Cold Weather Blues, Blahs and Bests: Bring Back the Cozy, But Don’t Get Lazy!

Disclaimer: This article is not PC regarding those who live closer to the equator than those of us in temperate (at best) climates.

Just yesterday two of my children, independently of each other, exclaimed, “It smells like snow!” While it has not yet snowed, and no sign of snow is in the immediate forecast, it sure has gotten cold with that familiar Winter bite to the early Autumn air!

One thing I love about Fall is the ability to bring back the “cozy”. You know about cold weather cozies…all the yummy comfort foods we love to make and eat, the snuggly socks and sweaters, the blankets on the couch or at the football games, the fires in the pit out back or in the family room fireplace…

Don’t get me wrong, I hate the cold weather! I have, however, learned to embrace certain aspects of these cooler and ridiculously cold seasons. I attribute this more positive outlook to being a mom and having to find a silver lining in everything for the sake of the children; this practice has certainly helped me to enjoy life more too!

So, while we realize that there are many things to love about the change of seasons from warmer to cooler, we must recognize and face the dangers of the winter season (and I’m not talking about frostbite; you’re on your own with that stuff). The cool-weather-cozies, lovely as they are, can be a pathos into ill health.

We certainly tend to become lazier during these months mainly because it’s just too cold and/or wet to go outside and play or walk or run. We may also become lazier due to mild, seasonal depression; less sunlight, less incentive to get up and go out, less energy. And then there’s that wonderful comfort food; sometimes it just sits in our bellies and whispers, “take a nap.”

At Get Kids Moving! we’ve gathered some ideas for keeping yourself, your kids, your family healthy during the cold weather months. Beat the blues and the blahs of these wonderful seasons; enjoy and make the BEST:

• Activity: find ways to build physical activity into your days
  • Join a gym.
    • There are some Family Gyms out there now that get the kids active too instead of just babysitting them and letting them watch TV and color. Check for one in your neighborhood.
    • Many community recreation centers offer community gyms for adult members at a low annual rate and offer activities for kids.
  • Keep a basket of movement toys in the house for kids and grown-ups.
    • Jump-ropes: encourage kids to do 30 jumps/day; they’ll do 50-100 guaranteed! YOU do some jumps too.
    • Ankle-rope skipper thingy…you know, that thing they spin around one ankle and hop over with the other foot
    • Mini trampoline (A.K.A. Rebounder): get one with a handle; they also make small ones for real little jumpers (OK this can’t go in a basket, but you get the idea).
    • Colored tape: mark off an indoor hopscotch or some racing lines.
    • Make a chart.
    • Chart your own progress and/or the progress of the kids
    • Chart jumps/day, minutes moving, etc
    • Add stickers and healthy rewards to make it fun
  • Silly and Fun Indoor Ideas:
    • Run up and down the stairs (make contests)
    • Dance, dance, dance
    • See who can do the craziest exercise move the best or the most (like the fire hydrant, or belly button lifts…)
  • Go outside if you can; it’s a GREAT reason to have Hot Cocoa later!
    • If it’s not too cold, bundle up and head out.
    • The sun (even if you can’t see it) will provide you with some very necessary Vitamin D in just a few minutes!
    • Take a walk.
    • Collect leaves. Rake leaves.
    • Clean up litter left by litter-bugs.
    • Walk to the library or to the store.
    • Walk like a giant through the snow or leaves (but not your neighbor’s neatly raked leaves).
    • Put on snowshoes or cross country skis (FUN)!
    • Build a snowwoman
• Food: Balance out those scrumptious stews and pies…
  • Make Meatless Meals
    • Meatless chili
    • Hardy veggie or bean soups
    • Pasta dishes
  • Make Healthier Meaty Meals
    • Turkey meatloaf
    • Chicken stews and roasts
    • Half ground beef/half ground turkey or chicken for some dishes where you really want the red meat flavor (or as you wean yourself and your family)
  • Make desserts healthier and more energizing
    • Fresh fruit with a tiny touch of whipped cream
    • Applesauce
    • Sliced apples with a drizzle of honey or caramel sauce
    • Hot Cocoa following an after dinner walk 
  • View our recipes and share yours

We would love to hear your ideas on how to make cold weather more fun and more productive for the health of the family! Send recipes too! Contact Us