January 04, 2016 · Written by Foodtolive Team

8 Eating Habits to Survive Gloomy Winter Months with a Smile

Have you ever woken up in winter feeling as if you haven’t slept at all? Winter is the season when most people feel blue for the lack of sunny and warm days as well as vitamin-rich food. Instead of focusing on the food in your diet, we’ll talk about the eating habits that will help you keep your seasonal depression in check.

Eating Habits to Make You Happy on Cold Winter Days

 

Daily intake of citrus fruits

Daily intake of citrus fruits
The aroma of citrus always drives away any sadness and energizes you as it’s associated with the warmest winter holidays, like Christmas and New Year. Their essential oils are able to reduce your stress level. Moreover, they are just packed with the vitamin C that’s so good at strengthening your immune system and helping you cope with chronic tiredness as it facilitates iron absorption, the lack of which causes the feeling of exhaustion. You’ll surely benefit from eating them on a regular basis. 

 

Regular eating of berries

Regular eating of berries
These little ones definitely have antidepressant properties. The folate in strawberries, blueberries and raspberries is responsible for effective brain functioning. A lack of it can really hinder you from being positive. Adopt the habit of eating them regularly and feel good.

 

Breakfasting with the cereal crops

Breakfasting with the cereal crops

How to Make Your Own Healthy Cereal for Breakfast

How to Make Your Own Healthy Cereal for Breakfast

The Vitamin B and fiber found in them are effective in keeping you warm and warding off mood swings during the cold winter. They’re also responsible for a healthy metabolism and a strong nervous system. For instance, the combination of chia, buckwheat and hemp cereals in the mornings will definitely make you feel upbeat as it contains proteins (to keep your serotonin level balanced, an imbalance of which may lead to depression), omegas (to fight depression) and fiber (to have a sustained energy level).  It’s a great eating habit even for vegans and vegetarians.

 

Consuming cocoa-containing sweets

Consuming cocoa-containing sweets
Dark bitter chocolate is full of magnesium, iron, and theobromine, serving as great energizers. Moreover, chocolate is responsible for decreasing the level of cortisol in your body, lowering your risk of depression. Depression-prone sweet-tooths will find this encouraging!

 

Enriching your diet with leafy vegetables

Enriching your diet with leafy vegetables
Besides being low in calories, greens like kale, spinach, cabbage are iron-rich. You can resort to them to complete your everyday diet, as they contain the vitamins B and C along with dietary fiber. Such foods will really lift you up.

 

Enjoying winter spices and herbs in your meals

Enjoying winter spices and herbs in your meals

Holiday Meal Plan: Be Prepared for Anything

Holiday Meal Plan: Be Prepared for Anything

Spices like cinnamon, cumin, and ginger aren’t called winter spices for nothing. They can warm your body and trigger a good mood. Including them into your daily eating habits will accelerate your metabolism and give you more stamina.

 

Snacking on nuts and legumes

Snacking on nuts and legumes
These foods can help you manage your blood sugar level to avoid mood shifts. They provide you with a long-lasting source of energy due to their high contents of fiber, iron, magnesium, etc. So, snacking on them periodically can make you feel ready-to-go again.

 

Choosing fatty fish

Choosing fatty fish
Salmon that’s rich in the omega-3 fats can really fuel your brain up besides being great for your heart. If you feel down on a cold day, you should definitely have some fatty fish more often.