After being assured that an infected ear was not the cause of his daughter’s fever, our conversation turned. His girls weren’t eating their serving of fruit at breakfast, usually a kiwi or a small apple. “Summer is over. Perhaps the fruit isn’t so good. Do they need a supplement until fruit comes back in season?” he asked.
“Maybe,” I replied, “but consider this. Most fruits have a cooling effect on the body. With winter coming on, their inner wisdom may be telling them to eat more warming foods.” Here’s how I advised him.
Certain fruits have a warming effect on the body; however even cooling foods can be made warming with cooking and spices. Examples of warming fruits are pomegranates, apricots, raspberries, oranges, peaches and dried fruits. Warming spices that tend to go well with fruit include anise, cinnamon cardamom, clove, coriander, fennel, ginger, and nutmeg.
Warm Fruit with Ghee
Melt 1 teaspoon of ghee in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add 2/3 cup of fresh or frozen fruit, stirring until coated. Cook until the fruit is soft and warm, about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in a pinch of powdered ginger and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and serve. A serving is the size of the eater’s fist. This recipe will serve one adult or two small children. Apples, peaches and pears are especially good prepared this way.
Warm Fruit “Pudding”
Place 2/3 cup of fresh or frozen fruit and ¼ cup of apple, orange or other fruit juice in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Add a ¼ - ½ teaspoons of your favorite warming spices, reduce heat and simmer for 5 - 6 minutes. Meanwhile, mix 2 TBSP kudzu root starch with ¼ cup water. After the fruit has simmered, add the kudzu water to the sauce pan and stir. The juice will thicken to a pudding like consistency. Use 1 TBSP kudzu root starch in 2 TBSP water for a sauce like consistency. Serves one adult or two small children. Kudzu root starch soothes the stomach and intestines. Find it in the macrobiotic section of your health food store.
Oatmeal becomes my morning staple as temperatures drop. The rolled oats are evenly absorbed, keeping my energy and mood steady until lunch-time. Gomasio, a condiment made from sesame seeds and salt, is a good calcium source. The dried fruit naturally sweetens the oatmeal, eliminating honey or sugar. The nuts lend crunch and a sense of fullness. This is exactly how I make it, on the stove top, as fast as or faster than using a microwave.
Winter Oatmeal
Place 1 cup water in a small sauce pan. As the water is coming to a boil, add ½ cup rolled oats, 1 TBSP gomasio, a handful of dried cherries, a handful of coconut shreds, a handful of raisins, and handful of raw walnuts, almonds or 1 TBSP of raw almond butter. By now the water should be boiling. Stir, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for five minutes. I like it topped with soymilk. Serves one adult.
This article appeared originally in the January 2006 issue of the Kansas City Wellness Magazine, www.kcwellnessmagazine.com.
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