Skip to main content
Gennev is covered by insurance companies. Check if you're in network now.
How Gennev Works
Refer a Patient
For Patients
Symptoms & Treatments
Weight Management
How Gennev Works
Insurance & Pricing
Patient Resources
For Clinicians
Clinicians Overview
Refer a Patient
For Employers
Learn
Education
Webinars
About
Menopause-trained Doctors
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
About Gennev
Shop
Login
Book Now
Menu
For Patients
Patients
Symptoms & Treatments
Weight Management
How Gennev Works
Insurance & Pricing
Patient Resources
Book Now
Login
For Clinicians
Clinicians
Clinicians Overview
Refer a Patient
Book Now
Login
For EmployersLearn
Learn
Education
Webinars
Book Now
Login
About
About
Menopause-trained doctors
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
About Gennev
Book Now
Login
Shop
Book Now
Login
Article

Lift your spirits with seasonal foods

Author
Shannon Perry
Director of Programming & Media
Medically reviewed by
Share:
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Sign up for our newsletter

Get helpful articles about menopause and evidence-based treatments in your inbox.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Nutrition wisdom from our nutrition coach and blogger, Michelle Cartmel

Grey skies and cold temperatures got you down? Feel like grabbing for a bowl of mac and cheese to warm your soul and beat those blues? Makes total sense!

craving comfort foods?

Habitually, many of us gravitate to comfort foods when temperatures outside drop because our own body temperature drops and eating this way feels like a natural way to warm up.

Also, studies show that there is a correlation between hormone levels and emotions, and conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) do impact our food cravings. According to Colleen Pierre, RD, in some people, shrinking sunlight can depress dopamine, a brain activator. Dopamine is the “search” chemical that makes you joyful, hungry for knowledge, and dauntless in seeking out something good to eat.

But before you reach for that bowl of mac and cheese, I️ encourage you to stop and smell the sweet potatoes! That’s right, I want you to begin to shift your thinking around winter eating and elevate your mood with whole, seasonal foods in lieu of some of the less healthy choices that you may have grown up eating.

I’ll give you two good reasons why:

  1. Calorie-dense, carb-heavy comfort foods might satisfy us in the short term, but they often leave us feeling lethargic, unmotivated and surprisingly hungry again within a few hours. Processed foods like white bread/pasta/bagels, baked goods and cereals are digested quickly, causing a spike in blood sugar, which can make us feel like we’re on a roller coaster ride of hunger and emotions.
  2. Eating comfort foods often can quickly add up to more pounds on the scale. Indulging every once in a while is OK, but it’s important to be mindful about your choices. So, decide when you’re going to indulge and enjoy it, but avoid making comfort eating a habit. I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing worse than trying on your warm weather clothes come spring time and having to struggle to close a button!

choose seasonal foods instead

We can enhance our moods and maintain our waistline with seasonal foods that are delicious and satiate our quest for warmth and flavor. Marry your favorite seasonal food (Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, spinach) with a whole grain or legume, lean protein and healthy fat, and you will feel energized and in-balance throughout the day.

I’ve included some of my favorite seasonal recipe go-to’s here because they’re rich in nutrients, and you can easily double or triple the recipes and enjoy throughout the week.

  • Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowls
  • Turkey Bolognese with Zucchini Noodles
  • Red Lentil Soup with Lemon
  • Healthy Cauliflower Fried Rice

Other energizing meal ideas: Oatmeal served with sliced pears or apples, sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds. Roasted Brussels sprouts, tossed with avocado slices, toasted pecans and a light vinaigrette;  Frittata made with broccoli, chicken sausage and feta. Roasted butternut squash tossed into a bed of greens like spinach or arugula and olive oil and lemon juice with toasted slivered almonds.

This winter, convert your comfort food fantasies into more purist desires that come from the earth. Swap out the white pasta for a spiralized zucchini noodle, or make a sweet potato the new hero on your plate. You’ll feel cozy but light and will delight in every bite!

Cheers to your health,

Michelle

What are your favorite fall recipes? Share with us in the comments or on the Gennev Facebook page, or share your most delicious pictures on Instagram and tag @myGennev.

Want more wisdom from Michelle? You got it: check out nutrition to help you beat the heat from hot flashes or, even better for this time of year, learn how to avoid stress eating during the holidays.

 

Resources

All about menopause

+ Read More
Article

Heart-Healthy Nutrition Myths

+ Read More
Article

3 Ways Sleep Affects Metabolism

+ Read More
Article

The Emotional Toll of Sleep Issues

Get started

Schedule your appointment

Book Now

Reach out

Contact our patient care team

Contact Us
Email directly:
support@gennev.com
Gennev Logo
Logo for Unified Women's Healthcare.

Looking for an in-person OBGYN?

Check out Unified's network of providers

Gennev Logo
Treatments & SymptomsHow Gennev WorksResources for EmployersResources for Care ProvidersInsurance & PricingShop
LearnWebinarsAbout GennevOur CliniciansRegistered Dietitian NutritionistsContactTestimonials From Real PatientsCareers
Facebook social network IconLinkedin social network IconInstagram social network IconTiktok social network Icon
Copyright © 2020. Gennev. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UseYour Privacy RightsPrivacy PolicyNotice of Privacy PracticesDiscrimination is Against the Law
Close

You Deserve Better Than Mediocre Menopause Advice

Say goodbye to outdated, generic advice. Get exclusive insights and expert strategies to thrive during menopause.

Get everything you’ve ever wanted to know about menopause, perimenopause, and midlife.

Sign up successful! Check your inbox for updates.
We encounter an error, please try again.

By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions and that you agree to receive emails from us. Unsubscribe at any time.

Your newsletter submission was sent successfully, thanks! 🎉