Ways to Enjoy Winter While Staying Healthy

There may be a chill in the air, but winter does not necessarily need to be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family. Here are five ways to ensure that no matter how much your body tells you to hibernate, you can remain healthy and fit, no matter what the weather or season is.

Get Rid Of Winter Fatigue

It is common for people to feel tired and sluggish during the winter months. This is due to the fact that there is no sunlight in the morning, so our sleep and waking cycles are disrupted.

Here are a few tips you can try:

• If you can, spend as much time outdoors in natural daylight as possible
• Make sure you get a good night's sleep - you should get up at the same time every day and go to bed at the same time 
• It has been shown that stress can make you feel tired, so you should incorporate exercise or meditation in order to reduce stress 

Increase Your Fruit And Vegetable Consumption 

It's not uncommon to crave unhealthy comfort food when it's cold and dark outside, especially during the winter season. However, it is important that you have a healthy diet and make sure that you consume at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day.

Try eating a juicy clementine or satsuma instead of a sugary treat if you find yourself craving one.

You can roast, mash or make soups using winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede, and turnips for a deliciously comforting winter meal for yourself or your family. It is a good idea to try out varieties of fruit and veg that you might not normally eat.

There are also some things you can use to help support your diet, such as supplements. It is important, however, to ensure you have a clear understanding and explanation of how these can help.

Drink More Milk

Winter is when you are more likely to catch a cold, so you should make sure that your immune system is at its best. Choose semi-skimmed, 1% or skimmed milk – rather than full-fat – and low-fat plain yogurts.

Dairy products such as cheese and yogurt are great sources of the following nutrients:

• protein
• vitamins A and B12
• calcium, which helps keep our bones strong

Get The Family Into New Activities

Don't let the cold winter months fool you into thinking you can sit around all day lounging around. It is recommended that you go out with the whole family and try out a new activity instead-perhaps ice skating or going on a brisk winter walk on the beach or through a park.

It is important to maintain a regular regimen of exercise to control your weight, boost your immune system, and break the tension that can build when everyone is continually cooped up in the house.

There is no reason why your children should stay inside because it's cold outside. Make sure that they are dressed in layers, with hats, scarves, mittens, gloves  and boots if it is snowing or muddy. There is a good rule of thumb that says older babies and young children should be dressed in more layers than an adult would.

• Take a walk or jog to get your blood flowing.
• On snowy days, you can build a snowman, snow fort, or snow maze. You can also make snow angels by lying in the snow. You can throw snowballs or sled. 
• Catch bubbles as you chase them. They will freeze if the temperature is low enough. 
• Consider taking up a winter sport, such as skiing, skating, or snowshoeing.
• It is a good idea to go out to a playground, play tag, or if the ground is dry, kick a soccer ball. If it is warm enough, shoot baskets with your bare hands.

Start The Day Right With A Hearty Breakfast

There is nothing better than a healthy breakfast cereal or warm bowl of porridge in the winter. You can eat a delicious breakfast cereal or a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold morning and it will not only wake you up, but it will also help you increase your intake of starchy foods and fiber.

As a result, these foods provide you with energy and keep you fuller for longer, reducing the temptation to snack throughout the day. There are also many vitamins and minerals found in certain breakfast cereals and oatmeal.

It is best to make your porridge with semi-skimmed, 1% or skimmed milk, or water, and avoid adding salt or sugar to it. To help you achieve your goal of eating 5 portions of fruit a day, you can add sliced bananas, berries, or other fruits to the cereal or oatmeal to bolster the flavour.

These ideas will help you and your family stay healthy and enjoy the long winter months we have. 

Disclosure: Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2010 - 2021. Please Ask First