Winter Warmth: Why steady mealtimes are important

Eating right can be a big challenge, especially in Winter. More than any other time of year, eating well during this season means slowing down, taking the time to be home, and cook. However, slowing down will take more intention as it also coincides with Holiday Season.  For some reason, there is more on our plate and we speed up rushing from one event to another. Usually, we like to “whip something up” in 30 minutes or less. After all, who has time to be in the kitchen two to four hours a day, seven days a week? I am a busy, working mom with busy hungry children, and life seems a lot less stressful when I can just “grab-and-go.”

Here is the thing. Cooking is probably one of the most important activities we do as human beings. Remember when we discovered fire? Okay, probably not. But just because we no longer have to think about the fires that cook our food and keep us warm and safe, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. It is what gave us more free time; instead of standing around chewing raw foods into digestible elements all day, we have more time to socialize and engage in higher thought. Eating well comes from good cooking and requires time spent in the kitchen. It creates a sense of warmth for me and my family.

The yummy aromas of breakfast should be what gets you out of bed in the morning. That can be from someone lovingly cooking for you or as easy as something that was prepared in the slow cooker overnight. If breakfast really is the most important meal of the day then let it be hot out of the oven. We need to hear the oil sizzle as it hits the skillet, smell the coffee as it percolates, watch the bread rise to perfection as it bakes - literally come to our senses before we put rubber to the road. So take that apple that you would put in your mouth while you lace up your shoes on the way out the door, and instead, put it in the oven with some honey, butter, and cinnamon. That is what Winter eating is all about.

I also want my family to come in from the cold to a warm house that smells like dinner and feel refreshed knowing that a hot meal is on the table. Mealtime is as much about connection as it is about what is on your plate. Celebrations are fundamental to family life but how we are every day is also important. One of the main ingredients in healthy eating is found in the conversations held at the dinner table. It is the love nourishing our lives and our relationships.

Of course, it all requires a hefty amount of time. How do you balance the rigors of modern-day schedules? Time-saving appliances like the crock-pot and pressure cookers are a big help. Many ovens today come with a “delayed start” feature that is perfect for roasting vegetables. You can also take a day to meal-prep for the week and batch cook. There are also services that will deliver quality meals to your door. Remember, time-savers are also money-savers. Eating out can be hard on your digestive system as well as your wallet. It really is not about having time as much as it is about making the time.

Need to kick start with some inspiration? Start conversations with friends and family hit up the bookstore, or browse free on-line resources. One of my favorite creative influences is actually Michael Pollan. His book Cooked is an easy read but it can also be found on Netflix as a four-part, family-friendly documentary. Start from where you are and incorporate any changes into your life slowly but surely.