Let’s talk about the best winter foods. Take the bounty of autumn and mix it with a little ingenuity and that will give you the best winter foods. These foods have been naturally designed to hold up throughout the cooler winter months. They are nourishing and rich. Festive foods like apple cider, wassail and gingerbread. And comforting foods like cabbage, potatoes, carrots and dried peas. Winter foods build up our bodies when our bodies need nourishment the most. In general these foods are not as cleansing. Here is a list of some wonderful foods to enjoy in the winter:
- FRUITS: Apples, cranberries, grapefruit, oranges, persimmon, pomegranate, and pineapple.
- VEGETABLES: Sturdy greens, kale, roots, celery, winter squash, pumpkin, sea vegetables—hijiki and kombu.
- HERBS: Rosemary, juniper, birch, and yarrow.
- GRAINS: Brown rice, buckwheat, and oats.
- LEGUMES: Soybeans, kidney beans, adzuki beans, and black-eyed peas.
- MEATS: Fish, poultry, game, and lamb
If you are looking for a wonderfully restoring winter recipe, this Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad will fit the bill. Beets are great for supporting your kidneys and bladder. Beets have wonderful nutrients and minerals in their skins, so when cooked to eat, do no peel them. Roast until just tender for the best benefit to your health.
Roasted Beet & Walnut Salad
from Seasonal Detox by Carrie L’Esperance
Ingredients:
- 3-4 C. Roasted Beets
- 2 C. Apples
- 1/2 C. Freshly Shelled Walnuts
- 1/2 C. Green Onion
- 1/4 C. Italian Parsley
- 2 tsp Mint (dried)
- 1/4 C. Walnut Oil
- 2 T Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
- 2 tsp. Honey
- 2 tsp. Tamari
- 1/2 C. Feta Cheese
Instructions:
Roast the beets until tender. Core and dice the apples, shell and chop the walnuts, and clean and chop the onion and parsley. Combine the mint, oil, lemon juice, cinnamon, honey, and tamari. Set aside. When the beets are cool enough to handle, dice them. Mix together in a bowl with cheese, apple, walnuts, green onion and parsley. Drizzle with dressing and stir until well dressed. Serve at room temperature.
Enjoy!
This article was adapted from information from the Seasonal Detox by Carrie L’Esperance.
Cassandra Orjala has been practicing Colon Hydrotherapy and Nutritional Counseling for over 30 years. She currently lives and works just outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.