Many people start going into hibernation mode come dropping temps. They eat heavier foods. They gain (more) weight. They cozy up and hunker down.
There are numerous holiday parties that start after Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas. Work parties, family parties, drinks with your friends, neighborhood potlucks, cookie swaps. The list goes on. And just when you think it will slow down, Christmas arrives, leading you into New Year’s Eve, and topping it off with Valentines Day.
Holy more weight gain! Continuous months of indulging and mindless eating and drinking.
So, how are you going to get on handle on it?
Fear not. Winter is a great time to detox, leading into the lightness of spring. I have several programs for you to choose from. If you are interested in checking them out, let’s talk!
Don’t forget to get your vitamin D. The days get their shortest come winter. Researchers at Aberdeen University found that obese people had 10% less vitamin D than people of average weight. The study also found that excess body fat absorbed vitamin D so the body couldn’t use it. Scientists now believe that there is a direct correlation between obesity and low levels of vitamin D. With that, get out there, even in the cold, and get your sunshine, if only for 10 minutes per day.
Move your booty and continue exercising regularly. It can be as simple as taking a walk out in the snowy terrain.
Sometimes you may not feel like it due to the cold weather, but hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I like to use warm (almost hot) water to increase hydration in the cold weather. Just sip throughout the day.
Enjoy lots of winter seasonal foods. Move toward the more warming winter foods and also emphasize the more warming spices and seasonings including ginger, cinnamon and peppercorns.
Here is a list of the seasonal foods of winter:
- Avocado, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Endive, Escarole, Fennel, Grapefruit, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Lemons, Mandarin Oranges, Onions, Oranges, Parsnips, Pears, Persimmons, Potatoes, Radicchio, Rutabaga, Satsumas, Shallots, Sweet Potatoes, Tangerines, Turnips, Winter Squash*
Enjoy them all. Try new things. Just remember, don’t let the couch lure you into curling up with the unhealthy comfort foods like creamy soups or mac and cheese.
Here’s a great recipe using several seasonal vegetables! I hope you enjoy it!
SWEET POTATO CAULIFLOWER SOUP
- 1 large head cauliflower
- Few dashes Garam masala (optional)
- 3 medium to large sized peeled sweet potatoes, cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 400 °F. Wash and cut cauliflower, and then sprinkle lightly with Garam masala. Place thecaulifloweron parchment covered baking sheet and lightly drizzle with olive oil. Roast about 20-30 minutes. In large stockpot, bring sweet potato, onion, garlic, salt and broth to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sweet potatoes are tender. Add in cooked cauliflower and blend half then combine.
Enjoy!
*This list was found using the following link, where you can learn more about seasonal produce: http://localfoods.about.com/od/whatsinseason/a/WinterFruitVeg.htm