10 Immune Boosting Recipes you Need in your Life.
We are all a little on-edge during this Covid-19 pandemic. As most of us are doing our part by staying indoors to flatten the curve, we must also be nourishing our bodies with the proper nutrition to ensure our immune systems are high as possible. These are the items you should be stocking up on! (not toilet paper.)
We all know your girl is a Wine-o, but I actually pride myself on maintaining a fairly healthy lifestyle.. hence the ability to indulge in a glass of wine or 2 nightly. It is so important always, but especially now, to be nourishing our bodies with vitamins and nutrients to keep our immune systems strong against this scary virus. Here are some go-to’s that I always make sure to keep stocked in my fridge. And most of them pair great with wine FYI..
BERRIES + FRUITS
Smoothies are among my favorite thing to enjoy on a regular basis. You can throw in pretty much everything you don’t think tastes the greatest – kale, protein powder, collagen, coconut water, spinach.. the list goes on. Frozen berries are a must for me to create a perfect smoothie. Here’s my favorite – mixed frozen berries, almond milk, super greens, collagen powder, maca powder, peanut butter, banana. I also always like to have fresh fruits on hand to munch on throughout the day. Strawberries, blueberries, and tangerines are my favorite. They give you a spike of energy, and are the perfect replacement for those of us with a sweet tooth.
VEGGIES WITH HUMMUS
I am obsessed with hummus. Whether you make it yourself – chickpeas, garlic, and lemon in a blender – or you buy it pre-made, hummus is a healthy substitute to include in your daily routine. I love to spread hummus on just about anything from a dip to a mayonnaise alternative, but almost daily I will eat my hummus with carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas for a veggie vitamin boost.
SALMON
Salmon is considered one of the healthiest foods you can eat for it’s richness is omega’s – aka healthy fats. A clean meat that I always choose over anything else, very easy to cook, and pairs amazing with an elegant white Burgundy or tart Riesling. Add some steamed vegetables with this and you are the healthiest person on earth, deserving of 3 glasses of vino! One of my go-to salmon recipes – grilled salmon in coconut oil, lemon, and a side of brown rice or quinoa with steamed broccoli.
GARLIC
Garlic has been known for ages to help against the common cold. Whether you’re taking in supplement form, or adding lots of fresh minced garlic to some pasta, this amazing food is one of the best for immunity strength. Something I make at least once a week is a this simple pasta dish – olive oil, parmesan, minced garlic, + pepper on top of pasta.
GINGER
I love taking ginger shots when I start to feel that tickle in my throat. It’s also something I order ‘extra’ of when out to sushi. It is jam packed with immune boosting nutrients and is a great staple to add into a smoothie or juice with some celery and spinach. Trader Joe’s also has some amazing candied ginger, that is healthy and delicious on the go! Incorporating ginger into your daily life can look something like this immune boosting salad dressing – ginger, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, dijon mustard, and honey.
TUMERIC
Tumeric is something I believe should be in your diet daily. It is amazing for it’s beauty benefits, as well as immune strengthening powers. A FAVORITE recipe of mine that will get you glowing from the inside out is my Pourstyles tea – tumeric, collagen, CBD, lemon, and honey in hot water.
GRAPEFRUIT
We have already discussed the importance of smoothies and berries, but our citrus needs some proper credit. Grapefruit is amazing for breakfast paired with a skinny black coffee and the supermodels say, and it is absolutely full of vitamins and nutrients. The acidity in grapefruits are flu and cold killers and an essential to include in your every day routine. My favorite grapefruit mimosa recipe – sparkling rosé, fresh squeezed grapefruit, thyme garnish.
LEMON WATER
This is super simple. Literally just – a big glass of water with a whole juiced lemon at room temperature. But I drink this every morning and swear by it for vitality and happy digestion. It is also known for clearing the skin and promoting blood circulation first thing in the morning.
TOMATOES
Can you say Caprese? Tomatoes are another acidic gem, great at warding off any sort of sickness that may enter your body uninvited. Here is one of my all time favorite salads to eat with a bold Chianti – Sliced tomatoes, burrata mozzarella, olive oil, and basil.
MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are becoming a favorite food and dietary supplement of mine. I take adaptogens daily for their calming and stress relieving affect. Never heard of adaptogens? Well, you may want to start. Adaptogens are non-toxic plants, primarily mushrooms, that are marketed as helping the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, chemical or biological. These herbs and roots have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions, but they’re having a renaissance today. Excited to start eating some mushrooms now? Me too. Here’s a recipe to get your insides happy, and your outsides glowing – diced shiitake mushrooms, cannelloni beans, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, scallions, tuscan kale, feta cheese, sesame seeds, cilantro in a skillet.