Milwaukee Foot & Ankle - November 2017

PICKING THE PERFECT PAIR OF SNOW BOOTS FOR YOUR FEET

When the snow starts to fall and the temperatures drop below freezing, nothing can keep your feet nice and toasty better than a pair of well-made winter boots. But it can be hard to find the perfect pair, especially if you already have podiatric problems. Before you drop a hundred bucks on something that may harm your feet, here are a couple questions you should ask yourself.

with the assumption that you’ll be wearing thick wool socks.

Speaking of which, you’ll want to bring along a pair of sturdy winter socks when you go to try on boots. If you wear flimsy cotton socks, your feet are likely to end up soaked even if you have the most waterproof boots. Instead, stick to wool, Isowool, shearling, fleece, or other similar materials.

Pick a pair that looks right on the shelf and start out with your normal shoe size. With the aforementioned winter socks on your feet, stand and walk around the store to check how well the boot fits. Do keep in mind, though, that most winter boots often need some time to break in before they feel snug and cozy. While searching the store, it’s important to keep your unique feet in mind. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis or have another issue with your foot’s arch, you’ll definitely want to find a pair with removable insoles. That way, you can put your orthotics inside. Never buy a pair of boots that irritates your foot no matter how warm they are; that’s just asking for trouble.

How Warm Should They Be? Whether you’re walking around town or trudging through the snow — or both — you don’t want soggy, sweaty feet. Most quality winter boot manufacturers will rate each pair for a specific temperature range, from under -40 degrees Celsius to just below freezing. In the Milwaukee area, you probably won’t need boots for weather less than -10 degrees Celsius, which is 14 degrees Fahrenheit. How Do I Find the Right Size? Sizing for snow boots varies far more than with ordinary shoes. Some manufacturers, but not all, will size up

MEMES

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced • 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock • 1 cup coconut milk • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, roughly chopped • 1 onion, chopped • 2 stalks celery, sliced • 2 medium carrots, chopped

DIRECTIONS

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Puree everything until smooth, using a blender or an immersion blender. Add the coconut milk, give everything a good stir, and cook for another 30 minutes.

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Place all the ingredients except for the coconut milk in a slow cooker. Season everything to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours.

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Adjust the seasoning and serve warm.

Recipe courtesy of PaeloLeap.com.

414-257-0676

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