As the weather gets colder our coats get thicker and we pack on the layers…of clothing that is. It seems that every winter we bulk up a bit in hopes that we will just melt off the extra pounds when summer rolls around. Foods get richer and warmer, hot chocolate soothes the soul and we do the whole burrito blanket wrap thing while sitting in front of the fireplace or watching an old John Candy classic.
Before you know it, all the cozy comfort foods start to catch up with us and the only things that are fitting are the soft, flannel lined pants with the elastic waist band. That’s okay though, because it is totally fine to rock those in the winter right? Not really…unless you are going to sleep, cleaning house or making a quick trip to the grocery store.
The bottom line is, we have to find some sort of balance between hibernation mode and trying to get ourselves ready for swimsuit season in a short time frame. In order to do this, I propose we all play a game of FOOD SWAP.
Here is how it works: Think about your favorite winter comfort meal. Pick a component of the dish and replace it with something healthier. For instance, if pasta with meatballs tickles your fancy, try replacing the pasta with spaghetti squash. Try using ground turkey instead of ground beef for the meatballs.
By playing the food swap game, you can still have your comfort foods with out that feeling of bloat and fatigue. You will end up feeling more energized and before you know it, you will be shoveling your driveway and all of your neighbors’ driveways before your you have taken a sip of your morning cup of Joe. Maybe not so much the last part, but you will be amazed at how good you feel just by playing the game.
