Winter Foods To Keep You Warm And Healthy

Whether it’s snowing in your neck of the woods or your winter conditions are a little milder, this is the time of year when heavy-feeling foods are especially appealing and seem to lurk around every corner (hot chocolate with whipped cream, anyone?). The shorter days, cooler temps and more indoor time may be to blame for our enhanced desire for comfort foods and TV-watching, but don’t despair! There are plenty of healthy foods that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling, even when Jack Frost is lurking outside your window.

1. Break the Fast

Breakfast is the meal of champions. It keeps your cravings for foods high in fat, sugar, and calories under wraps. When the sun is on the rise, choose foods high in fiber and protein—low-fat yogurt topped with low-fat granola, a hearty bowl of oatmeal matched with a tall glass of milk, or a whole-grain bagel with a shmear of peanut butter.

2. Graze Like You Mean It

Don’t be fooled: Skipping meals will not save you calories. The longer you go on empty, the more apt you are to choose foods bursting with fat and sugar in quantities meant for Paul Bunyan. Instead, eat 200-400 calories every three to four hours to keep one step ahead of your cravings. For longer satisfaction, think whole-grain breads, vegetables, lean protein (turkey, chicken, hummus, beans), and a sprinkle of healthy, unsaturated fats like nuts, seeds and avocados.

3. Pump Up the Protein

Cravings for comfort foods can be caused by an uneven distribution of protein throughout the day. Adding a little to each mini-meal or snack—low-fat cheese sticks, yogurt, almonds, hummus and whole-grain crackers—will send your sweet tooth into hibernation and encourage long-term hunger suppression.

4. Sweet by Nature

What could be sweeter than a succulent pink grapefruit, a bright red apple, or a pear that’s soft to the touch? A piece of fruit can pacify your sweet tooth while boosting your fiber, phytochemical and antioxidant intake.

5. Listen Up!

Have you ever spent hours preparing a delicious meal, and then eaten it so fast (or so mindlessly) that you suddenly looked down at your empty plate thinking, “Where did my food go?” Eating in front of the television, computer, or while reading can spell disaster. Eat your meals and snacks free from distractions so you can fully enjoy your food—and recognize when you’re full.

6. Drink Up!

A good old glass of water may be just what your body is craving when your energy levels tumble. Next time you feel a craving coming on, down a big glass of water and see if your cravings retreat.

7. Keep Moving

We all know that dancing works miracles, but did you know that exercise also calms cold weather appetites? It slows down the centers in the brain that control appetite and pumps out happy hormones called endorphins. Thirty to 60 minutes of moderate exercise three to five times a week can take a bite out of your cravings—so keep on dancing!

8. Brush Up!

As the day winds down, cravings can pick up speed (hence the midnight snack!). This is a great time to grab your toothbrush and send your hankering for a Hostess Ho Ho down the drain.