Warming Foods

I'm cold.

The fall weather seemed to last so long this year! It's winter now, though. I finally got out my winter jacket after getting chilled all the way through last weekend at the parade.

I shouldn't complain because so many people in this world are perpetually cold. They don't have any way to warm themselves at all. For us, there are plenty of ways stay warm, including wearing sweaters, gloves, hats, & coats, wrapping up in a nice blanket, drinking a mug of tea, or sitting by a blazing fire. I'm very thankful for those comforts.

The Bup told me that he's been extra cold this year. His office at work is chilly, our house temp is set at 65, & winter's just beginning!

In addition to all the ways we can wrap our bodies in warmth, I went searching for ways to feed us that will warm us up from the inside out.  I ran across the idea that baking/roasting your foods makes them more warming to the body. There was a conflicting notion, however, that raw foods keep you warm because they require extra energy to bring to body temperature & digest. Either way, a good balance is healthy & I really love feeling that warm blast of air when I open the oven door!

Here's a list of naturally warming foods that I found & compiled for you! I know we'll be using it to eat from through the winter. It's supposed to be a cold one.

*Foods with a Warming Energy*

Herbs & Spices:
Anise
Basil - Basil Almond Pesto
Black & white pepper
Caraway
Carob
Cayenne - Pinto Spelt Burgers
Chives
Cinnamon - Pumpkin Banana Muffins
Cloves
Coriander
Cumin - Roasted Curried Root Vegetables
Dill
Fennel
Garlic - Roasted Garlic & Kale Spread
Ginger - Apple Pumpkin Beer Bread
Ginseng
Nutmeg - Hot Cross Buns
Paprika - Cajun Seasoning Mix
Parsley
Rosemary
Tea (beverage)
Turmeric

Nuts, Seeds & Grains:
Chestnuts - Roasted Chestnuts
Millet - Vegetable Millet Salad
Oats - Crock Pot Steel Cut Oats
Pine nuts
Quinoa - Curried Pumpkin Quinoa Soup
Rice milk
Sunflower seeds
Walnuts
Wasabi
Wild rice - Wild Rice, Pumpkin & Cannellini Soup

Condiments & Sweeteners:
Brown sugar
Honey - Honey Mustard & Onion Potato Wedges
Horseradish
Rice wine or vinegar
Vinegars - Rossetti's Italian Vinaigrette

Fruits & Vegetables:
Carrots - Carrot Spice Cake
Chili peppers
Coconut - Poppity Popcorn
Dates
Green onions
Green/red bell peppers - Pepper-only Pizza
Kumquat
Leeks
Mustard greens
Onion - Attempting Chipotle Burritos
Papaya
Parsnips
Root vegetables - Roasted Beets
Rutabaga
Scallions
Squash - Roasted Curried Butternut Squash
Sweet potatoes - Sweet Potato Beer Fries
Watercress


Eat well & stay warm!



[My main sources were here, here, & here.]