My Favorite Winter Foods!

favorite winter foods

I wanted to give some suggestions regarding the perfect food to eat when you are going to be participating in outdoor activities. Although I don’t ski much anymore, I do shovel snow the old fashioned way—manually. The other morning, I woke up after our first major snowstorm and found the driveway and sidewalk filled with snow.

I got dressed and decided to go out at 7:30 a.m. to clear the snow because there was no wind blowing and the opportunity was there for me to get this job done. The first thing I did before going outside was to prepare a moderate portion of oatmeal. I prepared this with five percent cream, blueberries, two scoops of whey protein, and almonds. It was delicious and gave me more than enough energy to shovel for two hours without a break.

Oatmeal is my favourite dish in the winter because it is hot, satisfying, and extremely nutritious. Oatmeal is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients. It keeps your blood sugar regulated, controls hunger, and provides you with a continual source of energy that you will need to brave the elements. Try it with your favorite toppings like nuts, fruit, raw honey, maple syrup or cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins.

Legumes are a versatile food that can be used in soup or in chili to provide a great source of complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and nutrients like magnesium and selenium. Legumes like red beans, broad beans, garbanzo beans, or kidney beans are an excellent choice for any bean soup with added cabbage, vegetables, and spices like thyme or bay. This soup is very valuable because it will also keep you warm and satisfied by keeping your blood sugar regulated. The consumption of legumes can also lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and improve insulin sensitivity.

Chili is a great dish for the winter months because it contains a nutritional “powerhouse” mixture of legumes, vegetables, and meat (if you choose to include meat in this classic dish). The tomato sauce is also a great source of nutrients like vitamin C, lycopene, and carotenoids. The meat you choose can be in the form of extra lean, free range ground beef, ground turkey, or ground lamb. Chili has a mixture of nutrients which makes it a perfect food for the winter months. It can provide a superior form of nutritional sustenance and it’s not an expensive dish to prepare. You can also make a large batch and consume it over several days with your favourite toasted whole grain bread. For a more complex flavor, add ground cumin to the recipe.

One of my absolute favourite dishes to eat in the winter months is Irish stew. It is a very nutritious and satisfying meal to eat during the winter. Irish stew contains potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat like lamb or beef. However, you can also add other root vegetables like parsnip and cabbage if you’re looking for a stew that has a bit more volume and complexity. I prefer the Yukon gold potatoes because they are very sweet, and lamb for my meat choice for the flavor it can add to the entire dish. Irish stew, like chili, is better after it has been prepared and allowed to sit in a refrigerator for one to two days.

Enjoy!