HAVE you just got back from work ready to prep dinner and immediately thought, 'Wow, I'm cold?'
Well you're not the only one. With the temperature dropping suddenly, most of us are spending our evening shivering under a blanket avoiding putting the heating on.
You can try all the tricks in the book; wrap yourself up in a blanket, put your fluffiest socks on and tuck a hot water bottle up your jumper.
But have you thought about food to keep you toasty?
Nutritionist Gabi Zaromskyte has revealed that what you put into your body can do more than just fill you up. in fact, there are some foods that are scientifically proven to heat you up from the inside.
Zaromskyte, founder of Honestly Nutrition, says that with a little creativity and some basic culinary know-how, you can stay warm and snug this winter while keeping your heating off.
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Spicy food
You'll often find most recipe calls for at least one of the following; chili pepper, ginger or garlic.
While they add great flavour to pretty much any dish Gabi reveals they can also keep you warm.
"These spices can add a little kick to your metabolism and increase body heat."
Spicy foods such as peppers can stimulate blood circulation throughout the body as well as increasing your body temperature – perfect for colder nights.
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8Root vegetables
If you love nothing more than a roast dinner during the winter than we have good news for you.
The trimmings such as carrots, parsnips, turnips and even sweet potato can all keep you feeling warm.
These carb-filled vegetables require more energy to digest causing your body to heat up.
"They're not only delicious but also help regulate body temperature due to their electrolyte and mineral content," said the nutritionist.
Dark chocolate
Finally we have an excuse to drink copious amounts of hot chocolate when we come home from a long, hard day at work.
Chocolate-lovers can rejoice knowing that drinking a mug in the evening is proven to warm you up.
Gabi said: "The theobromine that dark chocolate contains can dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow, helping you feel warmer."
Marshmallows and whipped cream are optional but will help lift your spirits.
Spices
There's a reason we cover all of our baked goods with cinnamon – especially in the winter.
Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg are proven to increase blood flow and body temperature – so you can use that as your excise to have another chai cookie or mulled wine.
"They not only add warmth and cosiness to your meals, but also enriches flavours and aromas, which make food much more enjoyable," said the food expert.
How to add them into your diet
Porridge
What says winter more than a warm bowl of porridge on a chilly morning?
You can add spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg to your porridge for a heart-warming start to your day.
For an extra sweet treat you can even add a sprinkle of dark chocolate on top.
For a simple recipe, mix 40 grams porridge oats with 250ml of milk in a saucepan and cook on a low heat.
Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder or dark chocolate with 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a handful of dried cranberries.
Once thickened, place your porridge in a bowl and add sugar or honey to taste.
Stews
Make the most out of your favourite pot during the winter by making delicious stews with root vegetables.
Gabi adds that these one-pot wonders will keep the kitchen warm and require less clean up.
For a warming stew try a beef and Guinness stew by browning 1kg of chopped stewing beef in a casserole pan.
Set the meat aside and add 1 chopped onion, 10 cut carrots to the dish and brown.
Add 2 tablespoons of flour to the pan and mix in the beef in before adding one can of stout and 1 beef stock cube.
Season with salt, pepper, a little sugar, three bay leaves and a thyme sprig and let it simmer.
Pop the lid on and place the dish in the oven at 160C for two and a half hours or until the meat is tender.
Soups
A homemade soup is not only comforting and warming but gives you a chance to use up any left over vegetables.
"Opt for hearty options like chicken noodle, butternut squash, or chili to keep the chill at bay," adds the nutritionist.
A homely butternut squash soup will do just the trick, start by preheating your oven to 200C and peeling the skin off a squash and deseeding.
Cut the squash into large cubes and drizzle with oil before roasting for 30 minutes, turning once during cooking.
while it roasts, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan with 2 two diced onions, 1 sliced garlic glove and 1 1/2 chilli peppers for twenty minutes until the onions are soft.
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Pour the butternut squash into the pan once roasted along with 850ml of warm vegetable stock and 4 tablespoons of crème fraîche and blend until there are no lumps.
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