Hungry? This season, stock up on these 9 healing foods for winter health that comfort, warm, and soothe. Check your Save mailer for coupons and savings.
Any time of year, it’s a smart idea to eat produce that’s in season. It’s typically more abundant, which means, hello savings! Plus, since they’re freshly picked, winter superfoods are also more nutritious than their out-of-season counterparts.
When you’re looking for the best foods in winter, these fresh, environmentally-friendly choices are at their peak and will taste amazing in your favorite recipes. Add these healing foods for winter health to your next shopping list.
These green mini-cabbages pack a ton of flavor and nutrients. You can eat them raw and shaved into salads, or roast them for tasty additions in pasta dishes or atop grains or polenta.
Brussels sprouts are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They fill you up without a ton of calories and provide significant amounts of vitamin K and vitamin C, as well as vitamin A, folate, and manganese. The nutrients in Brussels sprouts support immune function, tissue repair, bone health, and iron absorption to keep you healthy during the winter months.
Sweet potatoes come in a variety of colors (orange, purple, and white) and provide just as varied nutritional benefits when you use these root veggies in winter recipes. A single cup of baked sweet potato with the skin provides 769% of your daily recommended value of vitamin A, as well as significant amounts of manganese, vitamin B, and immunity-boosting vitamin C.
Add roasted sweet potato to your favorite salad or slice them up for a low-calorie version of traditional fries. You can also bake sweet potatoes for a vitamin-packed side dish.
You might associate citrus fruit like tangerines, blood oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, navel oranges, and clementines with summer because of their vibrant colors. But citrus is actually in season between December and April.
That’s great news since citrus fruits are excellent sources of vitamin C, which supports your immune system and can help you ward off winter colds. In fact, a single medium orange provides your daily recommended dose of vitamin C.
You can eat citrus on its own as a snack. Or, add sliced oranges to a salad with ginger dressing. Squeeze lemon juice into marinades or on top of roasted veggies. Citrus is also a tasty ingredient for baked desserts like cakes and cookies.
Yep, avocados – which are technically berries – are in season through December. So stock up and add them to winter-ready recipes. They provide vitamins B6, C, E, and K, as well as heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
You can add avocados to your favorite Mexican food dishes, as well as mac n’ cheese recipes, burgers, hummus and dips, and breakfast toast.
Another idea? Sneak some avocado into a smoothie or in your brownie recipe. It’ll add extra nutrients, and the kiddos won’t even be able to tell.
Winter squash, like pumpkin, acorn, spaghetti, and butternut squash, comes in darker varieties than its summer counterparts. These winter squash options are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
You can bake, steam, or boil winter squash. Blend it up for a plant-based butternut mac n’ cheeze recipe. Or scrape spaghetti squash “noodles” for a low-carb pasta-y dish. You can also use squash in soups or in warm and hearty side dishes.
Onions are one of the most common ingredients in a variety of lunch and dinner recipes. These flowering plants also provide diverse health benefits. Onions have antioxidants that fight inflammation and can decrease the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Onions come in red, white, and brown varieties. Add chopped and cooked onions to risotto, pastas, enchiladas, stir fries, protein-based dishes, you name it. Or add raw red onion to a winter salad. They can add sweetness or a biting taste to most savory dishes, depending on what flavor you’re after.
Beets add beautiful color to winter dishes and provide a ton of flavor. These root vegetables provide an array of vitamins and nutrients, including folate, manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins C and B6. They support heart health, brain function, and energy production. Plus, they’re low in calories, so eat up!
Beets are incredibly versatile ingredients. You can roast them and add them to salads. Slice up cooked beets, and layer them in sandwiches. Or, blend cooked beets into your favorite hummus or sour cream recipe for a colorful take on dip.
Pears are another fruit in season during the winter months. They taste delicious on their own and when added raw to salads with goat cheese and walnuts. You can also cook them in crumbles, tarts, and upside-down cakes.
Pears are a great source of fiber, which makes them a good low-calorie snack that will fill you up. Fiber also supports digestive health and can reduce blood pressure and inflammation.
These root vegetables are great sources of beta carotene and vitamin A, which support eye health. Carrots also provide vitamins and essential minerals including vitamin B, vitamin K1, and potassium.
Of course, carrot cake is a popular dessert, but you can also add carrots to savory dishes. Roast them in olive oil and butter for a side dish, or dice them with parsnips (another in-season ingredient) for soups. You can also grate raw carrots and toss them into your favorite salad.
Winter foods like the ones above can be prepared in a variety of ways, from sliced and eaten raw, to cooked into your beloved savory and sweet dishes. Winter superfoods are colorful, flavorful, and nutrient-full. Incorporate them in your dishes this winter for some in-season deliciousness.
Check your Save mailer for coupons and deals on healing foods like these and more everyday essentials you love.
