How To Avoid Gaining Weight This Winter

Written by Evelyn Hamnett, BSc. R.D.

A chill hits the air as you leave your house in the early morning and the trees you walk past are bare and begging for sunshine. Winter has fallen upon us and jeans and trousers are placed on lower shelves, warm jackets are hung up and vests are washed and placed in drawers. For some, winter is a welcome season from the incredible heat of summer that required the shortest of shorts and strappiest of sandals.

The one thing that no one will deny is the fact that in winter the appetite increases. It’s also really standard that we just know weight will be gained over these few months of the year, but the question is how to avoid it? Luckily there are scientific breakthroughs out there and supplements such as Forskolin that control the appetite and makes you feel fuller for longer and burns existing fat so you can enjoy your food this winter more without feeling guilty.

As it’s cold outside and all around, you not only want to cover your body with warmth but increasingly require warm food to comfort yourself inside. So how exactly does that equate to avoiding gaining weight during this seemingly long period?

Well, that takes careful planning and research. Luckily, there are tons of recipes for an array of soups that hail from distant shores such as Asia and Africa. I know, more than anything, that with a few plates of soup you will feel warm and comforted and your need for a tasty dish will have been satisfied. Let’s look at interesting soups that hail from all corners of the Earth that are beyond delicious and will avoid you gaining weight this winter.

Asian Delights

Japanese Miso Soup

This soup is tasty and salty and perfect if you are a vegan. Japanese Miso Soup does not require many ingredients and is easy to make. It is made with dashi granules, miso paste, Japanese momen tofu, dried wakame, and scallions. Follow the recipe here.

Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

This exquisite soup includes coconut milk, chicken broth, fresh ginger, lemongrass, chicken breast, sliced mushrooms, fresh lime juice, Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce, sugar, Thai chili paste, fresh basil leaves and fresh cilantro. You can follow the recipe here. It’s very tasty and is, in fact, a firm favorite amongst many who enjoy Thai food.

Asian Vegetable-Beef Soup

For those with more carnivorous tastes there is this beefy soup that include ingredients such as beef stew meat, canola oil, beef broth, sherry, soy sauce, green onions, brown sugar, garlic cloves, fresh ginger, sesame oil, cayenne pepper, sliced fresh mushrooms, carrots, bok choy, long grain rice and chive blossoms. You can find the recipe for this meaty delight here.

Italian Warmth

Minestrone Soup

This Italian favorite has a ton of healthy ingredients ready to fill you up and make you feel great! It has been around for a long time with its origins pre-dating the expansion of the Latin tribes of Rome into what became the Roman Empire. Back then it purely consisted of vegetables and beans. Only later on were the extra ingredients we enjoy today added. Ingredients in this amazingly comforting soup include extra-virgin olive oil, onion, fresh garlic, celery, carrot, green beans, dried oregano, basil, kosher salt and pepper, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, kidney beans, pasta and basil. There are also options for added parmesan although this is a cheese with a high-fat content. I personally like to add baby potatoes quartered into this recipe to make it extra filling. Baby potatoes have a lower glycemic index than normal potatoes and are better for you if you are watching your weight.

African Spice

Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup

This gorgeous soup is thick, spicy and healthy, and isn’t that what this chilly weather calls for - something with spice! It includes extra-virgin olive oil, onion, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne pepper, sweet paprika, chopped tomatoes, chickpeas, vegetable or chicken broth, sugar, kosher salt, black pepper and baby spinach. This beautiful soup is simple to make, budget-friendly and simply delicious.

So there you go, a varied list of soups that will keep you filled up and warm this winter without all the extra calories. Have fun shopping for all the delicious, healthy ingredients, get your biggest pot ready on the stove and have some fun in the kitchen this winter!