On cold days, we all feel like enjoying a hot meal that makes us feel good. Eating our favorite "comfort foods" reminds us of when we were little and grandma would spoil us by preparing our favorite dish.
We crave a cup of hot chocolate, a slice of freshly baked bread, or a bowl of delicious creamy soup to cheer us up on cold rainy days.
On those days when we stay home, we can easily enjoy some tasty food with our loved ones and still stick to our diet plan. 
There’s nothing like a hot drink
Stick to the plan. Have a nice cup of hot chocolate, but bear in mind that if you use whole milk, whipped cream, or a lot of sugar, the drink will have a high calorie count. Instead, use cocoa powder and skim milk, and the drink will have fewer calories. Also use skim milk when making coffee. Use vanilla extract, cinnamon, and sweeteners in a variety of drinks like black tea, herbal teas, yerba mate tea, or even a simple cup of black coffee. All of these drinks are fat-free, sugar-free, and low in calories.
Bread with your meal
Baking your own bread can be an enjoyable experience, especially if you get the kids involved. This can be a fun and educational activity to share with them. You can use wheat or other whole grain flours so you and your family can make a delicious whole grain loaf. Use the bread dough to prepare a pizza with low-fat cheese and lots of vegetables, or make delicious sandwiches with the freshly baked bread. You will feel happy and satisfied knowing you made it yourself.
Use those vegetables
Soups are a great way to take advantage of the nutritional virtues of vegetables. Vegetable soup, in addition to being delicious, is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
To make your soups even more appealing, use the vegetables you like. Make a lentil soup or a soup made with beans for a delicious dish filled with iron, protein and fiber. Try making a wonderful stew with vegetables and meat. Look for soup recipes that incorporate seafood and fish. A creamy vegetable soup tastes great and can be made with any vegetables you find in the fridge. Make it without butter and use skim milk to keep the calorie count low. If you add cheese to the soup, it becomes a dish that provides protein as well. To lower the fat content of your soups and stocks, freeze or refrigerate them and then remove the layer of fat that forms on top.
Get moving
Once you’ve sorted things out food-wise, exercise. Don't think for a moment that because it's raining you should skip your exercise routine. In fact, there are lots of activities you can do at home to burn calories, like dancing, playing with the kids or the dog, jumping rope, or doing some household chores. Consider vacuuming the rug, sweeping the floor, or washing the car, if you don't have an exercise bike or a treadmill.
There are many things you can do. It all depends on whether you really want to stick to your plan and give your body what it needs: healthy food and vigorous movement together with positive thoughts to keep you healthy.
*Dietitian with The MyDiet™ Team
