An old farming saying goes: "If Little Snow brings no snow, farmhands rest next year; if Little Snow blankets the sky with snow, next year's harvest will be bountiful." Around the Little Snow solar term, the weather is often cold, gloomy, and low in sunlight, which can trigger or worsen depression.
Warming foods like lamb, beef, and chicken are recommended during this season.Foods beneficial for kidney health include cashews, water chestnuts, Chinese yam, chestnuts, ginkgo nuts, and walnuts.
To improve mood, increase intake of the following foods:
Whole-grain bread: Researchers suggest treating bread and pastries as edible antidepressants. Consuming complex carbohydrates improves mood slowly but aligns better with health principles.The trace mineral selenium boosts mood, and whole grain foods like whole wheat bread are rich in selenium. Chicken and seafood also contain significant amounts of selenium.Bananas contain this substance, and increasing banana intake appropriately can promote a calm and cheerful mood. However, those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold should avoid them.
Spinach: Individuals with insufficient folate intake are prone to depressive symptoms like insomnia, forgetfulness, and anxiety. Spinach is rich in folate, which is also found in asparagus, kiwi fruit, oysters, oranges, peas, soybeans, and dark green vegetables.Additionally, foods rich in B vitamins—such as whole grain products, cereal grains, yeast, animal liver, and fruits—are highly beneficial for improving negative emotions and alleviating depression. During the Minor Snow solar term, fishermen along the central and southern Taiwanese coast begin drying fish and storing provisions. Schools of blackfish arrive in the Taiwan Strait around this time, along with swordfish and sandfish.A Taiwanese proverb states: "October beans, plump beyond measure," referring to the "bean fish" caught in the Budai area of Chiayi County during the tenth lunar month. The "Shalun Mini Watermelon" from Guiren Township in Tainan County thrives in winter, boasting fragrant flesh and sweetness—a premium winter fruit in southern Taiwan.