Many kids are prone to the cold and flu during the winter season. At such times, moms may curb the outdoor activities of their kids. As temperatures drop, moms often make their kids wear warm jackets or insists that their kids sleep in cosy blankets so that they do not fall ill. It is a struggle that every mother makes during the winter season.
However, such steps are simply not enough to build your child’s immunity in winter. You can start some healthy habits at home that could well serve as an immunity booster for kids and reduce their number of sick days.
Moms can begin by taking special care of their kid’s diet to ensure that the calorie content of their food is well-balanced with lots of fruits and vegetables. It may help in synchronising the metabolism of their kids. You can make your little ones consume nutritious winter foods; it can be beneficial as it would keep them disease-free and healthy.
There are immunity issues that moms often face for their kids during the chilly cold season. Kids are found to be vulnerable to illnesses as they suffer from frequent cold, sore throat, chest congestions or the flu. At such times, moms can take some smart steps to boost their children’s resistance from various infections and sicknesses.
Here are some easy ways to enhance your kids’ immune system to protect them from the biting cold:
Maintain Hygiene at Home to Lessen Germ-Spread
Moms can initiate some healthy habits at home to avoid the spread of the cold or flu. They can begin by making their kids wash their hands often with soap after playing outside, before and after each meal, handling pets, or after arriving home from daycare.
Moms can pay particular attention to hygiene habits by helping kids to get into the handwashing routine at home. They can start by encouraging their kids to own colourful hand towels and soaps with funny shapes. They can also carry throwaway wipes for cleaning out mess. By keeping your surroundings clean, you can help prevent viruses from spreading and strengthen your kids’ inner health.
Get Your Kids Vaccinated
Parents can ensure that their kids are vaccinated on time. Make a regular visit to your paediatrician or to a local doctor for check-ups. It would help to protect them from several ailments.
Further, the vaccinations can guard them against various germs, infections and illnesses such as pneumonia and protect them from the flu.
Eat Lots of Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with essential nutrients. Most of them contain carotenoids which are immunity-boosting phytonutrients.
They help to increase the production of white blood cells in the body that helps to fight infections and obstruct viruses. Vegetables too, have lots of anti-oxidants that help to decrease free radicals.
Moms can encourage their child to have at least five servings of fruits and veggies per day. Carrots, Beans, and strawberries are some of the healthy foods that your child can consume daily.
Broccoli, spinach, ginger have a lot of anti-oxidants and are good nutritious winter foods. In fruits, apples are a superfood for kids as they contain healthy doses of vitamin C. Oranges, guava and pears also has large amounts of anti-oxidants and vitamin C.
Zinc Helps to Fight off Winter Bugs
Zinc is a powerful anti-oxidant commonly found in foods like seafood, wholegrains and pumpkin seeds. This mineral helps white blood cells to produce antibodies that are capable of resisting winter bugs.
You can make your kids consume legumes, chickpeas, beans, seeds or nuts. They are rich sources of zinc. They are easily available in markets and found in most homes.
Millet Pancakes
Millets like sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet, corn are healthy meals for winters. Moms can prepare chapatis or pancakes from these millet flours and help their kids to eat during breakfast or lunch times.
They can be served with curd, ghee and jaggery or with dal or some leafy vegetables.
Intake of Vitamin C
You can make your kids consume amla, oranges, kiwi or kino: These are rich supplements of Vitamin C. They are extremely healthy and nutritious.
Moms can serve these fruits as raw or prepare as a candy for kids. They are crucial for preventing common flu and winter diseases in children.
Variety of Nuts
All kids love nuts. They keep you warm and energetic during winters. By including nuts in the diet, the metabolism of kids improves.
Moms can give out a variety of nuts to their kids. They can have cashews, almonds, peanuts, pistachios or walnuts to stay healthy for the entire season. Nuts serve as perfect snacks throughout the day and can be consumed daily.
Increase Vitamin D to Boost Health
Kids can be given foods that contain the vitamin D. Eggs, butter, fish or fish oil and sprouted seeds help to increase the vitamin. Flax seeds are another rich source of this vitamin and also the best snacks for kids.
Moms can take their kids to play in the morning for 10 to 15 minutes. Exposure to sunlight helps to produce vitamin D and is beneficial for health.
Healthy Eggs Fulfil Protein Requirements
Eggs are powerhouses of protein and vitamins and constitute a healthy diet in winters for kids. Eggs have all the essential anti-oxidants and minerals like zinc that help to recover from infectious ailments.
There are several recipes that moms can provide to their kids. Vegetable bread omelette, scrambled egg, poached eggs or fried vegetable eggs are hugely popular with all children.
Soups and Pulses
Kids can be kept warm in winters by providing them with healthy soups. They help to maintain their digestive system.
Moms can prepare vegetable soups at home with tomatoes, beetroot, carrots, spinach, mushrooms, beans, broccoli or simple chicken soups. Kids can also be given pulses that has healthy doses of protein. They provide energy to their immune system to fight off bacterial and viral infections.
Add Jaggery in Foods to Boost Your Child’s Immunity in Winter
The health benefits of jaggery are tremendous and more so for the kids. It is healthier than sugar and keeps kids’ body warm during the cold season.
Jaggery has an exotic taste and can be added to every sweet dish. It acts as a tonic for the cough, cold or lung infection.
Moms can combine ginger or fennel seeds with jaggery as it adds to the health benefits. You can also prepare jaggery laddoos, payasam, or simply knead jaggery and chapatti and give it to your kids
Massage Your Toddlers’ Feet with Oil
During winter, moms can massage their toddler’s feet with warm sesame or mustard oil. Rubbing oil on the feet decreases the risk of the cold and flu in kids.
It also helps to improve the skin conditions and keep the body warm. Foot massage helps to regulate body temperature and can have soothing effect on your toddler.
Having Milk with Turmeric Boosts Immunity
During winters, moms can swap the regular chocolate milk with turmeric and cinnamon powder. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic and can be given to your toddler above one year. Moms can boil a cup of milk with one teaspoon of turmeric in it and give it to their little one once a day. It will ensure that your child does not fall sick regularly. Drinking turmeric milk helps to build strong immunity and allow them to have a good sleep.
You can also give a tablespoon of chyawanprash with milk to boost your kids’ health. Chyawanprash is prepared with different kinds of herbs and roots and immunizes your kid from all sorts of common diseases.
By taking simple precautions, moms can help to build their child’s immunity in winter. Healthy diet combined with enough sleep can boost your child’s immunity in winter, withstand the chilly cold season and resist illnesses. You can enjoy the winter with your little one without having to worry about the health anymore!
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