You can adjust the amounts. I like to make a huge pot and serve it for several meals. My husband is a vegetarian and has a huge appetite. Making a big pot of soup saves me a ton of time in the kitchen for a couple of nights, and it means I have an easy and healthy lunch. I usually have homemade sourdough to go with it. You can't imagine how many servings of fruits and vegetables this man snarfs down in a day. If you don't have anyone in your house who eats like a horse, you can easily cut this down. I hope we don't get tired of it. It's one of the healthiest things one can make ahead. Frankly, I think it's better than salad because I need to add dressing to enjoy salad. I didn't mention that you should use some olive oil to sautee the veggies. Other than the olive oil, which is minimal, it's all good unless you go completely overboard with the pasta.