Woman in Real Life

*This post is sponsored by Flora. All opinions are authentic and my own. Thank you for supporting the awesome companies that partner with Woman in Real Life.*

Compared to the quick and carefree days of summer, winter can feel long and oh-so challenging. The scarcity of sunshine, combined with bitter cold and an abundance of snow, can leave us feeling depleted and down. Plus, we inevitably spend more time indoors in close proximity to others—and their germs—so we're at higher risk for colds and flu.

Before we give way to doom and gloom though, the good news is that we can take steps to stay as healthy as possible through the dark days of winter. Play an active role in your health and navigate winter with a more positive outlook. Here are my 10 tips to help.

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables. 

This is number one on the list for a reason. We all know we need to increase our intake of fruits and veggies—especially veggies—but how often do we do it? The Canadian Cancer Society says that fruits and vegetables may help to prevent several cancers, including stomach, lung and cervical cancers. In addition, fruits and vegetables provide vitamins and minerals that are important in winter, like vitamin C and zinc.

Try to ensure that vegetables and fruit make up half your plate at meals and snacks. Buy frozen fruit and vegetable smoothie blends (with spinach or kale) to make quick, healthy smoothies. My favourite quick smoothie for kids and adults alike? Blend a frozen banana with a cup of non-dairy chocolate milk. Creamy and delicious. Try this for a week: eat an apple every morning. Cut it up and put it on top of your oatmeal or eat it as a snack on the run. The fibre in apples helps keep you feeling full, and you won't be so tempted to snack on less healthy options later. Have a salad with every evening meal. Change up the toppings - try seeds, dried cranberries, chickpeas, berries, cherry tomatoes, clementine slices. Keep a stock of frozen veggies - I like to saute frozen broccoli in a little olive oil and flavour it with garlic powder or fresh minced garlic and Bragg's liquid aminos (or tamari) for a fast, healthy side dish.

2. Switch up your salad dressing.

Store-bought salad dressings often contain unhealthy oils, sugar and preservatives. We like to dress our salads Italian-style with olive oil, vinegar and a bit of salt. It's simple and quick to do and you can experiment with different oils and vinegars to keep things exciting. Recently, I have been dressing my salads with olive oil mixed with Flora's Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Shots in ginger and lemon flavour. These wellness shots harness the benefits of apple cider vinegar in a more pleasant-tasting way than just downing ACV on its own. The ginger and lemon wellness shots are made up of an herbal preparation that uses freshly ground organic herbs, ACV, apple juice (for sweetness) and natural lemon flavour. The shots are quite tasty on their own (even my kids like them) and they lend a nice ginger flavour to salad dressing. Find the recipe for my salad dressing below. It can also be used over vegetables, like cooked carrots or warm mashed potatoes.

3. Stay hydrated.

Drinking liquids is vital to your body's systems, including your heart, brain, and muscles. "Fluids carry nutrients to your cells, flush bacteria from your bladder, and prevent constipation," according to Harvard Medical School. If you do end up with a cold this winter, regular fluid consumption can help to loosen congestion. Drink herbal tea, water, spritzers, smoothies and fresh juices. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you. Soup offers hydration and soothes you when you're suffering from a cold. Check out these 40+ vegan lentil soups and stews for inspiration.

4. Support your immune system.

About Flora