Cold weather obviously dictates changes in our menu . We want something that would make us full, we stop counting calories and of course put on extra weight. Also due to the lack of daylight and colder weather we eat more sweets to improve our mood, etc. It is very easy to put on a few pounds over the winter. So what should we eat so it does not happen?
We basically have to follow the same rules as during warmer time of the year: eat every 2.5-3 hours, limit animal products (milk, meat and meat products), eat fresh vegetables and fruits, drink enough of water, exercise, etc. Do not forget to eat berries. It is great if you have if you freeze some cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, currants or the other berries. Eat them every single day. Don’t forget that in order to maintain a sufficient amount of vitamins, you need to properly defrost them. At first, put your berries in the fridge, and when defrosted, leave them at room temperature. Frozen berries are rich in vitamin C which strengthens immunity and improves the production of collagen, which improves skin condition.
Make sure you eat warm food too. Naturally, we drink more tea in winter time. Vegetable soup is another great chice. It is low in calorie and warms us up.
Reduce the amount of meat and dairy products. Add more beans, chickpeas, lentils to your menu. These products are lighter than meat, but they have protein which many people don’t eat enough of.
Make sure you sleep enough. Naturally, in the winter we want to sleep more. If you can, go to bed earlier and try to wake up earlier.