I think one of the best things we can do to stay healthy, not just during this outbreak, but all year round is to increase the immune-building foods that we eat.
Vitamin Booster Smoothie
Up your vitamin quota with help from this bright and fresh smoothie. Orange, carrot, celery and mango pack a nutritious punch
adapted from goodfood.com
Ingredients
- 1 orange, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
- 1 mango, roughly chopped
- 1 cup water
Put the orange, carrot, celery and mango in the blender, top up with water, then mix until smooth.
White Bean Dip
A dip filled with beans that are filled with beta-glucan and zinc – all immune-boosting properties.
adapted from Food Network.com
1 (14 ounces) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
6 sprigs fresh thyme leaves, stripped from stem
Coarse salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons chives, chopped
Pulse all ingredients except chives in a food processor or until a smooth paste forms and transfer to a bowl. Serve on bruschetta or as a dip for fresh veggies and garnish with chopped chives.
Chicken and White Bean Soup
Rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup.
adapted from Eatingwell.com
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, or 1/4 teaspoon dried
- 2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed
- 1 2-pound roasted chicken, skin discarded, meat removed from bones and shredded (4 cups)
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in sage and continue cooking until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth and water, increase heat to high, cover and bring to a boil. Add beans and chicken and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.
Egyptian Tossed Salad
adapted from EatingWell.com
This superfood salad will boost your immune system. You can eat it in a pita or on top of a chicken cutlet or on its own.
Ingredients
Ingredient Checklist
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ⅓ cups diced cucumber
- 1 ¼ cups diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- ⅔ cup diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup diced radishes
- ⅓ cup diced yellow onion
Whisk lime juice, vinegar, cumin and salt in a large bowl. Add cucumber, tomatoes, parsley, bell pepper, radishes and onion; toss to combine.