Images by Holly Li
Honestly, sometimes we wish we could hibernate. Staying awake through the winter means having to deal with streets of gray snow-sludge, sub-zero temperatures and… don’t get us started on the smog – we’re coughing just thinking about it.
So major props to everybody who gets out and exercises despite all this. Seriously, we’re in awe. But let’s be real: most of us stay inside during Beijing’s most brutal months. So how can fair-weather fitness fans emerge from shelter this spring in as good shape as when we entered it? A healthy diet is the best place to start, so we talked to the wellness experts at TRIBE for some seasonal eating tips.
“We know the cold weather is perfect for staying indoors and vegetating, but we'd rather you eat some organic vegetables – and meat if you like – then hit the gym like us!” says TRIBE’s Timothy Chia, who adds that it’s extra important to stay healthy amid the deluge of end-of-year parties. “Those gatherings are always filled with an overabundance of tasty, but unhealthy food, and it's easy to go overboard on the food and drink and forget to work out.” (Guilty.)
But there’s more to staying healthy than just abstaining from Christmas cookies. There’s science too: During Beijing’s heavy winter smog, less exposure to the sun can lead to a drop in your serotonin levels. That drop, according to Timothy, “can cause depression and food cravings.” So to protect ourselves from the negative effects of smog (in addition to strapping on a mask) we need to make the right food choices.
L-R: TRIBE'S 'Let's Go Wild Grilled Salmon' and 'Bigger 1/2 Marinated Roasted Mexican Chicken Adobo'
“Aside from loading up on Vitamin D, you can also boost serotonin with whole grains and healthy, high-quality carbs like sweet potatoes and pumpkins,” Timothy explains.
He’s just looking out for us, bless him. And in order to keep the good people of Beijing healthy and happy, he and the team at TRIBE have created their own natural serotonin boost: a menu designed to keep you in top form throughout the winter. To achieve this, they combined their nutrition knowledge with the (literal) cooking chops of Shanghai-based chef Edgardo Tanael, who brings years of international experience to his creations.
Tanael’s ‘Let's Go Wild Grilled Salmon,’ for instance (above left), has enough Vitamin D from oily salmon to keep you – in Timothy’s words – running “like a well-oiled machine.” Meanwhile, the ‘Bigger 1/2 Marinated Roasted Mexican Chicken Adobo’ (above right) packs some serious muscle-building proteins (for all that time you’ll be spending in the gym, right?). And back by popular demand, we also see the return of some old TRIBE favorites already proven to boost serotonin and Vitamin C, such as the ‘Proud to be Pumpkin & Watercress Sushi’ (below) and the ‘My Love for Mushroom & Beets’ grain bowl.
Pumpkin, salmon, mushrooms and veggies – how’s that for an appetizing antidepressant? Maybe we won’t hibernate after all.
Try healthy organic dishes at TRIBE, see Listings for details
'Proud to be Pumpkin & Watercress Sushi'
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