At the beginning of winter, the temperature begins to cool, and nature gradually enters the state of winter. In the traditional health calendar culture, every time the solar terms alternate, some seasonal ingredients will be selected to supplement. In the beginning of winter, there is a saying that "the four treasures of the beginning of winter: fish, tofu, shrimp, and carrots". In line with this tradition, having a stomach upset at the beginning of winter also helps us get through the cold winter.
The first thing to mention is the fish
The beginning of winter coincides with the reproductive season of carp, and the meat quality of the fish is also the most delicious. The cold weather causes the water temperature of rivers and lakes to drop, and the fish gradually enter the reproductive season. In order to nest and spawn, all types of fish consume large amounts of plankton and algae in the water column to provide energy and disease resistance. At the same time, the fish will refine the fat, and the fat in the body will gradually decrease, and the carp eaten at this time will be more thin and tender. At the beginning of winter, a carp is blanched and steamed or braised to make it tender and juicy, and the bones will be easier to eat than usual.
Fish meat is rich in protein, fat, calcium and other rich nutrients, and eating carp often is conducive to strengthening muscles and bones and enhancing physical fitness. The beginning of winter is a critical period to emphasize the adjustment of yin and yang qi, and women with the most delicate bones should pay more attention to the supplement of ingredients such as carp during this season.
Menu recommendations: steamed carp, braised carp, carp soup, etc.
The beginning of winter is the best time to eat tofu
For thousands of years, tofu has been known as a common delicacy, and it has good meat and vegetable matching attributes. In the beginning of winter, the climate gradually turns colder, and the tofu made from fresh soybeans helps the body to better adapt to climate change and improve immunity.
Tofu is rich in high-quality protein, less fat, and more nutritious. The northern region is more Xi to eating hard tofu, and soft tofu is also quite popular in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In the beginning of winter, you may wish to try a variety of tofu with different tastes and different production techniques, such as loofah tofu, purslane tofu, salted tofu, etc., which are cooked and eaten together with seasonal vegetables, which are both light and refreshing and nutritious.
Menu recommendations: home-cooked tofu, roasted white, cold tofu shreds, loofah tofu, etc.
Shrimp is also one of the best nourishing ingredients in the beginning of winter
In autumn and winter, fresh river shrimp are the fattest. After the shrimp is cleaned, add a little green onion and ginger, a little cooking oil, and stir-fry over low heat, and the deliciousness of the shrimp will burst out after a few strokes of the spatula. Shrimp can also be made into stuffed dumplings, and steamed with dough to fully release the protein and other nutrients in the shrimp meat.
The protein in shrimp meat can be directly absorbed and utilized by the human body, and the nutritional value is extremely high. The beginning of winter coincides with the spawning and plumping period of shrimp, and it is definitely an indispensable ingredient.
Menu recommendations: stir-fried shrimp, shrimp dumplings, etc.
Carrots and Lidong also have a fate
The beginning of winter coincides with the fattest time for carrots, and there are a lot of crisp and juicy carrots on the market waiting for us to taste.
Carrots are rich in carotene, a nutrient that can be converted into vitamin A in the body, which plays a good role in supplementing eyesight and protecting eyes. In addition, carrots also contain minerals and trace elements such as vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. These nutrients help to strengthen the body's immunity, and can also strengthen the body's constitution by strengthening the respiratory system and adapting to cold weather.
In the beginning of winter, you may wish to eat more boiled carrots, carrot stew, etc., and eat fresh carrots to accumulate energy for the next season's physical condition.
Menu recommendations: boiled carrots, braised carrots, beef stew with carrots, etc.
Chinese folk are rich in health culture and wisdom. Every year at the beginning of winter, residents across China will deliberately eat these four ingredients, with the purpose of strengthening their physical fitness through food supplementation and better coping with the coming winter.
The beginning of winter is in early winter, and every plant and tree in nature has gradually entered the preparation period for hibernation, the metabolism slows down, and nutrients are refluxed and confined for preservation. And the human body, as a part of nature, is also affected by this law. In the beginning of winter, we should conform to this law, appropriately reduce outdoor activities, and appropriately reduce the amount of food, so that the metabolism in the body tends to be stable. As long as you pay attention to this law and eat the four treasures of Lidong on time, the human body will be able to survive the early winter safely, paving the way for the body to recuperate for a period of time after the Yuanyang Festival.