The Winter Solstice is a special solar term in the year, and it is also a solar term with obvious seasonal changes. There are many customs and particularities in this solar term, especially in terms of diet. In some places, glutinous rice balls are eaten during the winter solstice, which symbolizes reunion and longevity, mostly in the south. The origin and meaning of eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice 1. It means reunion

Eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice actually means that they are round. Because glutinous rice balls are a very representative food in China, they are round in shape and are generally eaten during the Lantern Festival, which means reunion. In fact, eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice is also a symbol of reunion, and they are usually sweet. Therefore, during the Winter Solstice Festival, eating a bowl of soft glutinous rice balls means family reunion, happiness and sweetness. 2. Adding years to the year

Eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice also meant adding years to the year in ancient times. Because in ancient times, the Winter Solstice Festival was a very important solar term, with the meaning of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new. There were various ancestor worship activities during the Winter Solstice. When worshiping ancestors, glutinous rice balls are essential, so a bowl of glutinous rice balls must be offered to ancestors first. After the commemoration ceremony, the glutinous rice balls should not be thrown away, but should be distributed to family members, especially the younger generation, which is also called "birthday". Therefore, glutinous rice balls have become one of the must-eat foods during the Winter Solstice. 3. Nourishes the body

Glutinous rice is a warm food. If you eat a lot, it will get dry easily inside. But it is very good to eat in winter. Moreover, the nutritional value of glutinous rice is very high, so it is a nutritious food in winter. The main raw material for making glutinous rice balls is glutinous rice, so glutinous rice balls are naturally delicious and nutritious. Moreover, it is said that eating glutinous rice balls in winter can drive away the cold and make you no longer afraid of the cold. Therefore, eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice has become a winter solstice food for everyone. After eating, it is easy to feel full and not afraid of cold.

Therefore, the origin and meaning of eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice still has a long history. Although living conditions are now better and there are more and more delicious foods, the custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice still continues. In fact, this traditional custom not only has its historical origins, but also has certain reasons, so we should follow this dietary custom more and pass it on. Where is the custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the winter solstice

In the south.

There is a popular rumor from southern Fujian, so eating glutinous rice balls every winter solstice has become a custom in the south. The poor eat small round glutinous rice balls made of pure glutinous rice, while the rich can wrap sugar and peanut powder into larger "round glutinous rice balls". The adults do it seriously, while the children make various birds and animals on the side, commonly known as "Chicken Mama Paparazzi". Because of the alternation of yin and yang during the winter solstice, many people believe that eating will make you grow up quickly. This is where the saying "eating will give you an extra year" comes from. The Southern Song Dynasty writer Lu You even mentioned in his work, "If you eat all the winter solstice rice, you will be one year older." This tradition has lasted for a long time, and the red and white round appearance has also been interpreted as "reunion" and "completeness", which coincides with the Chinese people's love for good omens and has become an unshakable ancient custom in Chinese culture. What should you pay attention to when eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice

1. Don’t eat too many glutinous rice balls at one time

The glutinous rice balls taste sweet and sticky, and the filling is sweet. I couldn't help but want to eat more. But I want to remind you that although glutinous rice balls are good, you can't eat too much at one time. Tangyuan is a food that is high in sugar and calories, especially when the outer shell is made of glutinous rice flour. Fillings usually contain a lot of sugar and high calories, which can easily make you feel full. If you accidentally eat too much, the calories and sugar can easily exceed the limit, and bloating and indigestion may occur. Therefore, it is recommended not to eat more than 5 glutinous rice balls per meal.

2. Don’t eat glutinous rice balls in the morning and evening

Tangyuan is a high-calorie, high-sugar food with few nutrients. In addition, people's gastrointestinal function is relatively weak in the morning, and the glutinous rice skin of glutinous rice balls is not easy to digest, which may cause heartburn, pantothenic acid, etc., affecting a whole day's study and work. It is not recommended to eat glutinous rice balls when snacking at night, because snacks are close to sleep time. It may be that the glutinous rice balls go to bed before they are fully digested, which may also cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

3. Don’t eat it too hot

When eating glutinous rice balls, be careful not to eat glutinous rice balls that have just come out of the pot, and don’t eat too much. The glutinous rice balls are filled with fillings and are very hot inside. Be careful not to burn the mucous membranes of your mouth and esophagus; swallowing it directly while your mouth is hot is more harmful. Those who have this habit should change it.

4. Drink more soup when eating glutinous rice balls.

Because glutinous rice balls are made of glutinous rice, it is easy to fatigue. At this time, drinking more soup and cooking glutinous rice balls can help promote digestion. Secondly, many trace elements and nutrients in glutinous rice balls will be dissolved in the soup during the cooking process, so don’t forget to drink more soup when eating glutinous rice balls.

5. Diabetic patients should be careful when eating glutinous rice balls

The first taste of glutinous rice balls is "sweet". In order to pursue the taste, a large amount of sugar is often added to the fillings of glutinous rice balls. This is something diabetics need to pay attention to. It is recommended that diabetic patients try to choose low-sugar or sugar-free glutinous rice balls when buying glutinous rice balls, and do not add too much sugar during the cooking process.