No. Any soup with calories breaks an intermittent fast; stick to water, black coffee, or plain tea during the fasting window.
What This Answer Means In Practice
Intermittent fasting divides your day into a fasting window and an eating window.
During the fasting stretch you avoid calories so your body stays in a true fasted state.
Soup, even a light broth, carries energy from protein, fat, or carbs, so it ends the fast once you drink it.
Save soup for the eating window, and use zero-calorie drinks to get through the fast.
Common Liquids During A Fast
| Drink | Fast-Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water (still or sparkling) | Yes | Plain only; add ice or a squeeze of citrus for aroma, not juice. |
| Black coffee | Yes | No sugar, milk, or cream. |
| Plain tea | Yes | Herbal or caffeinated is fine without sweeteners. |
| Electrolyte tablets | Mixed | Check label; many have sweeteners or calories. |
| Bone broth | No | Contains protein and fat; breaks the fast. |
| Vegetable broth | No | Usually has carbs and sodium; ends the fast. |
| Miso broth or miso soup | No | Soy paste adds calories and protein. |
| Cream soups | No | Dairy adds fat and lactose. |
Drinking Soup During A Fasting Window: What Counts
The label drives the answer.
If a liquid lists any calories per serving, it breaks the fast the moment you drink it.
Most canned or boxed broths list energy, protein, and sodium per cup.
Homemade stock also carries amino acids and fat from bones and meat.
That mix feeds you, which ends the fast.
Why Zero-Calorie Drinks Are Allowed
Water, plain coffee, and plain tea contain no energy.
They hydrate you and help with appetite while you wait for your meal window.
Top clinics also list those drinks as fine during fasting time.
Benefits People Chase With Intermittent Fasting
Some pick time-restricted eating for weight control or to simplify their day.
Others like a clear split between meals and non-meal hours to keep snacking in check.
Research teams continue to test different schedules and track body weight, insulin response, and other markers.
Those outcomes vary by person, plan, and food choices when you do eat.
Popular Schedules And Where Soup Fits
16:8 time-restricted eating: you fast for sixteen hours and eat within eight.
12:12 or 14:10: shorter fasts that feel gentler for many starters.
5:2: two non-consecutive low-calorie days per week, and five regular days.
In each pattern, any soup sits inside the eating window, not the fasting one.
Hydration, Sodium, And Smart Timing
Liquid intake can drop during a fast because food normally supplies water.
Plan a steady flow of plain water and tea across the day.
If you cramp during workouts, sodium may help once you enter the eating period.
That is a better spot for broth or salty soup.
Mistakes That Commonly End A Fast
Sipping broth while cooking dinner.
Picking a “low-calorie” canned soup during a late meeting.
Adding milk or sugar to tea or coffee out of habit.
Chewing gum with sugar alcohols that come with energy on the label.
Taking a pre-workout mix that includes carbs or amino acids.
Electrolytes Without Calories
Plain mineral water brings a little sodium and magnesium with zero energy.
A squeeze of lemon peel in water adds scent, not sugar, when you avoid the juice.
Salt your first meal after a long fast if you feel light-headed when standing.
If you plan a sweaty session, line up salty foods for your meal window.
Caffeine, Hunger, And Sleep
Black coffee may blunt appetite for some people.
Too much caffeine can bother the stomach or disrupt sleep, which makes fasting feel harder the next day.
Slot your last cup early in the afternoon so bedtime goes smoothly.
Sample Day With A Warm Bowl In The Meal Window
7:00 a.m.: water, then a mug of plain tea.
10:00 a.m.: another glass of water.
12:00 p.m.: open your eating window with clear broth and a protein-packed plate.
3:00 p.m.: water or tea as needed.
7:30 p.m.: close your window with a hearty vegetable soup and a side of lean protein.
8:00 p.m.: fasting window begins again with water only.
Soup Ideas That Fit A Time-Restricted Plan
Chicken and vegetable soup with beans during lunch hours for fiber and protein.
Seafood chowder with light dairy during the middle of the window so digestion feels easy.
Tomato and lentil soup with whole-grain toast to end the window on a steady note.
Pho with lean meat and extra herbs; count the noodles inside the window only.
Cooking Tips For Lighter Bowls
Skim fat from chilled stock and save a little for browning onions and carrots.
Use spices like cumin, turmeric, star anise, and peppercorns for depth without added energy.
Blend part of the vegetables for body instead of cream.
Finish with chopped herbs and a squeeze of citrus during the meal window.
Reading Labels On Canned And Boxed Liquids
Look for clear serving sizes such as one cup or 240 ml.
Scan the ingredient list for sugar, cream, or starch thickeners.
Match sodium levels to your needs; many broths push over 700 mg per cup.
Stock your pantry with low-sodium picks for flexible seasoning.
When A Sip During A Fast Might Be Required
Some medical tests ask for clear liquids the night before.
Follow the clinic handout rather than a diet plan in that case.
If a nurse or doctor says broth is allowed for the test, follow that sheet even though it ends a diet fast.
What The Experts Say About Drinks During A Fast
Major clinics list water, black coffee, and plain tea as fine during fasting time and place any energy-bearing liquids in the meal window. See Johns Hopkins Medicine on intermittent fasting for a clear summary.
Large agencies outline fasting styles and research aims. See the NIA page on fasting diets for an overview of patterns and study goals.
Troubleshooting Cravings During A Long Stretch
Drink water first and wait five minutes; many pangs fade on their own.
Brew peppermint or cinnamon tea to change the flavor in your mouth.
Stand up, walk a few minutes, or start a short chore to reset your attention.
Plan your first meal so you know exactly what you will eat when the clock hits your window.
Safety Notes And When To Pause A Plan
Stop a fast and eat if you feel faint, shaky, or confused.
Book an appointment if fasting triggers binge behavior, acid reflux, or daily headaches.
People with gout or a history of kidney stones need a tailored plan from a clinician.
Broth And Soup Nutrition At A Glance
| Type (1 cup) | Typical Calories | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken broth, clear | 10–20 | Often high in sodium. |
| Bone broth | 30–80 | Protein and fat vary by recipe. |
| Tomato or veggie soup | 60–120 | Carbs from vegetables. |
| Cream-based soup | 150–300+ | Dairy and butter push calories up. |
How To Fit Soup Into A Time-Restricted Plan
Pick your eating window first and set alerts on your phone.
Batch-cook a pot of broth or soup on rest days and chill in single-serve jars.
Open the window with broth, then move to protein and fiber so energy lasts.
Close the window with a light bowl if you feel best with warm food at night.
Who Should Be Careful
People with diabetes, active eating disorders, or pregnant and nursing people need personalized guidance before fasting.
Anyone on blood pressure, glucose, or thyroid meds should speak with a clinician about timing and dose changes.
Teens and kids need steady energy for growth, so time-restricted eating is not built for them.
A Simple Decision Tree You Can Use Today
Is your liquid plain water, coffee, or tea with nothing added? Then it’s fine during the fast.
Does the label show any calories, protein, fat, or carbohydrate? Then wait until the meal window.
Not sure what a home recipe adds? Treat it as food and place it inside the meal window.
When in doubt, drink water during the fast and plan soup for mealtime. That simple rule keeps you consistent and removes guesswork, day after day, steadily.