As the seasons change, habits and body weight can also change as a result of eating more calories in winter. Every year we say we will not gain weight, but as winter arrives we find ourselves nesting in soft blankets with hot chocolate, cinnamon and sahlab, an Egyptian drink. However, winter in Egypt is a bit like summer in some other countries, with temperatures that range between 15 and 30 C depending on whether you are on the Mediterranean coast or in Upper Egypt. Yes, there is some rain, some dust and some cool air, but Egypt's winters are still relatively warm, and most people can easily handle the cold. “At the back of our minds, it is winter, so we act as if it was snowing even if it is not. Our clothes suit freezing weather and so do our exaggerated eating habits,” said Omneya Ibrahim, a psychologist. Ibrahim is interested in how the seasons can change our appetite and our overall well-being. “Some people get depressed in winter, naming it ‘seasonal depression,' so imagine depression from overeating as well,” she added. Depression comes when you are obese, she said, and obesity comes when you are depressed. About 43 per cent of adults worldwide with depression are obese, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) in the US. Most adults who are diagnosed with depression are more likely to be overweight than those who are not. Malak Mahmoud, who was struggling with obesity for three years, said that “when my father died, I was very depressed, and this is why I resorted to food as a kind of stress release.” Mahmoud has since been struggling to shed the 50 pounds she gained as a result of her grief over her father's death. “No matter how much I tried to lose weight, I struggled with depression and I was trapped in a vicious circle for many years,” she said. “Winter made me add extra pounds every time I lost some in summer,” she added. Though it was not her first solution, Mahmoud later underwent gastric bypass surgery to help her lose weight. This also helped her overcome her depression and start her life over again. Mahmoud is one of a few young people who have sought weight loss surgery if exercise cannot be a solution. Ayman Mansour, 35, the father of three children, was also 153 pounds when he decided to lose weight to get down to 80 pounds. “Many people say that winter hinders their exercising outdoors. But this is untrue,” Mansour said. “I lost more than 50 pounds one winter while running with the Alex Runners. I still love running in the winter, and I truly enjoy it,” Mansour added. According to the World Obesity Federation, Egypt has some of the highest child obesity rates in the world, as it ranks seventh on the world index with 32 per cent of children being obese. Similarly, a staggering 70 per cent of the adult population in Egypt is obese. Though it is not only Egyptians that tend to overeat in winter, it has become a general trend for people to eat more in winter than at other times of the year. According to studies, people should prepare themselves when winter is coming, as the days are shorter, and they might have to stay indoors for much of the time. Instead of heading to the Corniche for a run, it could be an idea to go to the gym instead. And instead of heading to restaurants and fast food places, people should eat healthy home-made food. Salwa Attallah, a business owner in the food industry, says that there are many healthy Egyptian recipes that can keep one warm and prevent one from getting hungry. The best and healthiest is lentil soup, she says, made from vegetables and lentils mixed together. This keeps your stomach full for hours, and the garlic and spices used make it taste delicious. Stuffed courgettes also provide the correct amount of carbohydrates, and at the same time they meet the daily vegetable intake. Sahlab, an Egyptian drink, comes at the top of the drinks list for winter before hot chocolate and cinnamon. According to many health centres, sahlab is the healthiest of all winter drinks, and it can be taken as a dessert full of high-quality protein, omega three fatty acids and sweetness from dates and honey. Some people can't keep themselves from eating in winter, with the season for some being accompanied by bad eating habits. “I think we gain more pounds because we lack heating indoors. Our homes are all equipped with air conditioners for summer, but few people have indoor heating for winter,” said Sameh Abdel-Aziz, a nutritionist, who stresses the importance of keeping warm. “Keep yourself energised, but do not put on layers and layers of clothes. Wear one layer to prevent yourself from getting cold,” he said. He cannot stress the importance of walnuts and hot drinks like cinnamon and sahlab in winter enough either. “We have special foods in winter in Egypt that can make you feel full and satisfied if done right, like koshary, sweet potatoes, grilled corn, stuffed vegetables and so on,” he said. Abdel-Aziz also advises parents to stay away from fast food for their children. Don't give your children chocolate, crisps and biscuits, he tells all mothers. “Highly sugary food makes us feel better, but we all feel worse later on,” he concluded. 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Here are some healthy recipes for the winter season, as recommended by businesswoman Salwa Attallah. 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Stuffed courgettes Ingredients: 1/2 cup of olive oil One heaped cup of rice Medium onions, grated or finely chopped tomatoes Grated or blended all spice (one teaspoon) One teaspoon of black pepper, 1/4 cup of fresh mint chopped finely, or one tablespoon of mint flakes 1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped finely One teaspoon of sugar and two teaspoons of salt Method: Wash the courgettes and scoop out the flesh. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl and stuff the courgettes with the mixture. Place the courgettes in a tray and pour two cups of water or so over them to cover them half way. Cover and cook on a low to medium heat for approximately 50 minutes to an hour or until the rice is cooked. Serve warm or cold, preferably with yoghurt on the side 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Egyptian koshary Ingredients: Two tablespoons of olive oil One cup of medium-grain rice One cup of brown lentils Two cups of small macaroni Two cups of vegetable stock One garlic clove, quartered One teaspoon of cumin One bay leaf Salt to taste For the sauce: Two tablespoons of olive oil One small onion, diced finely Two cloves of garlic, finely minced One 15 ounce can of unseasoned tomato sauce (cooked/pureed tomatoes) Two teaspoons of baharat spice ¼ teaspoon red chillie flakes (omit if you dislike spices) One tablespoon of red wine vinegar Salt & pepper to taste Crispy onion garnish: Two large onions, finely sliced Oil for deep-frying Method: Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the rice and fry for two minutes, then add the vegetable stock. Bring it to a boil, decrease the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Rinse the lentils under cold water and add them to another medium saucepan with two cups of water. Add the garlic, cumin and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Once cooked, add the salt and stir to combine. Strain any excess liquid if necessary. Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Prepare the rice, macaroni and lentils while the sauce is simmering and leave them covered in the pots to keep warm. To make the sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over a medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent for about five minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until golden brown. Add the tomato sauce, baharat, salt and pepper to taste, the chile flakes (if using), and the vinegar. Bring it to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. To make the crispy onions, heat the oil in a skillet. Add the onions and fry until dark brown. Using a slotted spoon, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain and cool. Add the rice, lentils and macaroni to a large bowl and toss to combine (or simply scoop out the desired amounts of each onto plates). Sprinkle a little baharat over each portion and serve topped with some of the spicy tomato sauce. Top with the crispy onions and another sprinkle of baharat. Serve warm. 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Sweet potatoes Ingredients: One kg sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes Four tablespoons of butter, softened 1/2 cup of milk, preferably whole 1/2 cup of brown sugar Two large eggs 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract One teaspoon of salt For the topping: 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour Four tablespoons of melted butter 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts 1/4 cup of brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon of salt Method: Preheat the oven and grease a medium dish with cooking oil. Place the sweet potatoes in a large dish and cover with water. Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender, or for about 15 minutes. Drain, and let cool slightly, and then transfer to a large bowl. Add the butter to the sweet potatoes and use a potato masher, or two forks, to mash. Add the milk, brown sugar, eggs, nutmeg, salt and vanilla and stir until smooth. Transfer to a prepared casserole dish. In a medium bowl, add the topping ingredients and mix until combined. Sprinkle the topping mixture over the sweet potatoes and bake until warmed through and golden on top for about 25 minutes. Serve warm.
