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10 recipes to beat the winter blahs

Use ingredients packed with mood-boosting vitamins and energizing nutrients to help you get through the long days of winter.
10 recipes to beat the winter blahs

Beat the blahs - Recipes

Pistachios

Feeling tired can be a sign of an iron-deficiency, but just a handful of pistachios has nearly a quarter of our recommended daily dose.

Try our Middle Eastern pistachio couscous for dinner.

Photo, Sian Richards.

Middle Eastern pistachio couscousMiddle Eastern pistachio couscous

Leeks

The B vitamins in iron-rich leeks provide energy, so you have nothing to lose by whipping up our cozy leek and fennel soup for dinner.

Photo, Erik Putz.

10 recipes to beat the winter blahsLeek and fennel soup with poached haddock

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Miso

High in iron and immunity-boosting zinc, miso is also a great source of protein. For this recipe, glaze fish with a miso and honey mixture, broiling for about 10 minutes. 

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

10 recipes to beat the winter blahsGolden gazed halibut

Dried apricots

A handful delivers 20 percent of the recommended daily dose of iron (take that, fatigue), as well as concentrated doses of beta carotene, potassium and fibre.

Try our better breakfast: homemade yogurt and warm, stewed fruit

Photo, Sian Richards.

Homemade yogurt_stewed fruit in syrupStewed fruit over homemade yogurt

Broccoli, hummus

One cup of broccoli is loaded with your daily dose of mood- and immunity-boosting Vitamin C. The tahini and chickpeas in hummus add to to your reccomended zinc intake – making this easy weeknight supper nutrient-packed and fun.

Photo, Michael Graydon.

Pita pizza with hummus and mintPita pizza with hummus and mint

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Dark chocolate

1.5 ounces a day can help ease stress – and that's the only excuse we need for a little sweet indulgence. Try making a batch of chocolate fudge that you can dip into for a mood-boosting treat.

Photo, Angus Fergusson.

10 recipes to beat the winter blahs

Beets

Folate, a cell-renewing, depression-fighting B vitamin, comes in high quantities in this root vegetable. One cup brings about 34 percent of your daily recommended dose, so eat up! Start with our colourful roasted beets recipe.

Photo, John Cullen.

10 recipes to beat the winter blahsRoasted beets

Salmon

Three ounces of salmon has half your daily Vitamin D! Boost your levels of the sunshine vitamin with this salmon recipe. (Bonus nutrients: Omega-3 and B12, with the cauliflower throwing in Vitamin C, and pistachios adding Iron.)

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Apricot pistachio salmon with roasted cauliflowerApricot pistachio salmon with roasted cauliflower

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Bananas

Ounce for ounce, a banana has more strength-building potassium than any other fruit. So, if you're hitting the gym to keep fit and generate some mood-boosting endorphins, follow up with this healthy, post-workout snack.

Photo, Erik Putz.

Overnight Chia OatmealOvernight chia oatmeal with banana

Eggplant

Eggplant contains GABA, an amino acid that helps quell axiety and improve sleep quality. With only 20 calories per cup (and loaded with fibre and antio-oxidants) this winning ingredient should make it's way into your meals more often. Try starting with this baby eggplant recipe.

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

10 recipes to beat the winter blahsBaby eggplant with red onion

This article is part of a week-long series dedicated to beating the winter blahs. View the series here

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