Along with the change in weather, wardrobe changes, and higher energy bills, the cool weather also impacts your body. Lots of things change during the winter months, from your metabolism to your food preference and even energy levels.
The idea of being cuddled up with a warm drink is appealing. If you feel that way, you are not alone.
However, that does not mean you must wait until summer to take charge of your life. Keep in mind that the secret to feeling sunny and warm in the winter is by winterizing your diet. Below are provided some of the foods you should try out in these cold months.
Citrus fruits
The advantages of citrus fruits in winter are manifold. Fruits like grapefruit, tangerine, oranges, and lemon are rich and full of vitamin C.
They help strengthen your immune system and fight against potential infections. Your body does not produce and store vitamin C. That’s why you need to consume that vitamin. You can freely add citrus to your fish, pasta, meat, or tea.
Egg, fish, and cheese
Did you know that these foods are loaded with vitamin B2? They help increase the function of your immune system. Also, they lessen fatigue and tiredness, which is good during the cold winter season.
Root vegetables
Root veggies such as parsnips, turnips, and carrots are often more readily available when other fresh veggies are not. That’s because they can endure colder weather.
Eating these veggies, either roasted, raw, or boiled, can increase your vitamins A and C. It also provides a rich amount of beta-carotene, which has strong antioxidant properties.
Broccoli and cauliflower
Vegetables can add protection against winter sickness, particularly cauliflower, and broccoli. They are loaded with plenty of vitamin C that boosts the immune system’s functions.
On top of that, we know how challenging it can be to get your hand on fresh produce during the winter. Nonetheless, frozen veggies in your local supermarket may have the same nutritional benefits as fresh ones.
Soup
Remember that soup is one of the best winter foods you can eat, not to mention they are simple to make. It’s tasty and can be made differently every time.
Nonetheless, you should avoid cream-based and salty soups like beef, chicken noodle, and tomato soap. Make sure you steer towards soups with a water base and a mix of veggies like chicken, lentils, and broth soup.
Hot ginger tea
Okay, for those people who are not dizzy at the idea of more caffeine—why don’t you try some hot ginger tea? This food can support thermogenesis and its diaphoretic at the same time. That means it warms the body from the inside out.
It offers you double the warmth! It also increases your metabolism, helps with digestion, and even supports blood flow to warm your toes and fingers.
Also, if you are not a fan of ginger tea, you could add them to stews, soups, or even smoothies.
These nutritious ingredients can be used to make a variety of soups, salads, casseroles and side dishes that will not only tantalize your taste buds but also provide key vitamins and minerals for good overall health. Creative combinations of high-fiber ingredients with lean proteins are an excellent way to craft belly-warming winter meals. Roasting vegetables with herbs for a roasted veggie salad is another great way to make a healthy yet delicious meal.
No matter your diet or lifestyle – vegetarian or vegan, meat eater plus many others – you’ll find something in these recipes that will embrace both your taste buds and waistline!
Stocking Up on Healthy Winter Foods
It’s important to stock up on healthy winter foods, especially during cold and flu season. Eating immune-boosting foods such as apples, oranges, kiwis, and pumpkins can help keep your body strong and fight off illnesses. Hearty stews and soups packed with vegetables are ideal for a healthy meal during winter months. For added nutrients, try adding lentils or rinsed canned beans to your soups and stews.
Stock up on foods packed with vitamins. Fruits that are in season such as pears, oranges, apples, tangerines, grapefruits and citrus fruits will give you loads of Vitamin C as well as folic acid (also known as Vitamin B9), fiber, potassium and beta-carotene all necessary for good health during the cold months. Canned tomatoes are another nutritious option; they’re rich in vitamin C, potassium and lycopene. And include plenty of leafy greens – green kale is particularly rich in vitamin A – to add freshness to your stews or soups.
To make sure you’re hitting all the bases for nutrition needs during this time of year consider adding nuts such as almonds or walnuts which are full of Vitamin E – an antioxidant that helps shield from environmental hazards – omega 3 fatty acids – fish oil are essential fatty acids that keep your cell membrane flexible so they can accept nutrients –and magnesium–an essential mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body.
Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein (quinoa is an even better one). Low-fat yogurt is a great source of calcium; tuna fish can also be an option if you’re still getting it wild caught instead of a farmed variety though there may be sustainability issues with buying this type of seafood while frozen berries come preloaded with antioxidants like polyphenols. Finally, don’t forget about spices which tend to contain anti-inflammatory compounds like ginger or turmeric both beneficial for immune function.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even though winter presents more obstacles when it comes to eating healthy foods, with a little bit of planning and strategy, you can still make a delicious and nutritious meal. From safe and natural produce choices to immunity-boosting snacks, there are plenty of options available that will help you stay healthy throughout the season.
Keep in mind that in order to get the most out of your meals, start by focusing on eating whole foods as much as possible. Eating balanced meals that include all of the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients will go a long way towards keeping you healthy during this cold-weather season.
