• Home
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • How to reach us
    • Subscribe To Paper
    • Subscribe to eNewsletter
    • Where To Pick Up
    • Submit Stuff
  • News
    • Local News
    • Police & Fire
    • Sports
  • Photos
    • Our Photos
    • Your Photos
    • Submit Your Photos
  • Business
  • Milestones
    • Births
    • Business Milestones
    • Honor Rolls/Dean's List
    • Obituaries
    • Weddings/Engagement/Anniversary
  • Calendar
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
    • Cartoons
    • Columns
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Classifieds
    • Cars
    • Garage Sales
    • Homes
    • Jobs
  • Fun & Games
    • Where In clues
    • Where in answers
    • Photo Contest
  • Experts
    • Ask The Expert
  • Features
    • Back To School
    • Healthy You
    • Home and Garden
    • Hometown History
    • Teen

Prioritize your health instead of hibernating

Try these eight ways to a healthier winter

Published Feb 1, 2017 at 12:51 pm (Updated Feb 1, 2017)

Make text smaller Make text larger



Photos




Butternut squash soup

Serves 6-8 people
Ingredients
one 3.5-4 lb. butternut squash
1 medium leek
1 small yellow onion
1 medium shallot
3 medium cloves garlic
1 medium carrot
2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
6 cups homemade vegetable stock
black pepper
kosher salt
extra virgin olive oil
3-4 sprigs parsley
2-3 sprigs thyme
10 whole black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
Small bunch of chives
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1. Heat an oven to 350 degrees. Cut the neck off of the squash and set aside. Cut the base in half through the root and scoop out the seeds. Put 1-2 sage sprigs in each half, lightly rub in olive oil, put on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and roast until very tender, 45-60 minutes. Cool the squash down, discard the sage, and scoop out the flesh and set aside.
2. Peel the next of the squash and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Cut the root off of the leek(s) and remove the dark green leaves, keeping only the very light-green and white parts. Take off the outer layer. Cut the leeks in half vertically, then into half-moon slices about 1/2 inches wide. Soak the leek pieces in a bowl of water for 5 minutes, then lift them out (don’t pour them out) and place them in a colander to drain. Cut the onion, shallot, and carrot into a 1/2-inch dice. Smash the garlic cloves and roughly chop. Wrap the parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a bundle of cheesecloth and tie with a string. If you don’t have cheesecloth, omit the peppercorns, and tie the parsley, thyme, and bay leaves in a string bundle.
3. Add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil to a dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the leeks, shallot, carrot, garlic, and a pinch of kosher salt, and sweat for 5-8 minutes until translucent. Add the diced squash and cook for 4-5 minutes more. Add the honey/maple syrup and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Add the stock and herb bundle, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat until the water is barely at a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes until the squash pieces are tender.
4. Add the roasted squash to the soup pot and simmer for another 30 minutes. Remove the herb bundle. Add about 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil, and blend the soup in batches (or with a stick blender) until smooth. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
For balsamic reduction:
5. Put the balsamic vinegar in a small pot over very low heat. Keep the vinegar on the heat until it has reduced to a semi-thick sauce. Make sure the vinegar never comes to a boil — it can burn very easily. This will take several hours. Once it starts to thicken, keep an eye on it and swirl it around semi-regularly. It will continue to thicken off of the heat, so pull it off when it is just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
For the pumpkin seeds:
6. Heat an oven to 350 degrees. Pour the seeds into a single layer on a baking sheet, and roast for 3-6 minutes until toasted. Be careful not to burn. Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, and toss with a sprinkle of kosher salt.
To finish:
7. Ladle soup into each bowl. Add a swirl of balsamic reduction, a few pinches of toasted pumpkin seeds, and a sprinkle of finely chopped chives.


When cold weather hits, it’s easy to prioritize hibernating over health—abandoning outdoor activities and opting for comfort foods and the couch. However, you can keep up your healthy habits — and even add some new ones — even if you’re stuck inside.

Here are some strategies for prioritizing health when you’re cooped-up indoors during the cold weather.

Here are 8 ways to prioritize health instead of hibernating:

1. Make some soupInstead of a snow day baking sweet treats, try making a big batch of soup. You can experiment with different ingredients all winter long, providing you with a healthy distraction from the cold and an endless source of nutritious, warm meals.

