We just discussed ways to boost kid’s immune systems, and one of those ways is through a healthy diet. Kids eating habits are fickle and can be even more so when they are feeling under the weather. Thankfully some foods pack a great deal of nutrients in small amounts; perfect for little ones. Here are 6 immune boosting kid friendly foods:
1. Berries: blue berries, black berries, or strawberries provide a concentrated amount of the much needed vitamin C during winter months. Vitamin C helps increase the production of infection fighting white blood cells. In addition, berries contain bushels of tissue protecting antioxidants.
Try: mixing frozen berries with your choice of milk or yogurt into a smoothie
2. Almonds: almonds provide an excellent source of vitamin E; a nutrient not as popular as vitamin C but equally important to the immune system. Vitamin E also enhances the production of a variety of immune cells that help the body seek and destroy cold producing bugs.
Try: Swapping peanut butter for almond butter instead
3. Carrots: the bright orange color of carrots indicates the wealth of beta carotene, another super nutrient for increasing your body’s army against invaders. Beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, is only one member of the large family of
carotenoids, which is why the body best uses beta carotene from food sources because natures’ immune fighting combination is already there.
Try: Baby carrots sticks dipped in salad dressing for a snack
5. Pumpkin seeds: the highest vegetarian source of zinc, pumpkin seeds pack a lot of nutrients into such a small food. Zinc also helps the body fight infections as well as reducing the duration of a cold. It is best to get from food, especially for kids, and if you do eat meat try lean turkey or steak in addition to fortified cereals.
Try: adding pumpkin seeds to homemade trail mix or hot breakfast cereals like oatmeal
