Now that your favorite restaurant has closed their doors and you have to fend for yourselves in the kitchen during this crazy time, it is time you 'apron up' and get to whipping up some tasty meals for the whole family. Why not boost your immune system while you're at it? This can feel like a mega stressful time, as we all wade into uncharted waters of being quarantined into our homes and not being allowed to go out to our normal restaurants, but I am here to help! If you would like to skip ahead to the whole Immune Boosting Family Meal Plan you can access it here. Want to know what foods I recommend adding into your life in copious amounts and develop your own menu? Read on my fellow 'quarantiners' ...
Adding in lots of immune boosting foods is a great way to naturally support your body, and since you are going to have to eat, you might as well make it something that is good for your body during this time. While some of these items are commonly known to help your immune system do its job, there are others that might come as a surprise! Below is my top 8 favorites I love to add into my meals on a weekly basis, and given our current circumstances, I will be making sure my kitchen is stocked with as many as possible!
My Favorite Immune Boosting Foods
Citrus fruits including clementines, grapefruit, oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines are all packed with vitamin C. Most retailers are sold out of vitamin C supplements, so getting your daily dose from food is going to be important!
Red Bell Peppers pack more vitamin C bite for bite than oranges, and are so versatile! You can saute them for fajitas, or use them with hummus for an afternoon snack!
Broccoli not only contains vitamin C, but also vitamins A and E, fat-soluble vitamins important to your health! Pro-tip: cook these babies as quick and as little as possible and then top with grass-fed butter to help your absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins!
Garlic, Ginger & Turmeric will not only make your meals come alive with flavor, but are commonly used as anti-inflammatory agents and help ward off infections. These can be added to soups, sauces, and marinades to help avoid bland meals!
Spinach is another versatile food staple in our home as we add it to smoothies, lightly saute with mushrooms for breakfast, or toss in a bowl with some berries and chicken for a nice afternoon salad. Give your spinach a little squeeze of lemon to bring out its nutrients, or hide it in your kids smoothies! There are so many options!
Kiwi Fruit is not only packed with tons of nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate but it seems to give me hope for summer. There is something about a delicious kiwi that helps me imagine the light at the end of the tunnel and brings a little bit of sunshine to my life! I love to blend these up with some unsweetened yogurt and collagen powder to enjoy alongside my breakfast.
Find a way to add these items to your weekly lineup of meals might feel like a chore, and I want to make boosting your immune system easier than ever for you. I have come up with a free, family friendly, 3-day meal plan that includes taco Tuesday skillets, yummy breakfast crisps, and dinners like creamy coconut chicken curry to fill you up and keep you satisfied! You can access the meal plan here and breathe a sigh of relief, not only will you have your family's meals planned out, have a handy shopping guide, but you will be helping support their immune systems as well!
Stay healthy my friends. We will get through this.
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