Despite the availability of all types of food all the time, there remains a healthy dose of common sense in the mores of days gone by. Cold food cools you off. Ditto those icy cold drinks from the fridge. Winter is on our doorstep, and with snow right around the corner, it’s time for warming, fortifying, nourishing food.
To stay healthy this winter, let’s get back to our roots. Here’s how.
Eat Seasonal Foods. Your diet should include as many seasonal choices as possible. These foods have more starch, naturally occurring sugars, and the vitamins we need to beat the cold. Just as summer means salads and lighter fare, the fall/ winter season means squash, sweet potatoes, onions, hearty stews and soups.
Eat Warm Foods. ‘Yes’ to cooked, warm food, ‘No’ to ice cream (I’m sorry, but it’s true).
Limit Raw Foods. There’s nothing wrong with a sprinkling of raw foods - say, an apple or the occasional salad. If you’re really dying for that daily salad, have it at room temperature, or better yet, top your lettuce with grilled veggies.
Drink Room Temperature Water. One winter I made the life altering choice to unplug my water cooler. Guess what? I stayed healthy right through to the spring. Bonus points for sipping on herbal teas throughout the day.
Use Warming Spices. Cinnamon, cayenne, garlic, ginger, pepper, allspice, cardamom, cloves… not only will they fire up your digestion, they’ll warm you from the inside out!
These simple steps will truly make all the difference to your winter experience. Eating warming foods keeps you in step with the season while keeping that spring in your step. With a few tweaks to your daily routine, you'll experience the benefit of nature's toolkit in staying hale and hearty this season. Keep Warm and Carry On!
