Healthy Winter foods that fuel your day

It’s officially here - winter. The time of year that the blankets come out, cosy socks go on and heaters are on full blast – but did you know that dialing the heater down a few degrees in winter can actually help you lose weight!

During winter – or just being a little colder than usual – you can actually burn up to 30% more calories in a day! So yes, maybe it’s time to thank that person in the office who loves it to be artic temperatures.

Research from the Maastricht University shows that temperatures 16 degrees and below can encourage the development of brown fat cells, which burns calories faster than white fat (which is the most common type of fat on your body).

Now we’re not saying the cold temperatures can do all the work, so to further help your weight loss goals, we’ve bundled up our favourite winter weight loss foods to keep you full, nourished and fuel your day ahead ladies!

1. Beans and lentils

Incorporating beans and lentils into your diet is great way to ensure that you’re getting the essential nutrients you need to fuel your body, and your weight loss.

Research suggests that eating lentils and other legumes can be a great way to manage diabetes, as they can help improve blood sugar levels and lipid metabolism through their makeup of dietary fibres, lectins and polyphenols.

During winter we love implementing lentils and beans into meals such as Indian-inspired dhals, curries, stews and our Cajun Beef & Veggie Rice.

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a great spice for promoting weight loss, reducing cravings and boosting metabolism. Adding a teaspoon of cinnamon to your shakes this winter is a great way to boost your energy and weight loss journey.

A delicious way to spice up your shakes (no pun intended!) is to add a teaspoon of cinnamon to your Vanilla shake, shake as normal, and heat for 1 minute in the microwave! This creates a warm, spicy and nourishing vanilla chai latte shake! Check out our other ways to get creative with your Lady Shake products.

3. Oranges

Oranges are one of the best fruits for weight loss as they’re high in fibre, and water content. Oranges are perfect for keeping you full, whilst being a low-calorie snack option for juices, smoothies and salads.

As well as being a great fruit for weight loss, oranges are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which are perfect for fighting the flu and keeping your immune system strong this winter!

4. Brown rice

It’s a common misconception that brown rice is a ‘bad’ carb for weight loss, but did you know that it has several health benefits, including being enriched with essential nutrients and minerals to fuel your body? Just one cup of brown rice provides you with all of your daily intake of manganese – a mineral which assists your metabolism and blood sugar regulation – amongst other benefits. An added bonus is that brown rice is naturally gluten free!

Some delicious recipes you can incorporate brown rice into are protein rice puddings or porridge with The Lady Shake, and as a base for curries, chilli, stews and fried rices.

5. Root vegetables

Root vegetables are an amazing source of fibre, vitamins and minerals, perfect for nourishing your body and aiding your weight loss journey. Many root vegetables such as beetroot, carrot and sweet potatoes are amazing tools that help lower cholesterol, and in turn induce weight loss.

We love incorporating root vegetables like brussel sprouts, carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes into a variety of meals, such as a roast dinner, sweet potato fries and low carb fried rice.