Big culprits! Foods that make you gain more weight in winter

A cold winter day, a cosy blanket and a hot plate of food sound blissful. There is absolutely nothing else you need to make your winter day more relaxing and enjoyable. But this comfort eating session can turn problematic for many when the numbers on their scale start increasing. Winter weight gain is a real thing, and several factors contribute to it. Firstly due to cold weather, the level of physical activity decreases, secondly our metabolism slows down, and thirdly we eat more than usual to stay warmer. All these things make it challenging to stay in shape or even shed kilos in this season. Here are some food options that are mostly linked with weight gain and what you can do to manage your weight.

Winter without a hot bowl of soup is incomplete. It helps to curb untimely hunger, keeps you warmer and provides you with nutrients to fight cold. But if you opt for cream-based soup, then you are more likely to gain weight. We are not saying you should avoid soup, just make conscious choices. Instead of creamy soup, have clear soup like tomato, vegetable, and bone broth soup. The cream increases the calorie count of the soup, making you gain weight.

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Gajar ka halwa, chikki, til laddo, gulab jamun and the delicious Christmas cake all are high in calories. So, you also need to be careful while consuming these winter delicacies. It is not that you have to refrain from eating them, we only suggest being mindful about the quantity and frequency. It is easy to get swayed and consume dessert 2-3 times a day and regret it later. Have dessert once and in a limited quantity. Also, have a homemade dessert and try to use healthy ingredients to prepare it.

Hot stuffed parathas loaded with butter and paired with pickle or chutney is winter's special treat. It is easy to make and with so many varieties of veggies available in the season, the most preferred lunch or dinner option. You can stuff your parathas with potatoes, cauliflower, radish or carrot, all are equally tasty. But to make it healthy and manage your weight, you must be careful about the amount of ghee or butter you add to it. Fat helps to keep you warm in winter, but taking in excess of it can make you gain weight. This should also be kept in mind when preparing sarson ka saag.

Read more: Weight loss: 5 dinner rules to follow when trying to shed kilos

What is winter without coffee and tea, right? Sipping a warm cup of beverage keeps us warm and active in the cold and harsh weather. Another fact is that it can contribute to weight gain if your choice of beverage is loaded with sugar and whole milk. We would suggest you limit your beverage intake to 2-3 cups a day and also swap your traditional cup of coffee and tea with herbal tea or black tea. Herbal tea like lemongrass tea, hibiscus tea, green tea, oolong tea is rich in antioxidants and also have anti-inflammatory properties.They are low in calories and speed up your metabolism.