I don’t know about you, but I find delight in almost any outdoor activity on a sunny winter day, surrounded by sparkling snow. But when I come in from the cold, I crave something warm to eat or drink. Our eating habits naturally change with the seasons. In the winter, we find ourselves seeking warm foods like soups, stews, herbal teas and hot chocolate, as opposed to fresh salads and cold berries.
Traditional wisdom from around the world has long favored hot and cooked foods during the cold months as they warm the body and do not dampen the “fire of digestion.”
Without the farm-fresh fruits and vegetables of summer and fall, I get lots of questions about how to stay on the alkaline diet in the winter. It may seem like there is less of an alkaline offering during the winter months, but the truth is we can find an abundance of delicious alkalizing meals, alkaline soups and food choices in all seasons, even in the cold. And eating an alkaline diet is one of the best things you can do for your bones.
Warm the body, bones and soul with alkaline foods this winter. It’s easier than you think!
from the Better Bones Diet & Lifestyle e-Guide
½ onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano, basil
1 bay leaf
14-oz can crushed tomatoes
1 cup dry lentils
5 cups water or broth
½ cup chopped fresh greens
Juice of 1 lemon
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Saute the onion, carrot and celery in the oil until softened, then add the garlic and herbs. Stir one minute, and then add tomatoes, lentils and water. Bring to a boil and simmer about an hour, until the lentils are soft.
Add greens and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Enjoy!