Beech Tree News Network

When really cold winter weather comes along, I look for comfort foods. Some, like vegetable soup, may be good for me, but many are not low-carb or low-calorie foods. Most of my favorites should be consumed in moderation, definitely not while looking out at a cold –and sometimes messy – winter landscape.

Thinking along this line, I asked friends and family, “When the winter weather is really cold or messy, what snacks, foods, or drinks do you crave?” Their answers are listed below.

-Potato soup, vegetable soup, and fudge!

-Soups, hot teas and hot chocolate, fudge, breads – all the carbs.

-Soups and hot chocolate.

-Pumpkin bread and hot chocolate.

-Homemade vegetable chicken soup.

-Soups, cornbread, and hot chocolate.

-Soups. My favorites are potato soup and vegetable soup.

-Everything! Really no different than any other day.

-Vegetable soup and cornbread!

-Yesterday, I made vegetable beef soup and today, oatmeal cookies. I seem to find comfort in cooking, but have to watch out for weight gain.

-Warm drinks like teas, ciders, and coffee. And sweets, unfortunately.

-Chili with crackers.

-Warm things – soups and chili.

-I crave lots of different soups!

-Hot chocolate, vegetable soup, and cheese straws.

-Soups. All different kinds.

-I like to cook and bake when the weather’s bad: soups, beans, chili, cookies....

-Soups and hot chocolate.

-Everything! More warm foods than cold – oats, soups, and chili. Also, anything sweet like warm cookies and brownies.

-Comfort foods, something warm like soups or chili and hot chocolate and coffee.

-Chili and hot coffee.

-Hot chocolate, hot tea, hot coffee, rich, thick soups and pretzels!

-Chocolate chip cookies and milk, cinnamon rolls, and homemade chicken noodle soup.

-I crave soups and chili, cornbread, fudge, sweet breads, and hot drinks.

-Hot Chocolate!

Friend and family responses generally agreed on warm foods and drinks. Athlete DeAndre Yedlin said, “For me, I can’t eat healthy 100 percent of the year. There’s obviously those little times where you have to eat something that’s not great for you, but you just need comfort food.” Yedlin could be talking about my winter cravings. I just hope we don’t have too many really cold, messy winter days.