Winter Edit – food for the soul

Dark afternoons. Early nights. Cold feet. Winter is known for heavier meals to keep us warm, starchy foods, and, especially around Christmas, plenty of fat, sugar and carbs.

Delicious? Sure. But with plenty of bugs going around in the winter, it’s so important to keep your immune system up to scratch, and feed it what it needs to keep you healthy, so you don’t miss out on weeks of workouts, or fun times with friends and family. Here are some of our top picks on foods to enjoy during the long, cold months.

Get the vitamins in

Cheese, eggs and fish are full of vitamin B12, which boost your immune system function. As well as keeping you healthy, these foods can help to reduce fatigue and tiredness. Although perhaps eat your cheese earlier in the day unless you fancy very vivid dreams that night!

Spuds for days

Sweet potato might have a slightly higher sugar content than a normal potato, but the nutritional value is far superior. They’re a great source of fibre, potassium and vitamin A. Sweet potatoes improve your immune system, reduce inflammation, and even help if you’re constipated. You can find out more health benefits of sweet potato here.

Oat’so simple

What a legend of a food, and so versatile. Full of fibre, and chock-a-block full of vitamin B and magnesium, oats help to balance your blood glucose levels, and even keep your gut healthy. They’re great at keeping you fuller for longer, and they even contain tryptophan, which your body converts into serotonin, leaving you feeling fuller and happier than before! Here are some other reasons you should add oats into your diet.

The king of winter veg – kale

Whatever the time of year, dark leafy greens are a must, but kale is a standout winner for mealtimes during the winter. Full of antioxidants and vitamin K, you’ll have help maintaining strong and healthy bones, and be less likely to get blood clotting issues. Not a huge kale fan? It’s easy to disguise the taste in a soup – pair it with sweet potato, parsnip and smoked paprika, for a bowl of hearty winter warmth. You can also enjoy other foods full of vitamin K – find out what they are here.

Cauliflower and broccoli

These fridge staples add defence against the dreaded winter lurgy. Both veggies offer the body a lot of vitamin C, which helps keep your immune system healthy. And even better – if you worry about your fresh vegetables going off, you can buy them frozen, and use them straight from the freezer as and when you need them.

So book your online shopping slot, or head down to your local supermarket, and stock up on food that’ll help you stay fit and protected this winter.

As always, stay fit and healthy.