Prevention is Better Than Cure – Superfoods to Fight Colds & Flu in Children

Now that schooldays are truly back for another year, parents have turned their attention from how to keep children occupied during the long summer days to keeping them fit, healthy and happy for another term of study.

The return to the classroom, and indeed the playground, means that bugs and colds can spread like wildfire, so it's important to keep your child’s immune system ready to fight off any potential dangers.

Including some superfoods in the daily lunchbox is one easy way to do this, and here are five options that are perfect for children:

Blueberries

A sweet treat that’s not laden down with sugar, blueberries have more antioxidants than most other fruits and vegetables, so they are excellent at fighting off free radicals. 

Wholegrain bread 

Avoid the over-processed white fluffy stuff for the lunchbox and instead opt for wholegrain breads, which will provide folic acid, iron and b Vitamins, and not lead to that sugar high followed by a crash that can come from too much white bread.

Cheese

“Them bones them bones need… calcium!” Cheese can get a bad rep for its fat content, but with active children on a balanced diet cheese is a great source of calcium and when eaten after meals can even prevent dental cavities.

Tuna

Cheap as chips and a whole lot healthier - canned tuna fish is an excellent addition to any lunchbox. Protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc – and the fat found in tuna is of the good Omega 3 kind.

Nuts 

Nuts contain healthy fats, which are good for your child’s growth and development as well as keeping their heart healthy. These energy-boosting foods should give a child a lunchtime boost to better enable them tackle the afternoon studies.

 

Prevention is always better than cure, but make sure your family is covered for any health issues that may arise – Check out GloHealth for a variety of personalized packages to suit the needs of your family, like money back for your child’s annual sport membership and child nutritionist visits on the Kids’ Health Personalised Package.