Happy New Year Team Fit ! It has been a minute since we blogged on here! We promise we are going to be posting on here more often because we sense the need for our community to have a platform to connect and discuss health and wellness.
This holiday season was so different, boy it has been a year. With so much we can't control, we could all do with some uplifting fit food to start the new year with. An important part of any fitness rituals is food, and while it can be comforting to dig into a chunk of pie on a cold winter evening, we wanted to post a list of some seasonal superfood you can include in your winter menu for a fab feast.
I. Squash Goals:
Winter squash is sweet, tender and has the perfect texture to puree into a soup or toss in with a warm grain bowl. Butternut squash is low in calories but rich in nutrients. It tastes excellent roasted or pan-tossed. Our favorite fall soup is a warm butternut squash soup.
It is an excellent source of vitamin A, B, C, E, magnesium, manganese, and potassium.
Now that Halloween is over, don't toss out your pumpkins, these actually keep well for almost 6-months, just rub a bit of olive oil on the rind and store them in a well ventilated cool dark place, and enjoy them through the season. All varieties, yes, even the jack-be-little pumpkins, have unique flavors. They taste delicious and super good for you.
Chayote Squash or Christophen Squash is another interesting squash making the rounds at our local grocery store, it tastes much like a crunchy cucumber and goes well with onions and tomatoes so, toss that into your next salad.
II. Rooting For You:
Beetroot, Carrots, Ginger, Garlic, Parsnips, Rutabaga, Radishes, and Turnips are all flavorful root vegetables to include in your winter roast.
Full of vitamins and minerals, these veggies add a delightful crunch and pack a punch in terms of flavor. Just toss a couple of em in a pan with a drizzle of olive oil, a dash of pepper, and your favorite herbs. Sure to make a #instaworthy meal.
#funfact did you know, turnip leaves are nutrient hubs, these edible greens taste a lot like mustard leaves.
III Auber-genius:
Sometimes also known as eggplant, this vegetable is most commonly used for eggplant parmesan. Dense in dietary fiber, antioxidants, and minerals like copper, it tastes egg’cellent in curry, dips, salads, and even stews.
IV Leeky Cauldron:
Harry Potter references for the #win Healthy and beautiful, Leeks contain vitamin K and can help with insulin sensitivity. Toss in some leeks into your next plate of scrambled eggs, your body will thank you later.
V Spud-tacular:
Sweet potatoes are one of the most popular veggies. I Yam What I Yam Right? This winter, try roasting rather than boiling the sweet potatoes, this way, you will retain most of their goodness and get a generous dose of vitamins, and iron.
Charred sweet potatoes also have an intense creamy flavor that is super ap-peeling (see what we did there)
VI Yes We Cran:
Cranberries get their brilliant ruby red color from a compound called Anthocyanins, they are full of anti-inflammatory properties and improve bladder health.
VII Apple-y Ever After
Wish an apple product a day kept the doctor away, but for now, let's focus on the health benefits of the fruit.
There are plenty of varieties of Apple available, use these in your soup, salad, normandy, quesadilla, or make a jar of apple salsa for your tacos.
Make sure you eat the skin of the apple, it is full of flavonoids and dietary fiber.
VIII Pomme-Diggity
Pomegranates are a great source of vitamin C and folate. Tangy and tasty the juice makes for a zingy marinade and the seeds give any salad a juicy crunch.
IX Date Night:
Originating in the middle east, these have made their way into western cooking. Dates add fiber and potassium to our diet. They are used in stews, chutneys, served with cheese, and make for a great snack when you are on-the-go.
X. Got it Fig-ured Out:
Soft, sweet, jammy and delicious fresh figs are low in calories and contain vitamin B6. This versatile fruit can be paired with goat cheese, baked into a fig and rosemary Foccacia, tossed into an arugula salad, pizza, roast, crostini, or bruschetta, no fig-deal.
What is your favorite fit food? Tell us in the comments below.
Now that you're equipped with this list of fitness foods, you're halfway into achieving a healthy 2021! Remember, exercise and nutrition are two sides of the same coin so to try not to skip out on your workouts as the holiday hustle-bustle catches up and when you do use any of these superfoods don't forget to share your photos on Instagram @salsacityfitness.
Until next time,
Energize, Exhale, Empower,
Sargam Merchant for Salsa City Fitness
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