Winter is dragging on in the northeast, the skies are often grey and the temperature can vary 20° from one day to the next. The cold I’ve avoided all winter is beginning to exert its muscle, and my throat really hurts tonight. Ugh.

To the rescue with pretty, vibrant, healthy food. Quinoa sesame noodles (original post and recipe here), with a little extra vitamin C and B12 via bright orange bell pepper, zucchini, juice of two key limes, nutritional yeast (a recurring theme lately) and more snow peas and cucumber than usual. The tangerines looked great at the market tonight, so they were an easy pick for a snack while cooking — and perfect for six lunch boxes tomorrow.

noodles close-up

After dinner, Whistling Kettle’s Functional Flu Fighter tea with honey.

tea time

Organic Ingredients:

• Elderberry: boosts immune system, fights viral infections, reduces congestion
• Rosemary: boosts immune system, fights infections, antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic
• Spearmint: fights infections, calms the stomach, aids in digestion, great for colds and flu
• Rose hips: high in vitamin C, E, and B plus many minerals
• Mullein leaf: fights infections, expectorant, antibacterial, relieves allergies, soothes coughs, promotes general respiratory health
• Echinacea root: general immune stimulant, antiviral, reduces mucous congestion
• Lemongrass: antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial, relaxing and digestive aide
• Orange peel: antibacterial, digestive aide, reduces dry coughs, antioxidant
• Astragalus: strengthens the body, adrenal tonic, stimulates the immune system
• Cinnamon: natural antibiotic affect, antibacterial, decongestant, calms the stomach, fights viral infections
• Ginger: warms the body, promotes sweating, calms upset stomach, fights infections, reduces coughs

steeping beauty

And to top it all off, sleep. Resist the temptation to do all the things that can be done tomorrow. I’m going to follow (most of) the words of wellness warrior, Kris Carr:

Lack of sleep has devastating effects on health and beauty. Once your final meal is digested, your body diverts its energy toward cleaning and repair—and this happens when you catch some z’s, ideally for eight uninterrupted hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. So, make sure you finish eating three hours before you hit the hay (your body needs that precious time and energy to get through a long list of inner chores so it can repair and rejuvenate your insides during the night) and make sleep a priority. If your good sleep intentions go straight out the bedroom window when life gets crazy busy, take a nap.

Sweet dreams.