The snow keeps piling up out there, and the cold is sneaking in the windows. It seems as if all I want to do is snuggle under my blankets, read a book, and eat comfort foods. Warm, sweet chocolate cake, mashed potatoes with hot melting butter, I have cravings for foods that my body thinks will make me feel better, even though my mind knows these types of foods aren’t good for me.
I’m pretty sure that I’m not the one with a slight case of the winter blues. During the winter, we are deprived of fresh air and sunshine, and as a result, we suffer from varying degrees of mild seasonal depression.
However, we can fight the depressing effects of the winter weather and our most effective weapon just might be the foods we eat. Maintaining a healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and serotonin is the key to fending off the winter blues.
Fruits, vegetables, proteins from meat, and minimal sugars and salts, these should be the key ingredients in every meal. Plus, eating foods that contain the vitamins that we get from the sun, such as C and D will improve your energy levels and your mood.