I love lentil soup. I know you are trying to eat healthy, and I eat pretty healthy myself. However, when I make my lentil soup I start with pepperoni cut into small pieces...maybe 1/2 cup, so not too much. I cook that in the pan first to brown it up and then add veggies into it (celery and carrots cut up into very small pieces) until they are just tender, then I add onions and let them sweat a bit. After that I add chicken broth and let everything cook down pretty well. Last, I add the lentils and let them cook until nice and tender. The pepperoni gives the soup just a little bit of spice and a great flavor. You could probably use turkey pepperoni too for less fat. I don't like traditional sausage, that's why I tried the pepperoni the first time, and now it is the only way I will cook the soup.