Do those of you in a climate with winter (it's a blizzard outside my window right now) find it harder to diet?

I'm outside all day and I find I'm just plain starving at about 2 p.m. (eat lunch at 11:30 due to schedule) if I'm slogging thru the snow with my parka and boots on.

I can't eat anything other than a sandwich and cut up fruit for lunch (5 minutes in car is all I get) so I'm thinking about investing in some of those protein bars or something else I can gobble quickly.

Anyone have a favorite?

Thanks,
Dagmar

Oooh - me, me! I do, I do! As the weather changed this year, all I wanted to do was hibernate - stuff myself first with lots of 'comfort foods' and then hibernate! I am not far from you, and yes - isn't today just delightful? hahaha

I have found that upping my protein (mostly by ensuring I am getting lean protein at every meal) has helped - that and giving myself a swift about exercising. I also turn to a cup of tea in the afternoon, and tell myself: 'If I am STILL hungry after this, I'll eat...' but I rarely am - the warmth and just sitting for 20 minutes enjoying it seems to help - fingers crossed that it stays helpful!

Sorry - can't advise on protein bars, but it certainly sounds sensible for your lunch situation! Good luck!

Heather

It's snowing here, and I was traipsing all through the city and the subways to run errands. I just made myself a yummy recipe as a snack that's pretty healthy:
Heat 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth and a few cloves of minced garlic. Once the garlic is popping, add 2 cups of chopped greens (I used Trader Joe's Southern Greens blend, which is collard greens, mustard greens, and kale - but pretty much any dark leafy green works). Cover it and cook for about 10 minutes, adding another 1/4 cup chicken broth as the original broth cooks off. After 10 minutes, add 1/2 cup chickpeas, and cook another minute or two until the chickpeas are heated through. Very easy and healthy, and it definitely fulfills a craving for something wintery!

That sounds like it might be yummy in a thermos for my car. I can usually grab a quick cup of something hot while driving from group 4 - 5. Have been having tea but that doesn't begin to fill me up.

Thanks!
Dagmar

I also love soup in the winter I make a pot every week usually lots of vegetables with chickpeas or beans very little if any noodles or rice... I think we're hungrier in the winter because our ancestors (cavemen) were trying to fatten to insulate for the winter... this is what I've heard/read anyways not sure if it's true or not... And winter is here with a full vengeance ...

Just to clarify: the recipe I posted is definitely not soup. It's actually meant to be cooked with olive oil, but I prefer to use the chicken broth to lower the fat/calorie content a bit. However, the chicken broth evaporates as you cook it, so even though you're using 1/2 cup, it doesn't come out with almost any liquid.

While I try to eat more protein this time of the year the truth is that I prefer carbs--comfort food as Heather said. And if you can add cheese to it, it's even better. This is definitely my downfall. I do try to keep everything low cal and low fat, but there are those days when it just doesn't happen as planned. I have a couple turkey carcasses in the freezer and I hope to make a huge batch of soup this weekend. I also am in need of a soup and bean recipe to use up my leftover ham. I'll have to look for one today.