No one likes to be sick, but with cold and flu season still upon us, it can be harder to avoid it. Rather than search for the best over the counter cold and flu medicine, prevent illnesses by boosting up your immune system. One of the best ways to do this is by eating healthy. Superfoods are named as such because they are densely packed with nutrients such as vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.
However, getting a high amount of these foods in your regular diet can sometimes be challenging. Whether you are tired of eating the same foods the same way, or you just have a hard time eating greens, there are certain ways you can sneak these into your regular meals.
Blend it Into a Smoothie
A smoothie is a great way to get healthy foods into your diet. Yogurt is a great base, and then you can add a wide variety of nutrient-dense fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. A smoothie is also a good place for green leafy veggies like spinach. Sprinkle with some turmeric or ginger, and you have a tasty drink that can be taken on the go.
Roast or Grill It
It can be tiring to eat veggies the same way. Mix it up by grilling or roasting vegetables such as zucchini, onions, cauliflower, garlic, broccoli, asparagus, and tomatoes. These methods give a smokey depth of flavor, and the food can be served a number of ways. Serve them as a side dish or add them to a salad for a nice textural contrast.
Stir it In
You can easily pack in veggies in stews, chilis, soups, pasta sauces, and omelets. Puree, dice, or shred the veggies to further fool anyone who is averse to the healthy ingredients. Soups packed with veggies are also great superfoods to fight colds. Not only do you get important vitamins, like vitamin C, to help boost your immune fighting power, but the broth helps keep you hydrated. The warm soup can also help soothe a sore or scratchy throat.
The next time you are stumped as to how to increase your veggie intake, use this trick. Shred carrots into spaghetti sauce, chop up veggies and mix into your omelet, puree tomatoes to add in your chili, or chop up leafy greens and add to your soup.
Dip it
Veggies can be particularly challenging to get kids to eat enough of them, but they seem to love to dip anything into a sauce. Cut up celery, carrots, bell pepper, and cucumbers and serve alongside healthy dips like salsa, guacamole, greek yogurt, or a salad dressing. You can even lightly steam the veggies if you do not like to eat them raw all the time. This is a great way to get both kids and adults to eat their veggies.
Even with the best eating habits, you may feel under the weather every once in a while. When that happens, reach for holistic remedies such as homeopathic cold meds or homeopathic antihistamine. These work with your immune system and are natural so there are no side effects.