In the winters our body is more prone to colds and illness.
But that doesn’t mean it’s the season to stock up on medication.
Instead, eating seasonal, winter foods can boost immunity as well as keep us warm and
help you kick the winter blues.
Fresh Carrots, Purple yams and sweet potatoes are readily available during this time.
Eating them in season means they are at their tastiest and healthiest.
Carrots are high in Vitamin A, B6 and K and are known to boost eyesight.
Now here’s a really cool story about how carrots got their reputation for improving
eyesight.
During World War II, the British would black out their cities to prevent air strikes by
the Germans.
But even in the dark the British pilots were able to find German fighter jets.
What the Germans didn’t know is that the British had been using their new invention,
radar.
But to keep them in the proverbial dark, the Brits spread the rumour that their pilots
were being fed a whole lot of carrots,which helped them see in the dark.
And the Germans fell for it!
While carrots are great for your eyes, they definitely don’t help you see in the dark.
But they’re really versatile.
You can eat them in salads, dip them in some hummus, add them to pulaos or even eat a divine
gajar ka halwa!
Check out our video we featured a while ago for a not-too-sweet gajar halwa recipe.
Purple yam is loaded with calcium, potassium and antioxidants that actually give it its
signature purple colour.
Slice it up, fry or grill it, or even add it to sabzi.
Now, Undhiyu is a popular recipe that uses purple yams among a whole host of other winter
veggies.
Check out this healthy version we made of the Gujju classic we made a while ago.
Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious tubers loaded with magnesium, beta-carotene and anti-microbial
properties that actually help you fight off infections.
Add it to soups, sabzi, mash it as a nice sweet potato mash or buy some of the coal
roasted sweet potatoes sold by hawkers across the country during the winter.
Green veggies like spinach, mustard greens or sarso, fenugreek or methi and green peas
are in full bloom in the winters.
Spinach not only improves immunity but also strengthens bones and boosts heart health.
Add it to parathas, smoothies, munch on palak paneer or even make some crunchy bhajiyas.
Mow Methi may not be your favourite thing to eat but it is ridiculously healthy for you
It helps manage diabetes, controls cholesterol and also promises to curb your appetite,
which is a great bonus.
It can be used in sabzis, parathas or theplas and for winters it’s usually made into methi
laddus which if you can palet are a super healthy thing to eat.
Green peas are very versatile and can be added to anything from rice to subzis to salads.
Make sure you include at least one green leafy vegetable in your diet every other day to
take advantage of what this awesome season has to offer.
Jaggery is winter’s vitamin shot.
Our ancestors have been eating more jaggery during cold months for generations.
This is because jaggery is a warming ingredient that is loaded with iron and other minerals
that fortify you against the chills.
It’s great for people with high blood pressure and also helps digestion.
Jaggery actually helps boost haemoglobin so its excellent for women with anemia.
Plus if you’re trying to eat healthy but like me are a huge sucker for desserts a small
piece of jaggery after your meal will help satisfy those sweet cravigs!
Add it to your dals, make laddus or use it to replace your refined sugar for a boost
of nutrients.
If you want an easy recipe for the perfect winter laddu, check out this til gud video.
Bajra, Jowar , Makai, and Ragi are all amazing grains that you should eat more of during
the winter.
Actually you should eat more of these grains all year round.
All these winter millets are rich in carbohydrates and provide energy to the body and can be
consumed in tons of different ways.
Bajra Khichdi is a Rajasthani household-favourite during winters.
Ragi dosa is a staple in south Indian homes.
And jowar rotlas are enjoyed across Gujarat this season.
They are also gluten-free and can reduce inflammation and joint pain.
Here’s a super healthy paratha recipe that’s packed with wholesome grains and much more,
which will be an awesome addition to your winter menu.
Maize lowers blood sugar, is a rich source of Vitamin B12, energises the body during
winters and keeps the skin healthy.
So enjoy some makki ki roti with your sarson ka saag this season for sure.
Dates are an incredibly healthy ingredient and a great thing to add to your winter diet.
They are incredibly heart-healthy food cos they have No cholesterol, very little fat, no sodium:
THey’re a powerhouse of essential vitamins and contain a ton of vitamin C which keeps
your hair and skin healthy in the dry winters.
You can eat them as is because they are delicious or drink them with hot milk or even make these delicious
date and nut laddus that also contain mineral rich ghee.
Or you can try out some of these energy bites that which not only contain dates but also
have some fantastic seeds and nuts and healthy fats which are perfect to make for a winter snack
Plus they’ll keep for a good month or so so you only need to make a big batch
at the beginning of the month and enjoy healthy snacks for weeks to come.
If you eat the right food at the right time your body does a much better job of coping
with the stresses of its environment.
I hope this video helps you be more thoughtful about your diet.
Thanks for watching and until next time stay tuned and stay Glamrs.