This is the winter of all winters and I have recently read that many, many people are suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency. Until I was an adult, I had never heard of Vitamin D and unless it came in a Flintstones vitamin, I never gave any vitamins much thought.
As I look outside it’s sunny. That’s where we can get our best dose of Vitamin D, from the sun. The problem is that the temperature is a balmy 7 degrees and the wind is howling like a freight train. I will not be going out there today.
I must admit this winter has kept me inside a large majority of the time. I used to tan in the winter in a tanning bed to keep away the winter blues but the doggone threat of skin cancer took that venue away! Other than building a glass house or sitting by the window like a cat I was not sure how to boost my immune system with more Vitamin D. I need the sun!
I love the sun and fresh air but I am a big baby when it comes to the cold. Maybe it’s from a childhood of cold fingers and frosty toes. Snowmobile boots lined with bread sacks to keep my feet dry but not exactly warm.
They say there is no bad weather just bad clothing, dress for it and you can go out any time. This clearly came from a person in Florida. I have to say when the air hurts your lungs and your eyelids freeze open, we are having bad weather my friend. I opened the door to let the dogs out when my hair was damp and almost broke off a ponytail. No kidding, it was that cold!
Then it hit me! Vitamin D-rink! There must be a way to drink in the sun! Thanks to my husband I have a Vitamix Blender that purees everything into a cream but you can make these vitamin rich smoothies with just about any blender if you hold the button long enough and add the ingredients slowly.
As a 2019 goal I wanted to get more fruits and vegetables into my diet. Smoothies are a great way to do that. A Full Day Smoothie has five fruits and four vegetables. I am not much for soymilk so I use yogurt instead.
There you have it…. make a Vitamin D rich smoothie, put it in a pretty glass and drink in the sun! See you when it warms up!
“Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely
winter, Little darling, it feels like years since
it’s been here, Here comes the sun,
Here comes the sun, and I say, It’s all right”
~ The Beatles
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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