When the weather turns cold, everything in your body slows down a little, including your digestion and metabolism. If you have Hashimoto’s or Hypothyroidism then you know that we already struggle to keep our temperature up, so winter can exacerbate our hypothyroid symptoms. You’ve probably noticed that you’re more susceptible to dips in energy and motivation in winter, and those comforting foods you crave can sometimes feel at odds with your goals around weight and health too.

Macaroni cheese? Ah no.

I’m a big believer in eating seasonally which means eating produce that is grown and harvested at the right time of year for best quality, taste, nutritional content and sustainable farming practices. It’s better for the environment and it’s better for you.

But to me, it also means adapting your daily eating to the weather conditions. That means warming, spiced, slow cooked and therefore easy to digest foods in winter so you aren’t working against your digestion or metabolism but supporting it.

It’s a simple, gentle shift that makes a difference because when you have meals sitting in your gastrointestinal tract for hours it can leave you feeling more sluggish ie; tired, bloated, constipated and foggy minded.

Why seasonal eating matters in winter

In winter, blood flow to your digestive system is naturally a little lower (your body is busy keeping you warm). A large part of the metabolic process is the conversion of food into energy to keep us warm, a crucial part of keeping us alive and well. Your body actually benefits from warming, slow-cooked meals that are easy to digest and comforting to eat, it aides your metabolism rather than hinders it. And all of us with Hashi’s know that our metabolism needs all the help it can get.

It can also mean that the two beloved meals of the ‘wellness’ industry, giant raw salads and ice cold smoothies, can feel like a brick in your stomach, slow digestion and may not be the best choice in winter due to their cooling effects.

The other big bonus? Seasonal produce in winter – think pumpkins, root vegetables, citrus, brassicas – is at its peak in nutrition and flavour. It’s also much easier on the old budget which is already stretched for most of us at the moment.

What to put on your plate

Here are a few simple swaps that can make a big difference to how you feel this season:

• Swap raw salads for roasted veg: Roasting carrots, onions, parsnips, pumpkin and beetroot brings out their natural sweetness and makes them easy to digest.
• Think soups and stews: Slow-cooked dishes like a chicken soup or a rich beef stew warm you from the inside and keep you fuller for longer.
• Add warming spices: Cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, chilli, cayenne, pepper, cloves, cardamom, star anise and paprika don’t just taste good, they help circulation and digestion.
• Eat local & seasonal: Choose fruits and vegetables that are in season where you live and shop. It makes sense, it’s more sustainable, nutrient rich and cheaper.
• Do some research: Google what is in season where you live and shop. I’m in Melbourne which is a cool zone. If you live in a Tropical zone your seasonal produce will look a lot different to mine.
• Follow the prices: Generally, seasonal produce will be the most affordable as it is the most plentiful at that time of year. This is why cucumber can be $8+/kg in Melbourne over winter and only $3/kg in summer.

Seasonal eating and health weight management

Our health is so complex and varies so much as individuals. It would be lovely if managing weight was a simple calories in versus calories out equation but it’s a lot more complicated than that; especially for women; especially for women during big hormonal changes; especially for women with thyroid dysfunction. You get the picture.

Eating anti-inflammatory food that supports your digestion, hormones, metabolism, liver function and gut microbiome is crucial for long term healthy weight management. Eating in a way that works with your body, not against it, means less bloating, better energy, fewer cravings, balanced blood sugar and appropriate metabolic responses. Seasonal eating can gently support these processes.

I think intuitively we all know that warm, slow cooked foods are ideal in water, but maybe you’ve been ‘influenced’ to eat a smoothie for breakfast because you think it’s the healthy choice. I say listen to your gut or at least try it out and see if your symptoms speak for themselves.

My seasonal system

This seasonal eating approach is so important to me that in Food Freedom for Hashimoto’s, I created two separate recipe collections and meal plans; one for Spring/Summer and one for Autumn/Winter with a bonus All Season meal plan for in-between weather. Initially I created one set of recipes and one meal plan but it felt so wrong to ignore the seasons. Not only would buying mango in the middle of winter be expensive and impractical but my mango smoothie would likely cause indigestion or bloating during the wrong season. Not to mention give you the shivers and cool down your body temperature. And who wants to turn on the oven to cook my one-tray Mediterranean Sausage Bake in the middle of summer? Or chow down on my hot & hearty Thai Fish Chowder? Not me.

Food Freedom for Hashimoto’s is a carefully crafted food method created by a qualified Nutritionist (moi) who gets Hashimoto’s inside out. You can say goodbye to the guesswork and focus on eating in a way that feels good, without spending your energy planning or worrying if your current approach is right for autoimmune disease and hypothyroidism. I did a lot of research and testing to ensure that the recipes featured fruit and vegetables that are seasonally available, at their peak taste and appropriate for the recipes.

If you’ve been trying to figure out how to eat in winter without feeling heavy, stuck or tired, start with these simple tips. Then, when you’re ready for a whole collection of done‑for‑you seasonal recipes designed for Hashimoto’s healthy weight management, come and join me inside Food Freedom, click here to learn more.