With the cold winter air starting to slowly settle in the UK, promising frost-tipped mornings and evenings cuddled up by the fire, it is time to rethink what we eat. Winter seasonal food is all about comfort and nourishment. By eating the best foods for the cold, you can stay warm and healthy-healthier than ever.  From leafy greens to root vegetables, in this blog, we share ten healthy winter-season foods.

Also Read: 10 Winter Food Recipes to Try

1. Beans

The top item on the list this winter season for food is beans. Beans are magical in the amount of protein, fibre, and sense of nostalgia they evoke. Apart from keeping you full, they are incredibly versatile, from hearty stews to comforting casseroles, beans are a staple that can help you survive the cold. Also, beans are a great way to keep the house warm in more ways than one.

2. Citrus Fruits

Next in line are citrus fruits, the zesty saviours of winter. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes all burst with vitamin C, making them great combatants against sniffles. Be it a refreshing juice made from them, or slices put into a hot toddy, citrus fruits add sunshine to an otherwise dreary winter diet. As they say, when life gives you lemons, make some Vitamin-rich foods!

3. Leafy Greens

Kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are the unsung heroes of winter. Chock-full of vitamins, these foods offer a slathering of antioxidants, iron, and fibre that keep your body in fighting form. Sure, they may not be the most glamorous of the bunch, but toss them into soups or stews, or blend them into a cheeky midweek smoothie, and you are ready to take on just about anything. Even that icy walk to the bus stop.

Also Read: 8 Winter Drinks To Enjoy In The Festive Season

4. Root Vegetables

Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes are winter's buried treasures. These modest vegetables are deliciously sweet and pleasing powerhouses of all the vital nutrients. Roast them to caramelised perfection, or mash them into comforting sidings. Either way, these Vitamin oozing foods will keep you firm on your feet when the winds are doing their best to blow you away.

5. Oats

Nothing screams winter like a steaming bowl of porridge. Oats are the ultimate winter food, they are like a hug from the inside out-full of goodness. Rich in fibre and whole grains, oats keep your energy levels steady throughout the day. Top it with fruits, nuts, or a drizzle of honey, and voilà-a breakfast as comforting as it is nutritious. Porridge: because adulting is hard enough without starting the day hangry.

6. Nuts and Seeds

Do not let the size fool you, because when it comes to nuts and seeds, even almonds and walnuts are healthy, while chia seeds and flaxseeds have a healthy amount of fats, proteins, and essential nutrients. It does not matter whether one snacks all day with them or sprinkles them over morning oats. Either way, these tiny nutrition titans will keep your body humming along happily-even in cold weather.

Also Read: Top 10 Healthy Soup Recipes To Try This Winter

7. Garlic

Garlic may be the bane of the vampires, but for winter wellness, it is a big YES. This stinky bulb is known to boost immunity, hence being an essential addition to your diet during winter. Add it to soups, stews, or stir-fries for a flavourful punch that will keep colds at bay. Besides, it is an assured way to travel alone on a train during peak hours.

8. Ginger

Ginger is a spicy superfood that can warm you up from the inside. With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, this turns out to be one of the mightiest ingredients in your winter kitchen. Mince it in tea, sauté it in curries, or bake it in cakes for that zingy kick which does as much good to your health as to your taste buds to balance out the winter gloom.

9. Squash

Winter squash-butternut and acorn squash are a gourd full of good stuff that you want on your plate. Nutrient-dense food containing beta-carotene is bound to make your eyes and immune system feel super. Roast it, soup it, stuff it. A meal is good to look at and good for you inside out. Another reason it is great is because you can try out that new kitchen knife with something other than your fingers.

10. Fish

Last but not least, there is fish-salmon and mackerel, the greasy which for some reason is called 'fatty.' It packs a good load of Omega-3 fatty acids; hence, it is pretty good for your heart and those winter blues. Throw them on the grill, in the oven, or into some poaching liquid for a meal that is delicious and nutritious.

The Final Word

Embracing the winter season, food does not have to be flavourless and no fun. From the protein-packed beans, the sour citrus fruits, and the Vitamin-packed leafy greens, there is a plethora of choices which would keep your diet healthy and exciting during these colder months. So, next time you are shivering under your third jumper, the best foods for keeping cold are just a forkful away. For more inspiration on healthy winter foods, check out our blog section, and keep your winter menu as bright.