Winter Weather Eating Habits: a 2018 Grocery Guide

Cold temperatures in the winter leave many of us in a food rut. When the frigid air and snow hits, it makes any trip away from home a full-blown -- and dreaded -- expedition (especially a venture through the tundra to spend our money and slush carts around at the local grocery store). I personally enjoy perusing the aisles for new items; however, getting there during this time of year is quite the chore. With a goal of minimizing our trips outside in the winter months, it's important to have a few tricks up your sleeve when it comes to navigating the world of food. Save yourself time, and hopefully money, by following these tips:

Plan, Plan, Plan Ahead

Planning ahead sounds obvious and something that would be beneficial at any time of year; however, it's highly recommended when you're trying to make smart and budget-friendly decisions. Make a list of each ingredient needed for meals to feed your family for one to two weeks. This will ensure that you don't have to make an extra trip out because you forgot that pesky onion.

Use this as a time to relax on the couch with a hot cup of coffee and a warm scented candle before you brave the tundra. This process will not only benefit your wallet, but your time later in the week when it comes to figuring out what to make for meals. You'll also avoid over-purchasing staple items and cluttering the cabinet (i.e. purchasing two jars of peanut butter, only to find that we already have three -- been there, done that). Another thing that greatly helps with meal prep is to get the entire family involved. Before they bundle up in their winter wear, have your children help plan some meals and contribute to the grocery list. Not only does this help bring the family together, but it may help eliminate the chorus of disgust when the kids eat these meals later on.

[See: Best Foods to Eat for Your Mood -- and a Few Bad Ones.]

Don't Be Afraid of Shelf Stable Foods

Food that comes in cans or packages has a bad reputation for being less nutritious than its fresher counterparts. And while some of these foods do contain excess salt, sugar and preservatives, that's not true for all. Plus, any vegetable is better than no vegetable at all. Non-perishable foods are winter staples that keep you from making as many trips to the store, while still incorporating healthy foods into daily meals. Even better, they're economically friendly during the months of most fruits and vegetables being out of season. It may be a larger cost up front, but if you stock up on the following foods, you can incorporate them into dishes all winter long.

-- Beans (either canned or dry)

-- Lentils

-- Tuna (packed in water)

-- Canned veggies

-- Canned pumpkin

-- Canned tomatoes

-- Fruit packaged in water or 100 percent juice

-- Chicken or vegetable broth

Befriend the Freezer

Sadly, in most areas, the local farmers markets aren't around this time of year. The good news is frozen foods can be just as healthy as fresh foods! Most frozen vegetables are flash frozen soon after harvest, containing vital nutrients. If you do purchase anything fresh, consider freezing part of it for later use. This will help avoid food waste and stretch your budget (and your time inside by the cozy fire) further.

[See: High-Protein Breakfast Ideas.]

Buy Seasonal and Be Reasonable

Fruits and veggies in season are nearly always cheaper than those out of season. Check out this guide to see what may make your grocery list over the next few months. And remember: It's important to be reasonable about your purchases. It's a new year and a great time to try new things -- so don't shy away from sales. Your favorite brand name item may cost more than its off-brand counterpart, but that doesn't mean it's poorer quality.

Be Creative

When the outside temperatures are frigid and there's no way you're heading outside for food, most of us instantly think of ordering out. I get it -- food delivery is convenient and easy. But what if that wasn't the only option? Use the winter months to get creative in the kitchen. Take a good look at all the food in your pantry -- many foods that you likely don't even know are in there. I guarantee there are a few items that have been hiding behind the usual go-to's. And remember that chicken you froze last month? Make this into a family game to see who can come up with the most creative idea for a meal with items you already have in the house, and then execute it together.

Meal delivery services?

Nowadays, there are meal delivery services advertised on nearly all media outlets. They can be extremely beneficial in getting families into the kitchen together. With everything proportioned out, it makes it fairly easy for even the most rookie cook to get involved. But be wary of the actual ingredients and the portion sizes. Many meal delivery services may say they feed two to four people, but in reality, the appropriate portions from a nutrition standpoint would be more like four to six. And unless specifically designed for children (and some are), remember that these are adult portions and adult calories, so you'll want to make adjustments.

[See: Unusual Uses for Greek Yogurt.]

Kitchen makeover

Don't wait until it's time for spring cleaning to refresh and renew your kitchen. Huddle inside with the family and work on reviving your space.

-- Check your spices. Yes, spices do expire. Clean out your cabinet to de-clutter and make room for some possible new spices to complement the creative winter meals you're going to come up with.

-- Make room for new foods. There are bound to be some old items in your pantry that can be used up or donated.

-- Organize the fridge for easier access. Make use of your fridge space to encourage consumption of healthier items. Consider adding plastic storage items to designate areas for fresh fruits, cut-up vegetables and other items that may usually get pushed to the back of the refrigerator.

Jennifer Willoughby, RD, CSP, LD is a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Children's, board-certified in pediatric nutrition. Jennifer attended the Ohio State University for her undergraduate degree and then completed her dietetic internship at Cleveland Clinic, prior to becoming a member of the pediatric nutrition support team. Her primary position is in a sub-specialty outpatient clinic where she sees patients in the departments of endocrinology, general pediatrics and adolescent medicine, complex care clinic, general surgery and allergy. She is an educator for the Cleveland Clinic FitYouth program, a 12-week pediatric weight management program. In addition, Jennifer is actively involved in community programs, and her expertise has been featured in a variety of media outlets.