Foods to Eat in Cold Temperatures

Few things are as satisfying as gobbling up a warm bowl of spaghetti after a day skiing. People generally consume more calories in the winter for a variety of reasons, not just to stay warm. For example, eating more carbohydrates seems to keep depression at bay when the days have less light. In the winter, people are also less likely to be outside, and may consume more out of sheer boredom. Certain foods are more advisable to eat in colder temperatures.

Warm Foods

• Consuming foods that have been heated can make one feel warmer when it's cold outside. Hearty soups and stews, osso bucco or a noodle casserole can be satisfying in cold weather. A nice bonus about cooked foods is that the heat from the stove or oven can help warm the kitchen, making the room feel more cozy. Even if time is a constraint, and spending time in a warm kitchen cooking all day isn't an option, a crock pot can be used to slowly cook stews or pot roasts.

Carbohydrates and Mood

• Winter depression is common in Nordic countries where it's cold and there is a lack of sunlight. The winter months can be difficult even in the United States and other countries. Carbohydrates have been found to help ease the symptoms of winter depression. Macaroni and cheese, pot pies and pho, a spicy noodle soup, are all rich in carbohydrates and hit the spot when it's cold outside. In order to avoid too much weight gain, it's better to focus on complex carbohydrates such as baked yams and cooked brown rice instead of cookies and ice cream.

Fats

• Fat insulates the body and keeps it warm. It also helps with the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. A lack of vitamin D can lead to depression. This vitamin can be difficult to obtain during the winter months when there is less sunlight, so having enough fat in the diet is essential. Some good, healthy sources of fats are fish, avocados, nuts and olives. A small amount of red meat such as lamb (which is fairly high in fat) also provides protein, iron, zinc and several B vitamins.

Liquids

• During the summer, it's easy to notice loss of moisture through sweat. In the winter, it's not as obvious and the air we breathe is drier, so one can become dehydrated quickly. A common drink for climbers facing extreme cold weather is tea. Certain spices such as ginger have a warming effect in the body, so ginger tea is a good option to be drinking on cold days. It's important to avoid too much coffee, as the caffeine in coffee can cause water loss. Some believe that Turkish coffee is served with a glass of water for this very reason.