Tips for a Healthy Winter Holiday Season and a Golden Milk Drink Recipe!

As we head into the last week of the year, I wanted to pass on some dietary tips for staying healthy and enjoying the rest of the year. 

 

Have mostly warm and hearty foods that are not processed.  With the days shorter and colder, we should eat heavier foods, like root vegetables, to help our bodies stay insulated in the winter.  Other good foods to have include soups, stews and hearty grains.   Eat more protein from sources like dal, tofu, eggs and soft cheeses.  If you are not a vegetarian, fish, chicken and turkey are all right in moderation.  Use organic ghee in your cooking for lubrication of your digestive tract, joints and skin.

 

Make sure to eat a nutritious breakfast, especially hot cereal with cinnamon.  Make sure to use other warming spices in your cooking like black pepper, ginger, cloves, turmeric and mustard seeds.

 

Please do NOT drink cold drinks in the winter (or really any time, but especially in winter).  It is challenging for the digestive system.  Drink hot, warm or room temperature drinks, like  herb teas or spiced hot cider.

 

Below is a recipe for a Golden Milk Drink that is quite good and easy to make.

Happy Holidays!  And stay tuned for dates for my winter Cooking Workshops!

 

Debbie's Golden Milk Drink for the Holidays

1 cup organic whole milk,  non-homogenized preferred, or good quality unsweetened almond milk

about 1/8 t ground cardamom

¼ t turmeric (is anti-inflammatory, and cuts mucus building properties of milk)

about 1/8 t cinnamon

1 t to 1 T ghee (less for Kapha, more for Vata), optional

1 t raw honey or maple syrup

Slowly heat milk with the cardamom, turmeric and cinnamon.  Add ghee.  Let milk come to a soft boil, stirring frequently.  Pour into a mug and sweeten with maple syrup or honey (honey needs to be added after the milk has cooled slightly).   Enjoy!

 All three spices add heat and stimulate the blood flow to the digestive tract, making the milk easy to digest and nourishing for the cold winter months as well as strengthening to the body.  It is also quite tasty!