5 Tips for Family: Winter Healthy Eating

Brrrr... Today morning, it was so difficult to get out of our warm bed and take our toddler to his daycare and work. Imagine... Metropolitan. The temperature: -21 degrees Celsius. Sunny. Lots of snow. However, the fuel that keeps us going is good winter food for body and soul. Family meals should take into account that our immune system is challenged the most during this cold season and our body needs calories to maintain its normal temperature. Have a look at 5 simple tips to uncomplicate the hassle around your healthy winter menu.

Tip #1 - Start your day with Vitamin C and porridge

It's important to strengthen your immune system daily. Encourage your loved ones to begin their day with a glass of orange juice or water with a lemon juice. It should be followed by a warm beverage such as a cup of coffee for adults and tea or hot chocolate for children. The best winter breakfast is definitely a bowl of porridge. We use easy-to-make packages of oatmeal cereals or granola: just add warm milk or water, wait few minutes, chop in fresh fruits or just add dried fruits or simply throw in a few nuts.

Tip #2 - Pack your healthy snack

I would pack the remaining chop fruits or some nuts or dried fruits into a small plastic container to keep in my bag for a healthy snack before lunch and in the afternoon. If your children are not provided with the snacks at daycare or school, just pack several small containers. It takes 5 minutes during quick clean-up after breakfast.

Tip #3 - Heart-warming soup or stew for lunch

By lunch time, you must be feeling uncomfortable cold. Your body needs nutrition to maintain its temperature, your mind needs that specially soul nourishing winter food. A bowl of soup or filling meat stew with herbs would warm you up, make you feel good and energised. Add a colourful salad and some pieces of bread.

Tip #4 - Mix it up at dinner

The family dinner is the time to reconnect and share your experiences of the day. The quality bonding family time before going for a good night of peaceful sleep. Therefore, feel free to mix up healthy and not-so meals: a soup and lots of sweets, a roast chicken or beef with green salad and a bar of chocolate with a cup of green tea or a simple order-in of fast food, i.e. good old cheese/hambuger and fries, or easy-to-cook frozen chicken nuggets or simple sausages or plain pasta. The most important is to warm up the body and hearts of your family: create the dinner atmospehere that transmits the main message to your partner and children: "We're happy. You're safe and loved. Sleep well tonight."

Tip #5 - Count the number of fruits&veggies

Lastly, knowing just a little bit about healthy nutrition and good habits can go a long way in making your family healthy and happy. You can learn more with our Life Coach for Parents. At Modern Parenting for New and Experienced Parents, we promote the reccomendations of the World Health Organisation: 5 fruits and vegetables per day. We are convinced that a healthy eating includes 5 items of different coulour seasonal produce to be consumed during your day.

Don’t Diet, Change Your Habits

You don't need to hire an expensive dietitian. Or shop in particular grocery stores to eat and feel well. You just need to change your habits. How? Easy! Visit our website. Read The Blog. Book Your Life-Coaching Session. Share your opinion with us, leave a comment below this post.

Our Program "Foodie Family: Healthy Eating. Infusion of Cultures" offers easy lifehacks on improving your healthy eating habits and teaching your children to become foodies. During an introduction session, I will make a personal SWOT analysis (your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), identify the gaps in the eating habits of your family, define the areas for improvement and ogether with decide on your goals and put The Customised Action Plan in motion! It's never too late to live better.

Eat well. Love deep. Smile genuinely.

Gulnoz

Your Life Coach for Parents aka Oxford Human Rights Lawyer