By JJ Virgin
The weather outside is frightful and your mood isn’t so delightful. After dealing with cold temps and those holiday crowds, you crave some comfort food. Please don’t jump into a vat of mac and cheese or scarf down a greasy burger up to feel better. I have some great winter eating tips that are so yummy and comforting while also allowing you to fit into that LBD for New Year’s Eve.
*SOUPED UP. Nothing is better on a chilly day than a steaming bowl of soup. I refrain from most of the store bought kinds because many are just full of fillers like pasta or potatoes. Plus it is super easy to make your own soup. Just grab a big pot or a crock-pot, cut up your favorite fresh veggies and pour some organic chicken broth on top. You can add canned beans and cooked, cubed chicken. Just the smell of this slow cooking all day is comforting, plus the results are delicious. TIP: When you’re making the soup think about adding a rainbow of fresh veggies and add as many colors as possible. Cut the chunks small enough, so you get an interesting mix of flavors with every bite. If you make too much soup then freeze individual portions for future healthy lunches.
*NOT SO SCARY SPICE. I love cinnamon on just about anything including steel cut oatmeal, which is a wonderful comfort food for breakfast or even a quick dinner if you don’t want to cook a big meal. Eat 2 poached eggs with the oatmeal to makes sure you get your protein in. Take your steel cut oats, cook them and top with almond slivers and cinnamon. It’s healthy and delicious. Research shows that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon every day can reduce your blood sugar levels up to 29 percent. TIP: Cinnamon is also delicious on a baked sweet potato or even in green tea. You can boil several tea bags, add 2 cinnamon sticks and continue to boil for ten minutes. When cool place in a pitcher or thermos for some delicious cinnamon tea.
*APPLE, NO PIE: Apple pie is full of sugar. Of course, the best part is the middle or warm apples. You can make a winter fruit compote that feels like pie. Just take four apples, core them and then cut into diagonal slices. Place on a cookie sheet and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil (just a little will do). Sprinkle with cinnamon and then add a dash of vanilla. Bake on 200 for 20 minutes. The entire house will smell delicious and you will have some heavenly warm apples for a treat. TIP: Add some chopped pecans for some crunch.
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