Beat Cabin Fever With Food
When cabin fever hits and the walls start closing in, food has the remarkable power to shift one’s mood and mindset. Whether it’s the lip-smacking first sip of a bright citrus beverage or how certain aromas can unlock memories of warmer, brighter days, pair these bites and beverages with family activities and see how food connections can turn even the grayest winter days around.
Mix things up on Meatless Monday! Baja Fish Tacos With Mango Salsa from the National Mango Board features cod fillets flavored with a delicious dry mix of seasonings and garnished with a tasty tropical salsa. Watch the video to see how quickly this meal comes together. Cod is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Put the taste of summer in your salad with Taste of Home’s Honey-Melon Salad with Basil. Serve this sweet and savory dish for a simple dessert or as a side dish to blackened chicken or fish for contrasting yet complementary flavors. Another bright dessert to end any meal is this terrifically tropical Key Lime Pie from Once Upon a Chef: the graham cracker crust, creamy lime filling, and whipped cream topping equal bliss in every bite.
Get a good arm workout by making a tangy-sweet lemonade with a twist. Taste of Home’s Orange Lemonade is made with fresh oranges and lemons and provides many vitamins and flavonoids, which are a good boost for winter health.
Fresh-pressed juices offer a vibrant solution to winter’s gray days, delivering bursts of nutrients and color that can instantly lift your spirits. Get inspired to create liquid sunshine with these Easy Juicing Recipes for Beginners {Cold Press Juice} from The Girl on Bloor.
Casseroles are pure comfort food that will bring everyone to the table and are easy to prep. Serving a casserole can be a delicious start to a fun family night of board games or watching a movie together after dinner.
One casserole that kids truly love is tater tot casserole. There’s something about seeing rows of golden tater tots that gets them excited to eat. Our Tater Tot Casserole is a perfect meal for a family dinner.
Taste of Home’s Enchilada Casserole is perfect for a Mexican food night and requires only six ingredients. This recipe will become a favorite; you can mix and match ingredients to make it your own. Instead of hamburger meat, try using leftover pulled pork or shredded chicken.
Serve up a bit of nostalgia with delicious Tuna Noodle Casserole. This classic 1950s tuna noodle casserole was created by Campbell’s and is still popular today.
Another way to beat cabin fever is by planning virtual dinner parties with long-distance family and friends. Utilize FaceTime, Google Meet, or Zoom. Decide on a shared meal or recipe for everyone to cook, set a date and time, send out invites, and enjoy your meal together while catching up and sharing stories. If you don’t have time for a virtual dinner, why not enjoy a virtual happy hour with a long-distance best friend and learn how to make a new, cool cocktail together? There are many fun ways to connect with your loved ones via computers and smartphones.
