarian declaration.
Tesco Groceries lists Low Fat Tomato Soup and Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup in 400g tins.
Tesco Groceries lists Heinz Vegetable Soup 400G as low fat and suitable for vegetarians.
Marks & Spencer describes tinned soups including minestrone, chunky vegetable and chilli-bean styles.
These 400g tinned soups are options to consider for a cupboard meal. Compare their current labels for energy, salt, ingredients and preparation before choosing one for your new kitchen.
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For a cupboard meal, check the energy per 100g and the heating instructions against the equipment you will have. This Scotch broth is described as containing mutton, so it is not a vegetarian choice; check the current ingredients and allergen label if you need to avoid barley or wheat.
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If a bean soup appeals for a cupboard meal, compare its energy and salt per 100g with other tins you are considering. Check the current label for celery, dietary suitability and heating directions before buying.
No. Fat and energy are different measures, so do not infer a ‘low calorie’ claim from ‘low fat’ wording. Compare the energy figures per 100g and for the portion you plan to eat.
Tesco Low Fat Tomato Soup has the lowest stated energy of the three compared listings, at 31 kcal per 100g. Tesco Groceries lists its Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup at 44 kcal per 100g and Heinz Vegetable Soup at 47 kcal per 100g; those figures alone do not decide which ingredients or portion suit you.
Do not microwave the tin. Tesco Groceries instructs shoppers to empty its Low Fat Tomato Soup into a non-metallic bowl before microwaving; follow the heating instructions on the exact soup you buy.
Follow the storage period on the particular product. Tesco Groceries says to transfer unused Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup to a non-metallic container, cover and refrigerate it, then consume it within four days; Joybuy’s Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup 4 x 400g listing specifies two days for its leftovers.
Yes: energy and salt are separate figures on the nutrition label. Tesco Groceries lists 0.69g salt per 200g serving for its Low Fat Tomato Soup and 0.93g for its Low Fat Lentil & Vegetable Soup, so compare the portion you would actually eat.