5 Immunity Boosting Recipes For Kids To Fight Against Omicron

If you have a fussy eater at home, then mealtimes can turn into a nightmare. It’s important to feed children nutritious food that boosts their immune system and builds immunity.

Making their immune system strong is especially important now more than ever during the COVID-19 variant Omicron outbreak, which is affecting kids as well.

What does the immune system do?

The immune system plays a vital role in the body. It is made up of various cells, proteins, and protects the body from harmful viruses, germs, bacteria, and pathogens that can cause illnesses in children.

Why is immunity-boosting food important?

Helps boost the production of T-cells which fight viruses. Immunity-boosting foods are whole foods like nuts, vegetables, and fruits.

The body efficiently absorbs more nutrients when they come from whole food sources rather than processed food. Immunity-boosting food can help to reduce the risk of different diseases.

We understand feeding a child who is a fussy eater can be an ordeal. What if we told you that you can turn this nightmare into a dream? Here are some lip-smacking, winter-friendly recipes that your child will not be able to resist. 

1. Dry Fruits & Nuts Powder Recipe

Dry fruits and nut powder is a good way to secretly add it to kids’ food

The dry fruits and nuts powder is a healthy, must-have ingredient in your kitchen. Nuts and dried fruits such as almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, figs, raisins, dates contain healthy fats, vitamins, vitamin C and minerals.

Some kids don’t like eating whole dry fruits. This is a good way to secretly add it to the food they like!

Ingredients:

• 100 gms mixed nuts like almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, raisins, etc.
• 1 heaped teaspoon dried fruit powder
• A pinch of turmeric powder

Method:

• Roast the nuts without oil
• Powder the roasted nuts
• Mix the powdered roasted nuts powder with a pink of turmeric and dry fruit powder

You can add dried fruits and nuts powder to anything from milkshakes to parathas or as ice cream toppings.

2. Mixed Citrus Fruit Juice Recipe

Vitamin C found in citrus fruits like orange helps keep cold and cough away

Citrus fruits are great immunity boosters for kids, especially during the winter months. They are a great source of vitamin C, which helps keep cold and cough away.

Oranges are the fruit of the season so make the most of them.

Ingredients:

• Orange juice
• Pineapple juice
• Amla juice
• Grapefruit juice

Method:

• Mix all the juices together
• Add a tablespoon of lemon juice
• Chill the mixture
• Server the cool drink with a homemade burger or pizza
• This one is a sure-shot hit with kids. 

3. Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Sweet potato fries are healthy and yummy

This is a healthier option than potato fries and also a great source of potassium, vitamin A and C. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber.

Sweet potatoes make healthy winter foods.

Ingredients:

• Sweet Potato
• Chaat Masala
• Black salt

Method:

• Boil the sweet potatoes
• Peel them and slice them into the shape of fries
• Bake them for approximately 5-10 minutes
• Sprinkle them with chaat masala and black salt as per taste
• Serve hot with ketchup 

4. Jaggery & Puffed Rice Balls Recipe

Jaggery helps fight indigestion and infections like cough and cold

Jaggery defends the body against infections like cold and cough and also helps indigestion.

This recipe made with jaggery is a childhood winter favorite and it’s one of the easiest and most delicious recipes.

Ingredients:

• Jaggery
• Puffed rice

Method:

• Use either jaggery powder or grated jaggery
• Dry roast the rice puffs to make them crispy
• Add the melted jaggery to the rice puffs
• Apply some ghee or butter to the palms
• Roll the jaggery and puffed rice mixture into the desired size balls.
• Store it in an airtight container and treat your kids to a homemade natural dessert.

5. Apple Crumble With Cinnamon Recipe

Cinnamon has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties

Spices like cinnamon are more of an additive to enhance the flavor of food. But desserts made of some of the winter-friendly spices are hard to resist!

Cinnamon has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties is a great immunity-boosting spice.

Ingredients:

• 2 large apples
• ½ cup oats
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar (preferably brown sugar)
• 1 tablespoon jaggery
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• Juice of one lemon

Method:

• Peel the apples and thinly slice them
• Add the lemon juice
• Add cinnamon powder
• Mix it well with the sliced apples
• Leave it for around 15-20 minutes
• In another bowl mix the oats, sugar, jaggery, and butter
• Mix till the mixture becomes a crumble
• Take a small baking pan
• Layer it with some of the oat mixture
• Add the apple mixture on top
• Put another layer of the leftover oat mixture on top of the apple mixture
• Place the baking pan inside a preheated oven
• Bake it at 190 degrees centigrade for around 30 minutes
• Once the crumble browns, your apple crumble is ready to be served.
• Serve it hot!

Try these tried and tested recipes that include ingredients that are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and other nutrients, They are not only nutritious but delicious too for your fussy eater!

Write to us and let us know which recipe your child enjoyed the most.

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