Winter warming foods

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.Well its that time of the year again, time to pull out our winter clothes, snuggle up and take time out and nourish ourselves.
We can nourish ourselves in many ways, such as exercise, yoga, meditation and through eating healthy wholefoods.
As it's winter and we start to feel the cold, its always great to eat warming slow cooked meals and soups, , providing warmth and easily digested nutrients.
As summer is a time to eat  raw salads and lighter meals, a totally opposite season as we become more active and outward.
Adding warming herbs and spices into your meals helps the warm the body, increases circulation and also helps with good digestion as well.
I like to use herbs such as ginger, turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, basil and coriander.
Spices like cinnamon quills, cardamon, anise, nutmeg, all spice, ginger can be added in baking and not only smell nice and taste nice , but warm your soul as well.
Making soup has to be one of my favorite foods to cook this time of year, you can add many vegetables and legumes and makes a delicious affordable meal.
There are so many beautiful root vegetables this time of year that you can add to soup and casseroles, depending if you are vegetarian or vegan you can always omit chicken e.t.c
The below image is a beautiful red lentil and vegetable soup i like to make and teach at my cooking classes, it can be served with toast of your choice, or a gluten free chickpea flat bread.
This can be eaten for lunch or a lighter dinner, full of goodness, greens, lentils, cumin, curry powder.
Using a slow cooker not only adds amazing flavour, taste, and releases nutrients it saves time at the end of a long working day.
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