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When we think of winter, often the first foods to come to mind include holiday cookies, Grandma’s old-fashioned fudge, pie, and rich eggnog. It is more important than ever that one eats healthy in the winter, however. Being coped up indoors leads to a decrease in exercise, and the lack of sunlight can lead to seasonal depression. Eating healthy in the winter is good for your body and your mind—plus it tastes delicious!
Healthy Winter Food
The key to eating healthy during the winter is looking for seasonal foods. There are lots of nutrient-packed winter vegetables and fruits that can be served in varieties of ways or cooked into main dishes. Check out this list of the best healthy winter foods:
- Winter squash come in many yummy varieties and are great roasted, baked, or mixed into stew. Squash such as butternut squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash are great ways to get fiber and lots of vitamin A into your diet.
- Citrus fruits like grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple are in season, and are a fresh alternative to heavier winter foods. Fresh citrus fruits are packed with cold-fighting vitamin C, as well as fiber, potassium, and folate, which is good for your heart. .
- Kale is a winter leafy green, related to cabbage. Kale is great for lowering cholesterol, lowering risk of cancer, and overall detoxification. It has lots of fiber and vitamins K, A, and C. Enjoy kale’s nutritious benefits most when it’s steamed!
- Not often thought of as a winter food, avocado is actually in season during these cold months. Avocado is one of the healthiest fruits around. Avocado is heart-healthy and cholesterol-friendly, thanks to its high amounts of folate, vitamin E, and beta-sitosterol. It also has been shown to reduce risk of many cancers, strokes, and the effects of aging. You can’t go wrong with this mild, tender treat!
- Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving anymore! This low-fat meat is a great source of protein during the winter. With its high levels of serotonin and tryptothan, turkey has been shown to help insomnia, enhance moods, and boost the immune system.
How to Stay Healthy During Winter
It’s important to stay healthy during the winter for many reasons. With the freezing temperatures outside, it’s more important than ever that we consume enough calories and nutrients to keep our body warm. People also tend to exercise less during the winter since they’re coped inside, which makes eating healthy even more important. Eating right and exercising also fight against seasonal depression.
When thinking about healthy winter meals, don’t forget to start the day off right with a hearty breakfast such as steel-cut oatmeal and fresh fruit. Remember that eating a healthy breakfast is always important to kick-start your metabolism.
It is recommended that one exercises 30 minutes a day for at least four days a week in addition to keeping a healthy diet. Exercise not only helps one to lose weight, stay healthy, and be strong, but it has also been shown to reduce the effects of seasonal depression.
This winter, make it a goal to not only exercise the recommended 30 minutes a day, but to eat healthy winter foods to stay in the best shape you can!