Xiaohan is the 23rd solar term, literally means "Slight Cold". It falls on Jan. 5 this year and indicates the weather starts to enter the coldest days. Following are tips recommended for each meal during this time period.

Breakfast: pumpkin congee, cornmeal congee, and millet congee

TCM believes that taking congee for breakfast helps nourish body and resist coldness in winter.

Lunch: hotpot, stir-fried dishes

You can take food materials like beef, mutton, jack bean, Chinese chives, fennel, parsley, shepherd's purse, and asparagus. Staple foods include rice and cooked wheaten food help keep a water-based internal balance of your body.

After lunch: take hawthorn fruit to help digestion

Hawthorn is a kind of nutritious fruit that contains cellulose and pepsin, which can stimulate bowel movements and promote the decomposition of protein fat to help digestion. It is said that hawthorn fruit has positive effects on the prevention of arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. 'Sugar-coated haws on a stick' is a famous snack in China.

Supper: soup, light dishes

Xiaohan signifies the beginning of the coldest period in winter. People should take a healthy diet to nourish heart, lungs, and kidneys. Foods that are black in color help regulate functions of kidneys. Such foods include black sesame seeds, black beans, black rice, and black fungus.