I am an absolute sucker for anything tomato. It is undeniably my favorite "vegetable" of all time. At lunch I am faced with a major opposition to my diet when I open the kettle of soup in that inhabits many of the Cornell dining halls. Cheddar tomato soup stares at me in all of its rich glory and I crumble.

This thick, tantalizing take on tomato soup is packed with cups upon cups of cheddar cheese, to the point where the fat in the dish separates itself from the soup. The description may make you cringe, but if you were there, you'd be scooping it into your dish just like I do. To get back at Cornell dining for attempting to demolish my diet on a daily basis, I made it my goal to find a delicious alternative to this comfort food. WholeLiving.com really came through with their Spicy Tomato Soup.

1 can diced tomatoes (14 ounces)

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 red chili pepper, without seeds

1 carrot, peeled and sliced

1 1/2 cups plain soy milk

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Salt and pepper

Strain tomatoes and reserve juice. Place them on a cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil until evenly coated. Broil until lightly browned, approximately 8 minutes.

In a food processor, blend tomatoes, garlic, chili pepper, carrot, soy milk, tomato juice, and lemon juice until smooth.

Heat mixture in a saucepan over medium heat and allow to simmer for at least 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

I love this dish for so many reasons. It satiates my sometimes uncontrollable craving for tomato soup in a healthy way and also incorporates some of my favorite power foods. The soy milk is an excellent source of fiber and has laundry list of health benefits that go along with it. Also, tomatoes are a huge source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and iron. The powerful red fruit contains a red pigment called lycopene, an antioxidant responsible for neutralizing cancer-causing free radicals in the body. By roasting the tomatoes with olive oil before hand, the lycopene is more effectively released.

With just 166 calories per serving, Spicy Tomato Soup is a great lunch for those of you on a calorie restricting diet. This smooth, creamy, and spicy soup is a warm comfort from the winter weather and the weight of unhealthy Thanksgiving leftovers.