Healthy Way to Keep Warm this Winter

By: Lisa Gilbert

It’s certainly cold out there and we’re not even half way through winter!  We’re a month in & still have two more to go, so we could all use some tips to keep us warm over the next few weeks.

Ever have a few leftover veggies you’re not sure what to do with?  It seems a waste to just toss them in the compost, so why not make a soup?  It’s one of the easiest things to make, helps you get those 5-10 servings each day, and certainly warms you up from the inside out.

As with all good soup bases, start by adding some onion, celery, carrot and garlic to a large pot and sauté in a little olive oil.  Add a good veggie broth & your favourite seasonings; perhaps parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, a pinch of salt & pepper or maybe some chili flakes for a little heat.  Fire in whatever veggies you can find in your fridge – get CREATIVE!  Diced potatoes, beans, tomatoes, beets, cabbage, spinach, zucchini, cauliflower, squash, broccoli...  The sky’s the limit!  Toss in some corn and peas near the end. 

The most time-consuming part is chopping all the veggies, but hey, that’s where the kids come in handy, right?!  Send them to one of our awesome COOKSMART workshops where they have fun and learn how to handle a knife safely so they can help out more often! 

Encourage your kids to adapt the soup ‘recipe’ a little by modifying the seasonings to their liking.  Ask them what they would like more or less of?  Do they like it chunky or pureed?  What do they think would be a good compliment the soup; something to have on the side like rolls, garlic bread, breadsticks, croutons or crackers or maybe a sandwich.

Always be sure to make a large batch because there’s nothing better than leftovers!  Soup is sometimes even better the second time around as the flavours continue to blend and the flavour magnifies. 

Enjoy and stay warm!