As an old Chinese saying goes: "Feed your stomach with nourishing food during the coldest time, and you will be free from any disease the next year."（三九补一冬，来年无病痛）In extremely cold weather, different hot dishes are prepared to give people warmth and nutrition.

Eat Laba congee

An important folk custom of Minor Cold is to eat "Laba congee". According to ancient records, the congee is cooked with yellow rice, white rice, glutinous rice, millet, peeled dates, as well as various kinds of nuts, cereals and dried fruits. These foods are all sweet and warm in nature, and have the effect of regulating the spleen and stomach, nourishing the blood, driving away the cold, strengthening the body and quenching thirst.

Eat Chinese Cabbage Heart

In Beijing and Tianjin regions, there is a custom of eating cabbage heart during the Minor Cold. The cabbage heart is a Tianjin specialty, which is made from cabbage buds. After the Winter Solstice, the cabbage is cut off the stems and leaves, leaving only the heart about two inches from the ground. Cover it with manure and fertilizer and take it out after half a month. People usually cook them with tofu and pork, and the cuisine tastes watery and fresh.

Eat Glutinous Rice

In Guangdong province, it is a traditional custom to eat glutinous rice in the morning during the Minor and Major Cold to drive away the cold. It is believed that glutinous rice has a higher sugar content than rice, which makes the whole body feel warm and helps to drive away the cold. According to Chinese medical theory, glutinous rice has the effect of nourishing the body and benefiting the qi, so it is most suitable to eat glutinous rice in cold days.