With cold and flu season on the horizon, we put together a roundup of our favorite superfoods to boost your immune system before the stuffy and sniffly times arrive.
Broccoli
First up on the list is a powerhouse of vitamin C, which is essential for keeping your immunity up. These tiny trees are also rich in vitamins A and K and pack a punch of potassium… try saying that three times fast. Broccoli heads are where all the nutrients are housed, so dice ‘em up, steam them, or serve them cold with your kiddo’s favorite dipping sauce. If your kid is picky about textures, Little Spoon’s got your back! For your toddlers, the Broccoli Bites Plate is always a hit — trust us, your little one won’t even know it’s in there.
Spinach
Another favorite for immunity boosting also belongs to the greens family—give it up for spinach. High in vitamin A, calcium and magnesium, spinach is a great source of all-around nutrition to keep your kiddos healthy and strong during cold and allergy season. You might be asking yourself, how do I get kids excited about spinach? Our enthusiasm about this green comes from its ability to shapeshift and lend itself to sweet and savory meals! The spinach meal time of our dreams would be Little Spoon’s Spinach and Cheese Ravioli Plate, followed by the Tropical Greens Smoothie.
Strawberries
Who doesn’t love biting into the biggest, ripest, juiciest strawberry on a warm, sunny day? Refreshing, am I right? While delicious on their own, strawberries are an excellent addition to any snack time because of their immunity boosting and health benefits. Strawberries are small, but mighty as they provide ample sources of vitamin C and other antioxidants to help fight even the sneeziest of colds. Not sure how to incorporate raw strawberries into your little one’s lunch box? Try Little Spoon’s Strawberry Banana Shake or Cherry Berry Chia Pudding Smoothies, or for a frozen treat that doubles as a sore throat reliever, try freezing the Strawberry Basil Gazpacho blend in a popsicle mold.
Apples
An apple a day keeps a day keeps the visit to the stuffy urgent care office away! We made sure another picky eater favorite made this list—apples. Not only are apples high in vitamin C, but they are hearty sources of vitamin B to promote healthy skin, eyes and blood. While they are a great crunchy snack by themselves, or paired with peanut butter, they can be hard to enjoy on the go. Not to worry, Little Spoon’s Golden Apple Pie and Green Dream Smoothies are the perfect solution to enjoy in a pinch.
Sweet Potatoes
We have arrived at the end of our immunity-superfood roundup, but we saved the best for last! Sweet potatoes are one of those foods that can transform itself into different shapes and textures—all delicious and nutritious. This gut-friendly source of fiber also offers great sources of vitamins A and C. Its beautiful color speaks to its impressive composition of rich minerals and antioxidants, perfect for fighting the sniffles. At Little Spoon, sweet potatoes can be found across multiple product lines to serve all ages! For your littlest, the Sweet Potato + Carrot and Sweet Potato Blueberry Flax Muffin Babyblends are excellent options.
If your kiddos have aged out of Blends, the Sweet Potato Carrot Cake and Tahini Banana Bread Smoothies will also pack snack time with just the right amount of sweet potato punch!
