It’s that time of the year again. The kitchen counter is strewn with half-full tins of cookies, the fridge is packed with delicious leftovers, and just a few rooms away we are frantically searching our closets for something to wear on New Year’s Eve (and hoping it’s going to zip over our slightly distended bellies).
Even on years when I’ve been relatively “good” at the holidays—skipping seconds, making sure to exercise, and limiting my cookie intake—it’s a fact of life that food is richer and more plentiful in December than any other month of the year. We simply eat more. And no matter how much will power I apply, the week between Christmas and New Year’s always feels like a battle of the bulge. Somehow, our culture does a full 180 shift from warm, cozy, and sweater-clad on Christmas to sleek, slinky, and sexy on New Year’s Eve. How is that supposed to work?
Don’t get excited, because I have no idea.
But I find that it’s always about time to resume my legumes. Switching straight to salads after weeks of rich, warm food is downright depressing, and so I look to beans and lentils to fill out my meals. These little guys are low in fat, high in potassium and iron and loaded with fiber. They’re a great substitute for meat—which I’ve usually had enough of by now—and are incredibly versatile.
I make hearty bean soups, warm lentil salads, bean and vegetable tacos, and my absolute favorite—Tony’s spicy lentil soup. I used to turn up my nose at legumes, particularly lentils, but nothing fills my (slightly enlarged) stomach this time of year and keeps me full longer.
Trying to skip warm, savory dishes and confine myself to crudités and seltzer water has me sneaking into the kitchen and snagging a cookie in no time. But making healthy, filling, and comforting meals gets the buttons closed on my jeans faster than I expect, every time.
Happy (almost) New Year!
I couldn’t agree with you more! I am facing the same problems and am looking forward to January where everyone seems to get back to normal healthy eating!
Never thought about that but it makes total sense 🙂 thank you for the ideas!!!
Loved your post- so true about the shift between Christmas and New Years! I just made your mother’s recipe for white bean soup with rosemary and basil from her Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight book for all the reasons you mentioned. I am looking forward to lunch again today…
You hit the nail on the head! Transitions are so tough this time of year, but with recipes like this one I think they’ll go a little smoother for all of us. 🙂
Wonderful ideas. There are so many possibilities with legumes, all delicious!
Nisrine
I am confused with the directions for the peanut brittle. It appears you microwave 4 minutes and then stir, but how much longer do you cook it, 7-8 minutes, or was that instruction for a lower wattage microwave?
Yes, Barbara, you cook it for a total of 7 to 8 minutes, stirring after 4 minutes. If you have a lower-wattage microwave, it will probably take a couple of minutes longer.