Making the most of Winter produce

When the days are short and the evenings are long, there’s nothing better than snuggling down with a warming stew, a comforting gratin of root veg or pushing the boat out with a plate of gorgeous seasonal seafood.

Winter brings with it some fantastic flavours from the veg patch, including Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, beetroot, leeks and kale. Apples and pears are thriving, while winter citrus fruits are at their best.

Seasonality is exciting

These days we can get almost anything all year round, but buying seasonally means there are always new seasons and new ingredients to look forward to. Buying seasonal food generally means it’s better quality and tastier, and it often means you are buying local produce.

The simplest dishes can be the best

A few well-chosen ingredients, which are simply cooked and served, can be much more worthwhile than making a complicated dish. The exciting combination of different ingredients and flavours can transform a dish from something fairly ordinary to something that is amazing.

Winter is the time for beautiful soups, slow cooking and warm vegetable salads. The possibilities are endless. Spice things up with flavor punches from chilli, ginger and infuse with the warming flavours from those classic woody herbs rosemary and thyme.

Healthy balance

It can be easy to get carried away with comfort food, during the colder months however it’s important to remember that balance is everything when it comes to your diet, so try to include a variety of foods when planning your meals. Cook from scratch with fresh ingredients when you can, eat more fruits and vegetables, and make an effort to learn a bit about the food you’re eating, where it comes from and how it affects your body. Treats are a part of life, but it’s also important to recognise when we’re pushing things too far – we need to understand what treats are and redress the balance at other meals to even things out. Remember that a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are the keys to a healthy lifestyle.

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