Just because this time of the year is associated with heavy winter foods, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t an abundance of recipes that won’t hurt your weight loss. There are many dishes that can be made in a healthy way, and some surprising ways to take advantage of fruits and vegetables that are in season.
When you think winter, the first food you may think of is soup. There is nothing like a warm bowl of soup after a long, cold day, but many soups are just as high in calories and sodium as some meals that you would never think of ordering while trying to lose weight. Keep it simple with a Vegetable Soup made from vegetable broth and your favorite vegetables like onion, celery, carrots, green beans, peas, tomatoes and more. Add just a teaspoon each of salt, thyme, and oregano and one bay leaf, and you have a simple, delicious soup that will satisfy your hunger without negatively affecting your weight loss.
Slow cookers are a great way to get a delicious meal without having to spend too much time in the kitchen. You can use a slow cooker for this recipe for Quinoa and Veggies: Rinse and add one and a half cups of quinoa to the slow cooker. Add one tbsp of olive oil then add three cups of vegetable broth, one chopped medium sweet red pepper, one cup of fresh green beans, one chopped small carrot, one chopped small onion and two minced garlic cloves. Cook on high for 2-4 hours or low for 4-6 hours.
Salads are a no brainer when it comes to weight loss, and winter is a great time to mix it up with healthy and flavorful ingredients. Try something zesty and fresh with a Lime Marinated Grilled Shrimp Salad. Simply combine shrimp, two tbsp olive oil, two tbsp lime juice, 2 tsp lime zest, one tsp ground cumin, one tsp dried oregano, one tsp garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl and toss until each shrimp is covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Cook each shrimp for about 4 minutes on each side then allow it to cool slightly. Serve on top of mixed greens with a vinaigrette dressing.
Vegetable chips are a great snack and can be made from a variety of veggies and seasonings. When you’re looking for something to munch on, try Zucchini Chips. To make these, thinly slice one medium zucchini then lay the slices on a paper towel. Sprinkle the slices lightly with salt and then let them sit on the paper towel for 10 minutes (this will help draw out the liquid so they cook faster). Lay out the slices evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and sprinkle with seasonings of your choice. Bake for about 2 hours, let them cool, and enjoy!
Smoothies may not sound like an obvious winter suggestion, but they are a great way to to get some fruits and vegetables into your day. Kale is a super healthy food that is currently in season that is great for smoothies. Blend one cup of kale, one cup of water, one medium apple, the juice of one lemon, two sprigs of mint and one cup of crushed ice for a delicious and healthy Green Winter Smoothie.
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
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