With winter approaching don't forget your vegetables...

As the leaves fall off the trees and the thermometer drops it is easy to forget about the bounty of summer, and neglect to eat your recommended vegetables. However, since people are usually inside more during the winter months this may lead to the dreaded holiday weight gain.

picture from vegetablesnutrition.net

 

The best way to loose the holiday weight is to NOT GAIN it in the first place. Vegetables are full of fiber and nutrients that help promote fullness without the calories of many winter foods, so be sure to pay special attention and keep the leafy greens in your diet.

Many people find that as the temperatures cool they want to have warm food, the key thing to remember is that leafy greens can be served warm. It is easy to put a hot serving of fish onto a fresh salad, this way you get both vegetables and omega-3's. If you like Thai food, there is usually a dish like swimming rama.that incorporates hot protein with vegetables.

One of my favorite winter vegetable dishes is a warm spinach soup... this recipe is great, it has a hint of nutmeg - delicious on a cold evening!

Also remember our good winter friends... root vegetables... they keep very well and with their rich colors you know they pack a nutrient punch. Roasting a yam of butternut squash is a great way to put a vegetable on your winter table.

picture from thephilosophie.com