After the long Thanksgiving weekend, the season shifts from autumn equinox to winter solstice. There are several different life hacks that could make the winter season even more fun. These minor tweaks and seasonal ritual could turn a cold miserable winter into an exciting, productive season.
Keep hot beverages flowing. Whenever I think about the chilly winter months, I remind myself to keep my pantry well stocked with multiple varieties or tea, gourmet coffee beans, and spiced cider, and even dark hot chocolate. I run my electric kettle to heat water almost everyday and have my favorite beverages on hand when I am working and entertaining friends or family.
Fruit in season. In addition to all my favorite hearty, protein-rich meals, consuming fruit in season provides essential vitamins and nutrients during the winter months.
Rather than resorting to syrupy sweet treats and sugary processed delights, I admire the holiday decorations at the local farmer’s markets and seek fruit in season.
Consider Vitamins and dietary supplements. Winter has also been dubbed, “cold and flu season” Fortunately I have access to fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, but I also stock up on my favorite multivitamin gummies and my effervescent vitamin C (plus vitamins and mineral) tablets called Airborne.
Socializing during the holidays could be exhausting, so having a balanced diet and supplements helped me feel and function my best. Although I do not take Airborne regularly, I have my tablets and dissolve them in water if I am feeling run down at the end of a busy day and go to bed early. When I wake up the next day, I feel well-rested and revitalized.
Cooking seasonal dishes and soups. As much as I enjoy pasta and processed carbs during cold winter months, I am always finding ways to incorporate more fresh vegetables and fiber into the my winter diet. One of my favorite winter dishes include Japanese fish cake stew (oden). I load the stew with lots of leafy greens and include fiber rich, low-carb alternatives to traditional pasta such as shirataki noodles.
Vegetable purées and vegan sauces. During the summer I enjoy eating raw and cold dishes (such as sushi and salads) and outdoor dining with friends and family. In contrast, staying inside during the cold winter months could seem dreary and miserable.
I find ways to taking seasonal vegetables and transforming them into gourmet sauces and garnishes. For instance, I absolutely adore pesto (a basil-based sauce) and I rather make the pesto from scratch and add it to meals as needed throughout the week. I also have a spiral cutter that takes long skinny vegetables like Italian squash and turns them into long fibrous noodles with a flick of the wrist.
Weatherproof the workout regimen with indoor exercise options. When I was living in Southern California, it was common for athletes to train outdoors all year long due to the warm mediterranean climate.
Since I split my time in San José and Redmond, I am adapting my all-weather workouts and modifying to accommodate indoor options. These days, I am alternating between the hot yoga studio and the pilates reformer workouts.
Lilly C. Lew Ph.D. 