Cindy.. Starting with the Spicy V-8, huh? .. you ole' Cajun you!!
I make an old weight watcher's veggie soup recipe in the winter time.. It was always an "unlimited" food, and I used to get stuck on it.
Sautee any mix of veggies you like in a pan with spray oil... I use some garlic, onions, mushrooms, celery and carrots as a base. To that I add whatever is looking good. Sometimes there is zuchini or parsnips.. sometimes a small turnip.. I stay away from cabbage or broccoli in this soup, because I personally feel it over-powers the soup, but someone else might like it. WW had you stay away from corn, peas and potatoes.. but you don't have to if your not on that plan. You could add a bag of mixed veggies if you like. I add low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth , canned ( or boxed) , and cut up a tomato or two, ( or you could use water and boullion ).. Then this is spiced with thme, basil, salt and pepper.. A bay leaf gives it nice flavor too as it simmers. No Cajun heat to this spice mixture, but it's warming and very low-cal, as well as a fairly low-soduim quick soup. You could add pre-cooked beans or other veggies as you desire,,
Sometimes I eat it like this, sometimes I puree some of the soup in the blender, and stir it back into the batch to thicken it up. I suppose you could add some hot-sauce to it too!
Hi! Abear directed me over here and said you were resolving to eat healthier this year. Some friends gave us some cookies and flavored hot chocolate for Christmas. I took the cookies and most of the hot chocolate to work so I wouldn't eat/drink them. I can't do low carb because I get major headaches and feel like I am getting the flu, so am trying to eat healthier carbs and watch portions. I love oatmeal, wheat bread and brown rice. Unfortunately, my DH doesn't like most of those things and buys sodas and chips for himself if I don't. I can pass on the sodas but the corn chips are a little harder at times. He also hates veggies but will eat green salads. The salad produce is not very good here at this time of year but we do eat a lot of green salads in the spring and summer. I also love bananas and they will usually curb my hunger craving but they aren't very good this time of year either. I haven't found good winter alternatives for the bananas and salads yet. Most soups have too much sodium in them for me or I would eat more of those in the winter. 
