Contrary to popular belief, winter can actually be a surprisingly effective time to shed pounds. The body’s basal metabolism increases during colder months, unconsciously boosting calorie consumption—meaning it’s easier to lose fat than you might think.
Regional Recipes for Winter Weight Loss
New guidelines from the National Health Commission offer personalized dietary advice for seven regions across China.
- The “Guidelines for Adult Obesity Food Nutrition (2024 Edition)” provide tailored weight loss recipes.
- Dietary recommendations consider regional staples and culinary preferences.
- Focus is placed on balancing nutrition with local tastes to promote sustainable weight loss.
What should you eat to support weight loss this winter? Experts have customized four-season weight loss recipes for people with obesity in seven regions across the country, according to the “Guidelines for Adult Obesity Food Nutrition (2024 Edition)” issued by the National Health Commission.
South China
Residents of South China typically consume rice as a staple and enjoy soups with their meals. Their diets often include fresh vegetables and aquatic products, with a preference for lighter flavors, though some areas enjoy spicy cuisine. A recommended winter diet includes low-fat milk for breakfast, rice for lunch, and a nourishing bowl of radish, peach, kernel, almond, and bone soup for dinner.
Northeastern Region
The Northeastern region’s cuisine centers around rice, noodles, livestock, poultry, and dairy (particularly in pastoral areas). Cooking methods often involve hearty stews with robust flavors and colors. A winter meal plan suggests a multi-grain pancake for breakfast, a substantial Northeastern one-pot dish for lunch, and a comforting bowl of braised noodles for dinner.
Northwest Territories
Residents of the Northwest Territories favor pasta and grains like wheat and corn, alongside beef and mutton. While rich in fruits and melons, green leafy vegetables are less common. They tend to enjoy spicy, sour, and salty flavors in winter. A recommended winter diet includes sweet potato and yam porridge for breakfast, a warming bowl of mutton soup for lunch, and shredded pork noodles for dinner.
North China
North China’s cuisine traditionally features pasta and meat, with limited vegetables and aquatic products, often resulting in heavier, saltier dishes. Increasing vegetable and aquatic product intake is recommended. A winter diet could include fried spinach with dried shrimps for breakfast, braised grass carp with tofu for lunch, and a seaweed, radish, and seaweed soup for dinner.
East China
East China’s diet commonly includes rice and abundant aquatic products from lakes and rivers, characterized by light flavors and a healthy, oriental dietary pattern. A winter meal plan suggests wontons with winter vegetables and shrimp for breakfast, Chizi Qianjin soup for lunch, and crucian carp and tofu soup for dinner.
Central China
Central China’s residents consume rice and noodles as staples, with a variety of vegetables and fruits. Their food tends to be spicy and rich in oil and salt. A winter diet could include steamed yam for breakfast, angelica, ginger, and mutton soup for lunch, and taro red rice for dinner.
Southwest Region
The Southwest region’s diet centers around rice and glutinous rice, with poultry and livestock meat. Flavors are typically strong, and residents enjoy spicy, numbing, and sour foods. A winter meal plan suggests steamed egg custard for breakfast, multigrain rice for lunch, and a bowl of vegetable soup for dinner.
