Hmm.

Men’s Health, cue scary music, takes you one way:

The unassuming soybean has silently infiltrated the American diet as what might just be the perfect protein source: It’s cheap and vegetarian, and could even unclog our hearts. But there may be a hidden dark side to soy, one that has the power to undermine everything it means to be male….

….Long the foundation of a vegetarian diet, tofu provides protein with little of the saturated fat and none of the moral indigestion that comes with meat. Moreover, in the past decade, research has emerged suggesting that scarfing down soy may also play an active role in extending our lives. In 1999,soy protein earned a highly coveted FDA-allowed health claim: Diets that include 25 grams—about a pound of tofu—a day may reduce the risk of heart disease. Add to this the number of studies showing that soy protein…

Now that fall (or autumn, if you prefer) is upon us and the days are getting cooler, we now look to enjoy warmer foods. Nothing warms you up like a hot bowl of soup like mom used to make!

With subtle smoky notes, this version of the classic chicken noodle soup replaces chicken with tofu and is completed with carrots, celery, onion and noodles in a savory vegetable broth.

Hearty Chickenless Noodle Soup

Tofu:
1/2 (14-ounce) package extra firm tofu, frozen then thawed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning (yes, it’s vegan!)

Soup:
6 ounces long pasta of your choice, broken into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped white onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 cups vegetable broth
3 cups water
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Begin with…