5 Healthy Winter Foods for Your Kids

No parent wants their child to get sick over the winter, here are 5 foods that will help keep your kids out of the doctor’s office.

Garlic

The same plant that is used to ward off vampires is believed to help do the same with the common cold. Toddler or preschoolers may not be willing to dip into a roasted garlic dip, but a few slices of garlic bread or adding extra garlic to a tomato sauce may work.  Also, add garlic to your chicken soup.  There is actual data from the NIH on the benefits of garlic and adults' response to flu symptoms and quicker recovery from the cold symptoms.

Carrots

Nutrient-dense carrots may help your little one's eyes, but in the Winter, the beta-carotene rich veggies help boost the body's white blood cell count to improve the immune system's fight against colds and viruses.  We will often make a veggie tray with some dipping sauce to get the carrots into the kids.

Yogurt

My kids love yogurt so I don’t need to sneak it in.  I usually buy the giant containers since we go through quite a few each week.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

In some parts of the country, finding fresh fruit and vegetables during the winter months is tough.  Before heading over to the frozen food aisle, take a look to see what's in season. Clementines, which are in season from November through March, are packed with vitamin C and are a good source of fiber and folate. Their compact size makes them perfect for school lunches – and they keep for up to a month in the refrigerator

Spinach

Packed with vitamins A and C, folic acid, folate and lutein, spinach may be a wonder food. This is one that we need to sneak in and it isn't always a success.  I do try to incorporate it in egg omelets and veggie lasagna, too.