In 20-degree weather, the last thing anyone wants to eat is a cold, tasteless celery stick, no matter how healthy a snack it may be. It’s winter. Time to bulk up, right? It’s not like anyone will notice under your ankle-length, down-stuffed, fur-lined, abominable snowman-resistant jacket.
But, before you resign yourself to a season of warming your hands over pizza boxes and endless orders of Wings, here are a few easy ideas to keep you healthy and warm.
Oatmeal: The Quaker has your back and a large canister of plain oatmeal will get you through the winter. Add in cinnamon, nuts or fruit depending on your preferences, and it makes a hearty and filling breakfast or mid-afternoon snack.
Soup: You can do better than Campbells. Check out these easy soup recipes from Fitness Magazine [10]. They’re low in calories and you don’t have to be Wolfgang Puck to tackle them in the kitchen. Plus, a study from Penn State University [11] showed that participants who ate soup before lunch reduced their caloric intake for the meal by 20 percent, soup included.
Hot Chocolate: With a few modifications, a decidedly not so healthy drink can be improved. Swap out whole milk for 1% or soy, and ditch the marshmallows and whip cream. If you’re feeling more ambitious, make your own mix like the one Self [12] magazine recommends, which steers clear of hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners.