You Are My Sunshine

By Candy

There’s something about a chilly Sunday evening that says chicken noodle soup (maybe with a soda on the side). But besides the obvious keeping warm thing, what really makes us crave hot, hearty foods?

Well, our bodies convert natural sunlight to vitamin D, boosting our serotonin (the hormone that helps regulate moods, sleep and appetite) levels. Since winter brings less sunlight, our bodies seek other ways to increase serotonin. So our urges to reach for carbohydrate-rich foods during this time of year may lay in our cravings for more sunlight, or at least a way to warm up our insides.

But overloading yourself with carbs may not be the best way to regulate your diet. Try to keep both your cravings and health in check with these hearty, in-season foods. (And there’s even a hidden beauty bonus!)

Munchie: Sweet Potatoes

Beauty Bonus: Even though you don’t need to worry about smile lines for a while, sweet potatoes contain anti-wrinkling agents.

Tasty Treat: Sprinkle with cinnamon when the urge for sweets comes up.

Munchie: Apples

Beauty Bonus: Loaded with nutrition and antioxidants, this harvest treat also can help with your dentist appointments. When eating the fruit raw, your gums get a healthy massage and the chewing helps clean your teeth.

Tasty Treat: Try coring them and baking them with a little cinnamon inside.

Munchie: Pumpkin Seeds

Beauty Bonus: The large amount of iron in these nutty seeds will help add some shine to your hair.

Tasty Treat: Try sprinkling them in a salad.

Munchie: Carrots

Beauty Bonus: Help maintain the outer layer of your skin with these rooty-veggies.

Tasty Treat: When stirring up that warm bowl of chicken noodle soup, add sliced carrots for a healthy epidermis.

Why not eat foods as nature intended it? By the season!

You’ll calm your carb cravings and make yourself beautiful from the inside out!