01 Feb Five most fattening meals to eat in winter

If you live in a colder climate, chances are you have a little bit more trouble staying trim in the winter. Experts say that most people gain at least 1-2 pounds between November and February. Ad the older people get, the harder it is to work off that extra baggage in the summer.
There are lots of factors that lead to extra weight gain, which is sometimes more like 5-10 pounds for some people, in the winter.
The most obvious is that cold weather keeps us inside more and we’re not as active. When we’re trying to warm up inside, we reach for hearty, often fattening comfort foods. And with baggier clothing, people can hide the excess chub more easily and may not even notice it themselves as much.
As is the case any time of year, portion control is second only to diet selection when it comes to staying trim.
If you are going to eat rich foods, don’t do it too often and limit your portions.
Here are five of the most fattening winter meals, so if you come across them on a dinner table, beware of the consequences!
Casseroles loaded with cheese and other extras – A casserole loaded with cheese, bacon and sour cream may warm the belly and soul, but will load up 500-600 extra calories as well.
Macaroni and cheese – A classic comfort food, a serving of Mac and Cheese can pack on 400-550 calories and 25 grams of fat.
Cream soup, bisque and chowder – You’ll warm up and also fatten up with too much creamed soup or chowder, which can consist of 300-400 calories. Some restaurant chowders actually have a whopping 900 calories.
Cake – Chocolate cake or cheesecake slices are mighty tasty, but can come with 500-1,000 calories and 70 grams of fat in a single serving.
Chili / Stew – Chili and stew can be a good, nutritious meal if you keep the meat lean and toppings sensible. However, if you load up with fatty meat or sausage, cheese, bacon, etc., it turns into a fatty artery clogger of 700 calories or more for your diet.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com