A Citrusy Oatmeal to Chase Away the Winter Blues

What does “feel-good food” mean? It depends on who you ask. That’s why each month our Feel-Good Food Plan—with delicious recipes and a few wild cards—is hosted by someone new. This month writer and editor Karen Yuan writes about combatting the darkest days of winter with a good breakfast, how she unwinds without bedrotting, and more.

As winter drags on with its frigid weather and afternoon sunsets, I tend to start feeling that capital-letters SADness—Seasonal Affective Disorder. My energy and mood drop low. I’m plopped on the couch more and seeing people less often. I become a pajamaed creature of darkness that emerges only to ransack the fridge and online shop.

Millions of Americans get Seasonal Affective Disorder during the winter, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. As a common affliction, it has lots of purported treatments. Over the years, I’ve tried almost everything in pursuit of that sunny notion of mental wellbeing: antidepressants, SAD lamps, yoga, long walks, vitamin D supplements, CBD snacks, meditation, you name it. They’ve helped in varying degrees in lifting a Grinchy mood when it sets in. But one thing that always helps me feel better, no matter how cliché, is a comforting meal.

Good food doesn’t replace other remedies, of course. But there’s something reliably gladdening about sitting down with a warm bowl that promises to nourish. Lately, I’ve been embracing seasonal, colorful fruits like citrus and pomegranate. That boost of sour-sweetness always perks me up, especially in the mornings when it’s still dark out. And that vitamin C doesn’t hurt to bolster against whatever cold might come my way.

February’s Feel Good Recipes

This is the month when winter feels unending, so I’m leaning into recipes that are cheery and bright, just like the warm weather and sun that’s around the corner. Yes, I hear it’s on its way! In the meantime, these energizing dishes will fuel your body and boost your mood. Keep you upright and uplifted, if you will. No bedrotting here.

A super citrusy oatmeal

This breakfast is my personal remedy to the winter blues. I use steel-cut oats for a hearty, chewy base infused with orange zest, freshly squeezed orange juice, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Then I top it all with slices of orange and pomegranate seeds. I like to drizzle on a ginger syrup for an extra zing; you can use maple syrup or honey too. I love this in the morning, but go ahead and make it for lunch or dinner or any time you’re in a funk.

The ultimate antidote to the winter blues.

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Warming fried rice to soothe your stomach

I’ve learned it’s hard to feel bad while eating fried rice, and this ginger fried rice is sunshine in a skillet (or wok). The fresh ginger, which always wakes up my palate, can also help ease stomach issues. As the recipe creator Hetty Lui McKinnon writes, “Consider this recipe as a pick-me-up when feeling poorly.” I love it for those days when my digestion is off, I’m battling a mild hangover, or I’m just craving a quick and easy meal. McKinnon advises sizzling those ginger bits just briefly to keep their zing front and center. Another pro tip: Use leftover rice for a perfectly crispy texture.

You don’t need a lot of ingredients—just a lot of ginger—for this quick comfort food.

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A citrusy dessert with a cheerful look

My oatmeal puts citrus in my breakfast routine, and these crostatas put citrus in my desserts. (You know scurvy hates to see me coming.) These tarts from San Francisco restaurant Che Fico transform wintry fruits into a comforting treat: The semolina frangipane creates a light, airy base that cradles juicy rounds of grapefruit and orange. As the crostatas bake, the semolina absorbs the fruit’s juices, and the whole thing ends up delicately sweet. It’s a lovely dish to brighten a dinner party or house hang. And those pink and gold slices give its face a cheery expression too.

Grapefruit-Orange Crostatas

While these mixed citrus tarts bake, the semolina flour in the frangipane absorbs the juices and turns into a slightly puffed, airy layer surrounded by flaky pastry.

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A spicy tea to combat a cold

This recipe’s the most potent of the bunch—think of it as a culinary IV for those sluggish mornings, mid-afternoon slumps, and stubborn colds. It’s a spicy tea full of fresh ginger, fiery chiles, and honey, lemon, and turmeric, and it wallops me wide awake whether I’m ready for it or not. Not for the faint of heart but absolutely for the clogged of sinus. Drink it when you need burst of brightness to cut through the dreariest of winter days.

No Nose Is Too Stuffed For This Spicy Ginger Tea

If you aren’t tearing up, it’s not spicy enough.

More Feel-Good Finds for the Month

My favorite at-home yoga routine

I got really into Yoga With Adriene during the pandemic, and I still find Adriene Mishler’s videos to be the most effective at-home yoga routines out there. They’re short, free, and easy on the limbs, with frequent delightful cameos by Benji the blue heeler, an internet celebrity in his own right. When I’m loathe to leave the apartment and face the elements for an in-person class, but still want to get a bit of movement in, I turn to any one of Mishler’s videos to wake up my body. They’re a great way to ease into a morning or wind down a night.