Winter is just around the corner, and there’s nothing like the onset of a cold to get you thinking about eating better to fight off flus. A diet of immune-boosting superfoods will work wonders to keep those sneezes at bay. And luckily, there are an array of fresh fruits and vegetables packed with good-for-you nutrients that’ll keep you and your family on track this winter. Here are a few that are currently in season, so they’ll be friendly to your body as well as your wallet.
- Sweet potato, pumpkin and winter squash. These wintery superfoods really do pack a punch when it comes to boosting your immunity. Why? They are full of vitamin C (which you might usually associate with citrus fruits like oranges (also in season now!) and beta-carotene, an antioxidant that keeps the immune system healthy and strong. These ingredients will work well together in a superfood soup that’s good for both you and bub, or cubed, roasted and tossed through a warm salad with spinach – another cold-fighting immunity booster, so double whammy! – pine nuts and feta for the big kids.
- Broccoli This is one of the healthiest immune-boosting vegetables you can put on the dinner table for you and the family. It boasts a range of health properties, including vitamins A, C and E, as well as a host of antioxidants and minerals that work together to protect your body’s cells. It will fight any lurking cold or flu, and go to town on any looming germ or infection. For the most effective results, cook this greenie as little as possible when steaming or, if you’re really serious about getting on with it, not at all. Your little one won’t like this, though, so you can puree the broccoli until smooth and add to mashed potato, if you like.
- Berries Thanks to local growers across the country (including the warmer northern regions), blueberries and strawberries are in season in winter – yay! Berries are a wonder fruit when it comes to fighting the common cold. Blueberries are high in potent antioxidants, while strawberries have more vitamin C than an orange! For you, team a small handful of each with a few scoops of organic yoghurt – ensure to get a brand that contains the strain lactobacillus, which works to attack invading bacteria in the body – to see you through a flu-free winter. For your baby, puree and add to her morning rice or oatmeal cereal for a real immunity boost.