Winter Wonder Foods

Now that the holidays that require you to stuff yourself with stuffing are over, what's a girl to eat when it's freezing outside and she wants to at least try to be healthy? Many of us get really confused about what to eat when we're well into the winter season. Well, at least we do. A crisp, cold salad does not sound all that appetizing when it's 2 degrees outside, so we want to give all you ladies (and gentlemen) out there permission to eat delicious, comforting winter foods, instead!

Eating foods from the current season actually has many benefits. Because they are fresher, seasonal food are usually tastier and more nutritious. Buying foods that are in season saves you money, saves energy, and reduces the CO2 emissions from growing and transporting mangos in February. Plus, there is that whole thing about connecting with nature and being one with the universe. The word on the street is that when you fuel your body with foods that are in season, it actually gives you more energy! We think all of this is pretty awesome, so we are here to remind you to eat the seasons. Here are a few of our favorite winter wonder food options:

1. Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is delicious and nutritious and it is in season right now as we speak (er, type). One whole squash has just over 100 calories, a ton of fiber and potassium. It's so good on its own that very little has to be added to make it taste decadent. You can steam it, bake it, simmer it, mash it, turn it into soup, or add a tiny bit of butter and cinnamon and you'll have a sweet, nutritious little treat. (Cinnamon is good for metabolizing fats - yay!) Plus, doesn't it just sound yummy - anything that evokes buttery nuttiness makes us happy.

2. Cranberries

These guys are still in season. Cranberries are just as good for you as any other berry, plus they are high in fiber and Vitamin C. Think outside the box with these pretty little red balls. You don't just have to eat them as cranberry sauce with a turkey dinner. Make a low sugar cranberry jam and enjoy it on whole grain bread for breakfast, throw them onto your salad for added color and nutrients, or bake some healthy muffins using fresh whole cranberries! Fun!

3. Pomegranates

These fun little berries are super rich in antioxidants, which keep us feeling hot and looking healthy, and are full of vitamin C, fiber and potassium as well. Pomegranates are in season and we think they make for a great snack or addition to a meal. If you're tired of apples, opt for a pomegranate as a mid morning snack. Just be careful if you are wearing white, because these little berries stain - permanently! This is another great fruit to turn into a low sugar jam, or if you can stomach a salad on a cold day, add the seeds to a spinach salad with some goat cheese. Yum! Or toss a handful into your warm creamy oatmeal for a boost of antioxidants in the morning.

4. Oranges

Winter is the perfect time for citrus fruit. In the summer we get those pretty peaches and delicious nectarines, and in the winter we get sweet, juicy oranges. We are huge advocates of eating foods from the Earth - we just love that such amazingly tasty things actually grow on trees. Anyway, just peel and eat them with breakfast or lunch, or get creative and fresh squeeze some of that sweet juice into recipes.

5. Turkey

We know that turkey doesn't grow on trees, but they are actually still "in season." So are duck and venison and other game meats, but we just want to talk about turkey for a second. It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving to cook a turkey. Make one now! Just nix the stuffing and use that warm tender turkey to make other healthy meals that will keep you warm on a cold day. For example, make turkey soup with a bunch of other winter veggies like celery and onions and potatoes and squash, or make warm turkey sandwiches. Use whole grain bread and throw on a few of those cranberries that you should also be eating right about now!

For more tips, pick up a copy of How To Eat Like A Hot Chick: Eat What You Love, Love How You Feel by Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent.

Comments

[67bug]

Lest ye forget....yams! Chock full of beta carotene.