The weather is changing — we’ve waved goodbye to summer sun and said hello to dreary rain. Now that it’s cold outside, you need something to warm you up at home. If you’re a whiz in the kitchen (or just starting out!), we’ve got some recipe suggestions just for you. 
Why Home-Cooking is the Healthiest Option
When you’re in a rush, grabbing something on the go or having a ready meal may seem like the best option. Sure, it is convenient and saves you time. However, choosing to make food for yourself is the healthiest (and most cost efficient move!). Here are the reasons:
You can pick healthy ingredients:If you are eating manufactured food, chances are, you have no clue what the ingredients are. According to Bupa UK, ready meals are often high in salt and saturated fat that can be bad for your physical health. In addition, you may find that they have preservatives that are not so great for you either. When you cook at home, you can make it 100% natural.
You get to control the portion size:Should you eat at a restaurant, you get zero control over the size of the meal that comes to your table. Often enough, eateries service portions that are too large for us. However, since this has been normalised over time, we have no idea that we are overeating. The introduction of calorie-counts on menus is helpful but it’s not all about calories. Cooking food at home means that you are in total control of what you eat and how much you eat.
You can tailor meals to suit you:Since you’re making the food to your taste, you also get to control what ingredients you choose. You already know that you should be eating a mix of fruits and vegetables as well as wholegrains and plenty of protein. If there is an area of your diet that you are currently lacking in, why not increase the dose you put in your recipes? It’s so easy.
Healthy Recipes to Try at Home Today
Home cooking can also be a fun activity. Looking for wholesome meals that will fill you up while also keeping you warm? We’ve got you covered. If you fancy whipping up something deciduous in the kitchen, look no further. Here are our top picks to give a try.
1. Mushroom and Potato Soup
Soup season is finally here! That means that it’s time to batch cook some of your favourite winter-warming broths. If you’re looking for something healthy and earthy-tasting, try the mushroom and potato soup recipe from BBC Good Food. The easy recipe takes no time at all and is a low-calorie meal that you can have for lunch when the weather drops low.
2. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chilli
There’s nothing like some spice to warm you up! If you’re a fan of hot food, you should give the sweet potato and black bean chilli from EatingWell a go. The deliciate taste of the sweet potatoes give the dish a varied flavour. You can also use some chipotle or extra chilli flakes to turn up the spice levels. Serve this one with some crusty whole grain bread.
3. Stuffed Pumpkin
Fancy something a bit different? Now that you can readily get pumpkins in the supermarkets, it could be the perfect time to try a stuffed pumpkin recipe. This delicious seasonal meal includes rice, fennel, pecans, pomegranate seeds, and apples. If you’re looking to shake things up in the kitchen, it could be worth trying this recipe for yourself.
4. Aubergine, Chickpea, and Spinach Curry
When you’re looking for a healthy meal, you can’t go wrong with the British Heart Foundation’s recipes. Our top pick has to be the aubergine, chickpea, and spinach curry. Taking just 15 minutes prep time and 25 minutes cooking time, this is a quick meal you can make any night of the week. AS a bonus, it’s vegetarian and can be made vegan too.
5. Pomegranate and Chicken Stew
There’s nothing quite like a stew to warm you up when you’re feeling cold. The pomegranate and chicken stew recipe comes in at just over 500 calories per serving and is an excellent family meal. It’s easier than you might think! You can make the whole thing up in a casserole dish and then leave it to bake in the oven for under an hour.
6. Chicken Noodle Soup
You don’t have to be feeling under the weather to have some chicken soup! If you’re in the mood for something warm and comforting, try Jamie Oliver’s chicken noodle soup recipe. The “not too tricky” tutorial takes an hour and 40 minutes to complete. However, you can make a whole load of this wholesome winter meal and save portions for later too.
The Takeaway
When you’ve got some spare time, there’s nothing quite like heading to the kitchen and making a wholesome meal. In this guide, we‘ve taken a look at some of our favourite winter warmers. Keep in mind that you can switch any of these up to suit your own tastes. Now, why not batch-cook a few of these, freeze them, and eat them all season long?
