At Spirit of Health, we believe in eating with the seasons. Fall and winter are seasons of more nourishing, building, and strengthening foods. Especially if you went hard after cleansing in the summer months, it's time for a break. Of course, this doesn't mean indulging in sweets, junk food and going crazy over the holidays. To stay healthy, we must stay balanced and in control. Here are five tips to keep your body healthy through the fall/winter season.

1. Keep it simple.

Simple means some fruit, lots of vegetables (maybe more root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and beets), nuts, seeds and lean meats. This is a good base-line to stay healthy through the winter.

2. Don't get back into breads, baked good, sweets, "healthy sugars," dairy, pasta, crackers, etc.

Although you may eat some healthy alternatives, keep that at a minimal. Choose wisely for the holidays and make a plan to make one or two exceptions, but don't go crazy. The last thing you want is to work hard during the summer, only to sabotage yourself in the winter. When January rolls around, we feel sick, heavy, lethargic, and have to think to ourselves, "Was that really worth it?" For many, food is such a powerful driving force that we are willing to get sick and unhealthy for temporary satisfaction. Maybe this year could be different...

3. Make the crock pot your best friend.

You wake up in the morning, toss a chicken in the crock pot with some carrots, onions, brussels sprouts, garlic and a few potatoes. You have dinner. It's warm and wholesome. You can then take the bones from the chicken, return it to the crock pot, cover with water and add 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar. Now you have broth to make soup or just sip.

4. Get proteins & eat small amounts of fats this winter.

This keeps blood sugars stable and keeps the weight off. It also keeps us from falling back into sweet indulgences that are hard to stop. It's really hard to stop a moving train, right? I would encourage the new Bone Broth Protein powders by Ancient Nutrition. They have 20+ grams of protein and can make for a quick meal. Eat fats with every meal such as olives, avocado or a few nuts and seeds.

5. Eat more cooked foods than raw foods.

Cold is constricting and hard on digestion. The body has to warm up just to try and digest cold food. In Chinese medicine, they have always encouraged nourishing, warm, cooked foods. It is much easier on the system. Many people eat raw foods and it passes right through them causing diarrhea. Instead, stick to soups, bone broths, steamed veggies, and stir-fry meals. You will feel more warm and nourished.