DECEMBER

Beet & Citrus Ricotta Salad

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds beets

  • 1/4 cup olive oil, divided

  • Kosher salt & black pepper

  • 1/4 cup pistachios, chopped

  • 1 orange, cut into suprèmes or wedges, 1 tablespoon juice reserved

  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

  • 2 TBSP raspberry vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 cup fresh ricotta

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Wrap beets, 1 TBSP olive oil + salt and pepper in foil. Roast on a rimmed baking sheet until beets are tender, ~ 1 1/2 hours. Cool. When cool enough to handle, peel by rubbing skin under running water. Cut into 1 1/2–inch chunks.

  • Whisk together orange juice, vinegar, dijon and honey in a bowl. Drizzle in remaining 3 TBSP olive oil while whisking. Season with salt & pepper.

  • Toss beets with vinaigrette. Spread half of ricotta over a serving plate, place beets & orange supremes on top, dollop with remaining ricotta, sprinkle with pistachios, and serve.

How to Prepare: Beets

Welcome to Decembrrrr! If you’re craving heavier, carby dishes and feeling hungrier than usual, you’re not alone (see our nutrition deep dive). As we welcome winter, it’s time to embrace stews and braises, casseroles, pot pies, roasts, chilis, and more.

To keep these dishes nourishing—which our bodies need during the dark days of winter—focus on in-season produce rich in nutrients that help support the immune system and make for cozy, nourishing meals. Add cozy, warming spices to increase the sense of comfort AND boost the nutrient quotient.

Let’s celebrate all the cozy foods that nourish and sustain us through the cold winter.

Betalains are antioxidants and phytonutrients that give beets their vibrant color and have been studied for their potential anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. Nitrates, another component of beets, may help lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and improve athletic performance by enhancing oxygen utilization.

  • Beets can be roasted, steamed, pickled, or eaten raw.

  • Add roasted, puréed beets to hummus or tzatziki.

  • Shred raw beets and potatoes for colorful hash browns.

  • Blend beets into smoothies.

  • Spiralize raw beets into noodles, lightly sauté, and top with pesto, lemon vinaigrette, and feta cheese.

  • Make beet ketchup! Sauté onions and garlic, then simmer with roasted beets, brown sugar, and vinegar. Blend until smooth.

  • Add puréed cooked beets to chocolate cakes and brownies for a fudgy texture.

Why Do We Crave Heavy Foods in Winter?

Are you one of the many people who notices a difference in appetite come winter? Not only do we feel hungrier, but we often crave heartier, carb-heavy meals like casseroles and creamy dishes like macaroni and cheese.

It turns out that reduced sunlight and lower temperatures may contribute to physiological changes that leave us craving heavier foods—and more of them.

Cold temperatures can play a role. Shivering increases energy expenditure as our bodies work to warm up (much like exercise), but it’s not just shivering. Our bodies work to maintain an internal temperature of around 98.6°F, and when it’s cold outside, they may need to work harder (i.e., burn more calories) to maintain that temperature. This can increase energy expenditure as our bodies work to stay warm.

The darker days and lack of sunlight may also play a role. Reduced sunlight can influence our hormones and neurotransmitters, including serotonin, often called the “happy hormone.” Serotonin helps regulate mood and appetite, so changes in its levels may contribute to feeling lower in mood and experiencing increased hunger.

This combination of increased energy demands and changes in mood may have us reaching for something that can help: carbohydrate-rich foods. Carbs provide a readily available source of energy (which our bodies may crave when energy demands increase), and carbohydrate intake can influence serotonin production in the brain, potentially helping lift our mood.

Of course, this isn't a license to go crazy. Choose nourishing carbohydrates like root vegetables, winter squash, whole grains, and fruit to support your mood and energy levels. Oatmeal topped with nuts and dark chocolate should do the trick!

NUTRITION TAKE-AWAY

Our bodies work harder to stay warm in cold temperatures, while reduced sunlight can influence our hormones and mood. Together, these factors may contribute to increased hunger and cravings for heartier meals.

Carbohydrate-rich foods can help by providing a readily available source of energy and supporting serotonin production in the brain, potentially helping boost our mood.

December Aspire Promotion information

Apple Cider Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Quinoa Pilaf + Roasted Delicata Squash & Grapes

WHEN:
December 16th, 2026

WHAT IS IT:
Roasted pork tenderloin with an apple cider glaze, quinoa mushroom pilaf and maple-roasted squash and grapes.

ALLERGENS:
Milk

SENSITIVITIES:
Alcohol, Celery, Garlic,
Mushroom, Mustard,
Pork, Onion, Sulphites,
Tomato

Holiday Recipes

Our favorite gifts are gifts that make life better - this soup-in-a-jar mix does just that! It’s a heart healthy soup that makes mealtime a breeze.

Layer in a Jar:

  • 1/2 cup green lentils

  • 1/2 cup barley

  • 1/2 cup split peas

  • 1/3 cup WG Pasta

  • 1 TBSP dried minced onion

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1/2 tsp EACH of dried basil, thyme, oregano

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • 1/4 tsp pepper

  • 2 bay leaves

  • 4 tsp beef boullion

  • Give with the following Instructions:

    Dump everything in the jar into a crock pot along with 1 pound ground beef or diced chicken, 7 cups water, 1 6-oz can tomato paste, and 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes. Slow-cook on low for 6 hours.

    Best served with your favorite crusty bread.

    Makes 5-6 servings.

Other Healthy
DIY Gift Ideas:

Infused Olive Oil

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • zest of 1 small lemon OR 1½ TBSP red chile flakes

  • Heat the oil + flavor in a saucepan over low heat, 20 mins. Strain & cool. Add to a glass container,garnished with fresh lemon zest or chile flakes (optional). Keep refrigerated. Lasts 2 weeks.

Dark Chocolate Nut & Fruit Clusters

  • 3/4 cup mixed nuts

  • 1/4 cup dried fruit

  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate. chopped

  • Melt the chocolate in the microwave ~60 seconds, stir, then 45 more seconds. Stir the nuts + fruits into the chocolate. Spread onto a piece of parchment. Chill until hard, then break into clusters.