I was looking to make something light for dinner, since my holiday appetite consisted mostly of cannolis for breakfast, kolackies for lunch and pasta for dinner. Anything sugary and starchy was in my diet, and today I felt like eating something light and refreshing.I opted for a salad with pears, bleu cheese and walnuts. For dressing, I used balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and it was just what my holiday-abused body needed!
I could hardly mess up this dinner, as it was mostly assembling and little cooking. I did add chicken - and since I'm a vegetarian it was a Quorn chick'n pattie - and then it officially was the perfect winter salad! It filled me up without making me feel like I couldn't move for the next two hours.
What do you eat to keep from feeling too heavy during the winter?
If you really want to make a difference and buy from local farmers, there are ways to do so during the winter months, once the farmer's markets have packed up. Delivery services like Irv and Shelly's Fresh Picks sell local and organic produce, meat, fish, dairy and eggs, and even baked and prepared goods. I haven't used the service yet but I have researched it and am weighing pros and cons before I add it to my winter budget. The pros seem to far outweigh the only con I can think of: it's a little more expensive than the grocery store.
Fresh Picks delivers local, organic items year-round and is based out of Niles. The bulk of its supply comes from Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, while some of it is imported (you trying growing bananas in the Midwest).
Newleaf Natural Grocery delivers and has a brick-and-mortar store that offers mostly local and organic produce, among other items. Then there are co-ops, like Dill Pickle Food Co-op, which says it "offers one of the largest bulk grocery sections in the city." You do not have to be a member to shop at the co-op but if you want to join, read the details here.
Would you consider enrolling in a service or joining a co-op to support local farmers and businesses throughout the winter months?
Share your thoughts!
xoxo,
Lisa Marie