Health Smart Mom

One of the most important ingredients of any diet, particularly a winter diet, is water.  This is because your body tends to lose water with the cold dry air.  Proper hydration is required for your cells to function well.  Without this proper hydration, you end up looking and feeling bad.  A general rule is to be sure to get at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your body at its best.  As an additional benefit, being properly hydrated can help you eat less and feel full.

In addition to water, a healthy winter diet needs to include protein, fruits and vegetables at every meal.  These foods will not only provide all the nutrients you need but will help balance it out through the day, giving you energy to get by and keeping you from feeling sluggish.

While it is often more difficult to eat properly during the winter, try to find foods for your family to enjoy rather than meals that are frozen or prepackaged.  Just like fast foods from restaurants, fast foods from the grocery store contain higher amounts of fat, preservatives, and other things that can be harmful to your health.  You may have to start checking more than one store or supplier, but it will be well worth your family’s health.

While we often associate fruits and veggies with spring and summer, there are plenty of options available during the winter.  You can find veggies such as carrots, leeks, pumpkin, broccoli, and other greens.  And winter is actually the best time to find a variety or citrus fruits, along with certain types of apples.  While you may have to pay slightly more because of the shipping costs associated with shipping the veggies, the health benefits are definitely worth it.

One reason many people gain weight over the winter is related to weather related depression.  We stay inside, get less sunlight, and may feel lonely around the holidays.  For many people, this triggers cravings for comfort foods that are high in fat and calories.  But while food is the problem, it can also be part of the cure.  Instead of grabbing for fatty foods when you’re feeling down this winter, why not grab for foods like fresh fruits and vegetables that will naturally boost your mood.  This will help break the cycle instead of fueling it.

A healthy diet is not only about what you eat, but when you eat.  While we’ve been taught to eat three full meals a day, it’s often healthier to eat six smaller meals, or to simply supplement yourself with between-meal snacks.  This will help keep you fueled throughout the day and will also keep your mood more even to combat depression.  Just make sure you’re adding healthy snacks like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

During the winter, it’s easy to forget that a healthy lifestyle includes not only eating right, but also getting plenty of exercise.  Many of us slack off when it comes to exercising during the winter.  Don’t let yourself become lazy; take time every day to get your heart rate up.  This will help give you more energy to make it through the winter.

You may have to spend a bit more time and money on winter food shopping, but with a little effort, it’s possible to keep you and your family healthy all year round.