Immune Boosting Recipes….to keep the Virus away!

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.