Want to increase the fun factor? Try a “Soup Swap” with friends, where everyone makes a different type and divides it into batches for easy sharing.

2. MeditateChances are you’re already spending a lot of time sitting indoors in the winter months, so why not take advantage of your downtime to try meditating? Research shows it can have positive effects on the mind and body, all without having to leave your home or buy special equipment.

3. Stream and sweatWhen it’s so cold outside that you don’t want to leave the house to work out, consider turning to digital streaming services instead. Not to binge-watch videos or TV shows, but to exercise! Scroll through the variety of workout offerings and choose an exercise or two – or a full workout. Remember to check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.

4. CalisthenicsStuck at home with no easy access to your gym? Skip thepushup barbells and use your own body weight to become stronger. Common exercises include squats, lunges, push-ups, and crunches. Again, be sure to check with your doctor before making any changes to your exercise program.

5. Get your steps in on the stairsStep counts often dwindle in winter, when walking outdoors is at a minimum. Take advantage of indoor time by walking up and down your building’s stairs, if your building has them. Just be sure to watch for ice and slippery spots.

6. Try teaBeing stuck inside can encourage snacking, and chilly weather can lead to comfort food cravings. Before reaching for a plate, though, pour yourself a mug of warm tea. You’ll find it often lasts longer than a quick snack, and it can be surprisingly satiating.

7. Stand up for your health

“Sit time” peaks during winter, when we want to stay at home and avoid the outdoors. It’s easy to while away the time watching movies, reading, or browsing online, but remember to set a timer on your phone that reminds you to walk around every hour – even just a few trips back and forth to the other side of your home.

8. Read an inspiring bookAnother great way to prioritize health – even when low bookstemperatures have you feeling sluggish – is to turn to a book for a major dose of motivation. Find a health or nutrition book online, at a bookstore, or your local library, and use it as a source of inspiration to get you through winter. You could even start a “healthy book club” with friends and instead of reading the same book, assign different titles so everyone can share notes and maximize motivation

Source: Harvard Health: hsph.harvard.edu





Make text smaller Make text larger

Comments

Pool Rules



MUST READ NEWS

Sparta lawyer named to organization's director
NEWTON — The Center for Prevention and Counseling announces the appointment of Janine Cerra, Attorney at Law, as a new member to their...
Read more »
Image

Wildfires legislation passes Assembly
TRENTON — Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Ron Dancer and Parker Space allowing controlled burns of forests and open lands to protect...
Read more »

Palumbo named to Leading Edge Society
SPARTA — Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Gross & Jansen REALTORS today announced that Mary Palumbo has been named to the esteemed...
Read more »
Image

4-H plans afterschool STEM program
Rutgers 4-H Youth Development has extensive experience in Design It! and Explore It! projects and is ready to train and equip afterschool organizations to bring this fun,...
Read more »

MORE NEWS

VIDEOS



Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Community Newspapers


MOST READ

Local News
First anniversary
  • Apr 18, 2018
Letters to the Editor
Let's celebrate the 50th observance of Earth Day in the produce aisle
  • Apr 18, 2018
Cartoons
(No heading)
  • Apr 18, 2018
Local News
HIlltop students, parents do service projects
  • Apr 17, 2018
Local News
Jefferson plans trip to WWE event
  • Apr 17, 2018

MOST COMMENTED



Weather in Lafayette, NJ
  • About Us
  • Straus News
  • Contact Us/Staff Directory
  • Company History
  • Advertising Info

  • Directories and Special Sections
  • Back To School
  • Community Service Guide
  • Golf Country
  • Home and Garden
  • Teen
  • Do Stuff
  • Subscribe for Home Delivery
  • Subscribe to Our eNewsletter
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Find a Home
  • Find a Job
  • Pick us up – Where?
  • Submit a Press Release or Announcement
  • Submit a Business Milestone
  • Submit a Letter To The Editor
  • Submit Your Photos
  • Sister Sites
  • The Advertiser-News (North)
  • The Advertiser-News (South)
  • The Chronicle
  • The Pike County Courier
  • The Photo News
  • The Sparta Independent
  • The Township Journal
  • The Warwick Advertiser
  • The West Milford Messenger
  • dirt

© Copyright 2017 Straus News
All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy