Welcome Winter
Winter is a good time to boost the protein and fat content in our diet to help keep our bodies warm and nourished. Since it is natural to spend more time at home and indoors during this season, use this opportunity to reorganize the kitchen pantry and see what you need to stock up on for the colder months ahead.
When fresh produce is limited and many farmers’ markets are closed, it’s nice to have a wide selection of nuts and nut butters, seeds, oils, grains, beans and lentils, and spices on hand. Some of my favorite spice staples during the winter months are cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cumin, cardamon, fennel and cloves.
When cooking, be sure to incorporate a variety of seasonal produce such as hearty greens, leeks, brussels sprouts, beets, carrots, turnips, and squash, as they are not only widely available… but they make it a lot easier to feel our best during the cold and damp months.
Finally, keep in mind the warming properties of pepper. If you can tolerate spicy dishes, you’ll find that anything made with hot pepper will cause your whole body to feel warmer. So, vegan chili or hot curry soups are phenomenal cold weather meals.
There is no doubt that winter poses special challenges for vegans, but these are easily surmounted. You’ll find the cold weather offers special satisfactions when it comes to food if you plan accordingly. And you can embrace the season and all it has to offer.
