4 Healthy Food Alternatives To Keep You Warm During The Winter Period

It’s getting towards that time of year where we begin to replace the short sleeve t-shirts to woolly jumpers, light trainers to warm boots and anything else that can keep us that extra bit warmer whenever we have the opportunity. Similarly, we find ourselves tucking into our home comforts with foods that make us feel just a little cosier.

Keeping healthy during the holiday season can be a bit of a struggle, particularly with Christmas just around the corner.  However, if you’re looking to fit during the festive period even when the weather’s a little chilly outside, there is a list of healthy alternative foods that you can tuck into to keep your nutrients booming and warm at the same time. Here are 4 that you can easily incorporate into a well-balanced diet this winter.

Green Tea

It’s considered one of the go-to drink when you’re feeling a bit under the weather. Why? Because green tea is filled with antioxidants that can boost your immune system and keep the diseases away, particularly in the cold weather season. A prime ingredient of the substance is ‘catechins’. This is a natural antioxidant that helps to boost your metabolism and make it easier to manage our weight.

Keep in mind that it still contains caffeine so it’s recommended that you shouldn’t have more than 3 cups a day of green tea. If possible, aim to have it first thing in the morning when our metabolism tends to be the highest and then in the evening where it tends to dip. Best of all, it’s nice and warm so you’re sure to keep cosy whilst you drink it.

Trail Mix

For those who enjoy a nice snack throughout the day, whether it’s whilst popping to the shop, on the commute to work or to study, a mix of seeds and dried nuts can be the perfect match for you as an alternative to eating digestive health supplements. A ‘trail mix’ can be created by yourself and contains a mixture of nuts, cashews, seeds, dried pineapple, walnuts and other similar ingredients. If you need something on the go then it’s the perfect snack for when you’re feeling a little bit peckish and it’s packed with fibre and nutrients to keep you full and healthy.

Oatmeal

Many health experts consider Oatmeal perfect for promoting healthy lifestyles with all the benefits that it has to have a good heart and preventing weight loss. It’s recommended that a bowl daily will help to avoid any long term heart issues considering the protein and fibre contents that it contains.

As a winter warmer, have the oats with hot almond milk and top it off with some blueberries and strawberries to provide a warming sensation that can be appreciated by your health and your taste buds.

Honey

Did you know that honey is fat, cholesterol and sodium-free? This is why it’s considered a healthy alternative by many experts as it can contribute towards a healthier heart and boost your immune system. Not only can it boost health but it’s also suggested that there are also mental benefits to consuming honey daily including improving reflexes and bettering your IQ.

It can be easy to incorporate honey into your diet as it’s relatively flexible with what you can have it with. Simply adding it to hot water and squeezing in some lemon juice can help to reduce the chances of cellulite but there are also other ways to enjoy it such as adding a dash of it to your oatmeal or even in hot meals such as hot honey roasted salmon with a side of green vegetables.

Stay warm and remain healthy

Adding these foods into your diet is sure to keep you warm whilst the cold creeps in this winter and prevents you from digging into the treats drawer whilst you lay there in your dressing down and blanket. However, remember to not forget the basics about keeping fit and healthy. Try to get yourself to the gym when you can and brave the frost and wind that’ll greet you outside. Also, keep hydrated by drinking warm water regularly if you prefer not to drink it fairly cold from the tap or fridge.