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group of people sitting at dinner table with food while holding glasses up for cheers before dinner
Updated on English Recipes

Six Warm Winter Recipes

As the chillier months approach, you may be looking for some recipes that will give you that warm and cozy feeling. There are so many easy ways to pack extra nutrients into some of your favorite comfort or holiday foods! Start planning out meals and recipes you want to try now to have a budget–friendly holiday season! Look out for shelf-stable or frozen items that go on sale, and check supermarket flyers and mobile apps to find the best prices; you may even need to try checking multiple stores to get the best deals. Keeping these tips in mind will help reduce your costs and your stress this holiday season! Read on to find some warm and nutritious recipes from our website that you and your family can try this holiday season! 

Homemade breakfast casserole with egg, kale, and sweet potatoes sitting on a cutting board

This breakfast casserole makes a deliciously warm holiday breakfast! It packs in some seasonal vegetables including sweet potatoes and kale. These vegetables add a lot of vitamins and minerals to your breakfast, perfect for fueling your holiday festivities! 

Cheesy Sweet Potato and Greens Biscuits in a basket lined with a green cloth

Try out these cheesy sweet potato and greens biscuits for a nutritious twist on a southern classic. They pack in some hidden sweet potatoes which are a great source of vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber [1]! Greens are also rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, and many others [2]! These biscuits would make a great holiday side dish! 

This recipe would be a delicious, warm entree for a holiday party! The roast packs in protein and the vegetables provide vitamins and minerals. The best thing about this recipe is that most of the work is done in the slow cooker! Take some of the stress out of hosting by prepping your meal ahead of time and letting the slow cooker do most of the work while you are getting ready for guests! 

black skillet containing cheesy macaroni and cheese with broccoli pieces
Who doesn’t love mac and cheese as a warm holiday side dish? This twist on a cheesy favorite adds broccoli, coming together in one skillet to make for an easier clean up! Give this recipe a try this holiday season.
Couple sitting under a blanket both holding mugs of hot chocolate with candy canes

Hot chocolate is sweet, comforting, and warm. Try this homemade hot chocolate as a healthy, quick and easy alternative to a sweet and cozy classic! 

heart shaped chocolate chip cookies in a basket

Sweets, especially cookies, are a big part of the holiday season for a lot of people – and there is no reason not to enjoy them this season! Try our healthier twist on classic chocolate chip cookies this year! The secret ingredient is non-fat, plain yogurt which replaces some of the butter in traditional chocolate chip cookie recipes. Butter is very high in saturated fat which can contribute to chronic disease development, so yogurt is a great substitute! 

Whether you celebrate holidays or not this season, these recipes are fun for everyone to try. They might just give you that warm and cozy feeling you are looking for while providing seasonal vegetables or some healthier and budget-friendly alternatives to traditional recipes. Happy holidays to all who celebrate!

References: 

  1. https://foodtalk.org/en/blog/sweet-potatoes  
  2. https://foodtalk.org/en/blog/how-to-make-greens-exciting  

Published December 16th, 2024

Written by Kaylee Gallatin, MS/DI Student | Edited by Jung Sun Lee, PhD, RDN; Tristen T. Webb; the nutrition education team

spinach leaves
Updated on English Focus on Health Plan Ahead

How to Use Spinach

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘spinach’? Maybe you remember that mushy green stuff on your plate from when you were a kid. Or maybe you think of Popeye getting his strong muscles after eating it. Whatever comes to mind, it may be time to try it again!  

Spinach is a healthy, leafy green vegetable that can be used in many ways and is packed with a powerful nutritional punch. You eat it raw in a salad, mix it into eggs, or add frozen spinach to a smoothie. There is something for everyone! Spinach is in season from November through May, so there is plenty of time to give it a try [1]!

Will spinach really give me strong muscles?

While Popeye made spinach seem like the secret to big muscles, that idea is a bit of stretch. Spinach is not high in protein, so the short answer is no; spinach alone will not give you strong muscles. However, spinach is packed with important vitamins and minerals [2], making it a super healthy choice! You can pair it with protein-rich foods such as chicken, eggs, and many others!  

  • Just one cup of spinach provides all the vitamin K you need daily! Vitamin K is important for blood clotting, keeps your bones strong, and may have positive effects on heart health [3].  
  • Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that strengthens your immune system, helps wounds heal, and prevents chronic diseases [4].  
  • Vitamin A supports healthy vision and helps with growth and development [5].  
  • Folate is very important for moms to consume in the early stages of pregnancy to prevent birth defects [6].  

Selection

  • When choosing spinach, look for a dark green color and avoid yellowing or wilting leaves [2].  
  • You may also see baby spinach or mature spinach at the grocery store. Both are nutritious but differ in taste and texture. Baby spinach is harvested earlier, so it has a milder taste and texture, making it great for eating raw in a salad. Mature spinach has a stronger flavor and firmer texture, which works well in cooking. When deciding which type to pick, consider what you plan to use it for [2].  

Cleaning and Storing

  • Store spinach in the refrigerator, unwashed. It can be stored for 3-5 days or until it shows signs of decay like yellowing or sliminess [2].  
  • To clean spinach, fill a large bowl with water and place your spinach in the bowl. Swish the spinach in the water to help remove dirt from the leaves. Do not let the spinach soak; it may wilt and lose nutritional value. After thoroughly washing your spinach, lift it out of the water and dry it well using a salad spinner or clean towel [2].  

Cooking

Spinach can be prepared in many different ways! You can boil, steam, braise, sauté, stir-fry, or even eat it raw! 

Boiled 

Boiling spinach is a classic and easy way to prepare this vegetable. Try this lemon spinach for a nutritious side dish

bowl of cooked spinach with lemon

Sauteed  

Another classic way to prepare spinach is by sautéing it! Give this garlicky sauteed spinach recipe a try! 

bowl of cooked spinach with garlic, bowl sitting next to uncooked spinach leaves

Eaten raw in a salad

Spinach makes a great base for a fresh salad. Try this spinach and pecan salad with lemon vinaigrette! 

spinach salad in a bowl with pecans and tomatoes. lemon vinaigrette sits in a bowl next to it.

Baked in a frittata

Spinach is a great vegetable to add to a frittata.  

spinach frittata sits on a place with a fork next to it.

Are you feeling more inspired to start including spinach in your diet? Check out our blog and recipe pages to learn more about seasonal vegetables and how to use them!

  1. https://foodtalk.org/en/blog/whats-in-season-in-georgia   
  1. https://bedford.tennessee.edu/spinach/  
  1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-Consumer/  
  1. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002404.htm#:~:text=Vitamin%20C%20is%20needed%20for,wounds%20and%20form%20scar%20tissue  
  1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/#:~:text=Vitamin%20A%20is%20a%20fat,and%20other%20organs%20work%20properly  
  1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer/  
  1. https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/freezing-leafy-greens-later-use  

Published on November 25th, 2024

Kaylee Gallatin, Dietetics Student | Edited by Jung Sun Lee, PhD, RDN; Tristen T. Webb; and the nutrition education team