01/15/2026
Winter Warming Foods is about warmth, grounding, and steady energy.
Eat foods that are:
Warm (soups, stews, baked dishes)
Cooked (easier to digest than raw foods in cold months)
Rich in fiber, healthy fats, and protein
Seasonal and stored foods (root vegetables, squash, grains, legumes)
Plant-Focused Winter Staples
Vegetables
Root veg: sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips
Squash: butternut, acorn, kabocha
Brassicas: cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower
Alliums: onions, garlic, leeks (immune-supportive & flavorful)
Protein (Plant-Based)
Lentils (red for quick soups, green/brown for stews)
Beans (white beans, chickpeas, black beans)
Tofu & tempeh
Split peas
Nuts & seeds (walnuts, pumpkin seeds, tahini)
Whole Grains
Oats (savory or sweet)
Brown rice
Farro, barley, buckwheat
Quinoa
Healthy Fats (key for satiety & warmth)
Olive oil
Coconut milk
Avocado
Nut butters
Seeds (flax, chia, h**p)
paprika
Meal Ideas!!
Hearty Soups & Stews
Red lentil coconut curry soup
White bean, rosemary & garlic soup
Split pea soup with smoked paprika
Miso vegetable soup with tofu & greens
Roasted Vegetable Bowls
Roasted squash + chickpeas + tahini sauce
Sweet potato, kale & quinoa bowl
Carrots, beets & lentils with lemon-tahini drizzle
One-Pot Comfort Foods
Lentil shepherd’s pie
Vegetable & white bean pot pie
Baked risotto with mushrooms & thyme
Warming Breakfasts
Savory oats with mushrooms & greens
Baked oatmeal with apples, walnuts & cinnamon
Chia pudding made with warm spices & almond milk
Flavor Boosters That Make Plant Foods Satisfying
Finish with acid (lemon, vinegar) after cooking
Add umami: miso, nutritional yeast, mushrooms
Use fresh herbs even in winter (parsley, thyme, rosemary)
“Winter Meal Formula”:
Grain or root + legume + vegetable + fat + spice
Example:
Brown rice + lentils + roasted carrots + olive oil + cumin & garlic.