Stay Healthy this Winter with These Recipes

Locked in the middle of winter means it’s time to find fun ways to get outside, stay hydrated, take care of our dry skin, and protect ourselves from getting sick.

The immune system is our defense against illness and disease and now is a great time to find natural ways to boost and strengthen it.

Superfoods, or foods that are incredibly nutrient-dense and filled with essential vitamins and minerals help protect you against conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, as well as provide energy, a boost in your mood, lower stress levels, better sleep, and more.

Specific foods also help strengthen your immune system to help protect against illnesses. 

According to the CDC, the exact flu season time varies but often peaks between December and February, though it can continue as late as May.

So, we’re in the midst of cold and flu season, and that, plus the stress of a new year, kids going back to school, extra travel, crashes after indulging in holiday meals, and more, means the immune system might be weaker than usual.

Adopting a healthy diet that consists of immune-boosting foods can keep your immune system functioning at an optimum level. Just some of these nutritional powerhouses include:

• Berries

• Leafy Greens (Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, etc.)

• Spices (Ginger, Turmeric, etc.)

• Fatty Fish

• Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons, etc.)

• Greek Yogurt

• Mushrooms

• Bone Broth

• Broccoli

• Carrots

While you can enjoy these foods by themselves, sometimes it’s more fun and tasty to make meals out of them. So, here are 20 recipes to help strengthen your immune system and stay healthy this winter!

1. Nourishing Crockpot Vegetable Soup Recipe

Talk about nutritional value!

This soup is PACKED with veggies and will keep you warm and healthy all winter.

If you’re already sick, this soup is the perfect comfort meal to get you better! Just throw it all into a crockpot, then enjoy.

2. Healing Cantaloupe Orange Ginger Turmeric Juice

This juice seriously has it all: oranges, ginger, cantaloupe, and turmeric!

It has incredible infection-fighting abilities, natural anti-inflammatory compounds, and can help clear congestion.

The fruits also contain antioxidants, vitamin C, beta-carotene, folate, and water, which are all vital to keep us healthy, recovering, and hydrated daily!

3. Homemade Roasted Beef Bone Broth

Bone broth is rich in immunity-boosting minerals and healthy protein; making your own is a simple process!

This recipe will surely become a favorite at your house because we’ve included two special “tricks” to create the most incredible flavor. Check them out here!

4. Berry Breakfast Tart

Berries are high in fiber, antioxidants, and immune-strengthening nutrients.

Top this delicious breakfast tart with as many berries as you want to start your day with essential vitamins and nutrients!

5. Raspberry Filled Chocolate Bites

Here’s a really fun and simple food-craft to make with the kiddos this weekend!

Just 4 simple ingredients to make these impressive little fruit-filled chocolate treats at home that everyone will LOVE.

6. Blueberry Lemon Power Bites

Blueberry Lemon Power Bites are an excellent nutrient-packed treat perfect for a quick after-school snack or after-workout energy boost! 

7. Lacinato Kale in Smoky Garlic Sauce

Kale, a great source of calcium and vitamin K, is one of those superfoods that will benefit nearly every part of your health!

And with the garlic, this will be a great side dish to add to your weekly menu.

8. Kale Apple Salad

This salad is phenomenal! Just wait until you taste the zesty homemade dressing with the sour green apples and sweet kale + cranberries. It’s a perfect combination.

9. Spinach + Mushroom Egg Muffins

Here’s another breakfast to start your day with foods that will strengthen your immune system, including spinach, mushrooms, and bell peppers.

As a bonus, these egg muffins can be made ahead for meal prep and then reheated throughout the week as needed.

10. Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

This side dish has a fantastic, rich flavor you will LOVE! Turmeric gets its health benefits from its main active ingredient, curcumin, which is loaded with antioxidants and is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

11. Sheet Pan Roasted Salmon + Broccolini

Here’s a super quick and flavorful sheet pan meal that uses minimal ingredients to make your life easier.

A no-fuss meal to impress your salmon lovers!

Also, did you know that wild salmon contains an antioxidant called astaxanthin, which is what makes the wild salmon meat a beautiful dark pink to red color? Pretty cool! 

12. Pan Roasted Salmon and Carrots

Carrots are known for their beta-carotene content, which can help the immune system ward off viruses and bacteria!

These party platter favorites are among the most nutritious veggies out there, as they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

13. Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup

Soup helps stretch the family dinner budget while filling up those bellies with fresh, whole-food ingredients you carefully choose yourself.

This soup is simple enough for a quick weeknight meal, but these flavors are complex and fancy enough that this carrot soup will impress any guest!

14. Lemony Chicken Vegetable Soup

This perfect quick soup is packed with lots of fresh veggies, so it’s filling and comforting, but thanks to the fresh lemon juice and zest, it’s still bright and cheerful too!

15. Lemony Chicken Schnitzels Salad

These simple ingredients come together to create a very refreshing and satisfying combination.

Ultra-crispy tender chicken morsels on top of a big pile of bright greens coated in the delicious tangy lemon dressing! Perfect lunch or dinner meal!

16. Orange Creamsicle Homemade Ice Cream

I know ice cream is typically a dessert for the warmer months, but this is delicious in the winter as well.

This method is a grown-up homemade version of that favorite creamy summer treat. It’s so fresh and bright tasting, and it even smells delightful!

17. Chocolate Yogurt Parfaits

Who doesn’t love chocolate?! These tasty, simple little Chocolate Yogurt Parfaits are fun to make for breakfast, snack time, dessert, and great to serve your guests at holiday parties.

18. Flavorful Marinated Mushroom Kabobs

These mushroom kabobs are quick, easy to make, and fantastic for weekend get-togethers or parties. Just fire up your grill because this one is going to be an absolute crowd-pleaser!

19. Creamy Ranch Chicken and Broccoli

An ultra-creamy white sauce with a tasty ranch-flavored kick thanks to the fresh garlic and freshly chopped herbs.

Also, did you know that broccoli contains Vitamins C, A, and E? This dish preserves those important nutrients and is simple and extremely comforting! 

20. Hearty Meatball + Veggie Soup

Here’s a nourishing soup that is the PERFECT way to end this list.

This soup is a once-a-week meal at my house; it’s quick, easy, and my family loves it. I typically double or triple the batch so that we have future meals.

Soup is ALWAYS better the next day!

I could keep going with some amazing recipes to keep you feeling healthy and happy, but I’ll stop there!

If you do want more recipes, check out one of these recipe roundups:

• 20 Delicious Berry Recipes

• 14 Delicious Chili Recipes

• Recipes Filled With Vitamin A

• 25 Clean Eating Winter Recipes

For more ways to protect your immune system, remember to manage stress, get plenty of good quality sleep, drink more water, moderate alcohol intake, break bad habits and create good ones, and keep a good mindset.

While these recipes will definitely help boost your immune system, having them isn’t always enough to help make positive changes and stick to your health goals.

If you require more support with eating healthy meals, answers to your questions, and accountability, we have created the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge. 

Within our program, you will learn how to eat clean meals regularly without driving yourself nuts. Learn how to join our next 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge and receive our current seasonal bonuses here.

I hope your new year is going GREAT, and this list helps keep you healthy this winter! Let me know which immune-boosting meal is your FAVORITE in the comments below.

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