Winter Wonders; Our favorite winter vegetables!

Incorporating these five vegetables into your diet plan can help you win the weight-loss or weight maintenance struggle this winter.

Brussels Sprouts: Low in calories and a great source of fiber (28 calories and 2 grams of fiber per half cup), these tender, sweet vegetables are a delicious side to serve every night—as well as a wonderful and nutritious dish to share at Thanksgiving. They deliver vitamins A, C and K.

Cauliflower: With only 29 calories per cup, is a great low-calorie side—but, it feels substantial when prepared well. Blend it into a creamy puree, add a few parsnips or roast it to draw out its nutty flavor.  This veggie’s mild flavor makes it very adaptable.

Kale: This vegetable is pretty much good health at its best: it’s a great source of beta carotene, vitamin C components that amp up the body’s detoxifying enzymes. Kale is also a great vegetable to have on hand when you’re trying to cut calories because it contributes to be über-satisfaction when it comes to hunger.  This means you can feel full on fewer calories.

Potatoes:  Scoring high on the glycemic index- They’ve gotten a bad rap, but a study out of the University of California, Davis -  suggests that eating even a potato a day doesn’t disrupt weight loss so long as one is following a healthy calorie-controlled routine. One medium potato (5.3 ounces) has a surprisingly reasonable 110 calories.

Spaghetti Squash: Everyone love spaghetti squash as this seemingly typical vegetable transforms into “noodles.” We have learned to love it, and once you realize it can save oodles of calories, you will too!. (Cooked pasta has about 200 calories per cup; spaghetti squash, 42 calories.)