How to Eat Yourself Healthy This Cold and Flu Season

Everyone that Super Snack Lady knows is getting sick.  Colds, flu, coughing, sneezing- you name it and someone has it!  There are a couple things you can do to stay healthy this holiday and winter season.

1) WASH YOUR HANDS.  I know, it seems simple and like common sense.  I've heard statistics that say that classrooms that deliberately washed their hands thoroughly 2 times a day (mid morning and mid afternoon) had far less students out sick as compared to other classrooms in the same school building.  Wash your hands even when you haven't used the rest room or are going to eat.  Germs are everywhere and combat them by washing your hands frequently!

2) Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is great for helping your immune system function at the best possible rate.  The following fruits and vegetables are very high in Vitamin C (and some of them might surprise you!). 

• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Grapefruits
• Lemon
• Limes
• Papaya
• Kiwi (the fruit of the month for December!)
• Bell Peppers
• Brussel Sprouts
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe
• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli (the vegetable of the month for December!)
• Cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Pineapple
• Butternut Squash
• Herbs such as Cilantro, Chives, Thyme, Basil, and Parsley.

Who knew that there were so many tasty ways to stay healthy?

3)  Avoid or limit exposure to other sick people.  If you are sick, don't go out in public or go to work.  If your child is sick don't do play dates or send them to school.  Also, make sure to wash your hands frequently when you are in public places as people might be sick and you are being exposed unknowingly.

4)  Get your rest. The easiest way for Super Snack Lady to get sick is always being on the go and being stressed out.  My doctor once told me a good piece of advice- if you are tired, then rest.  A cat nap after work or a quick snooze when a kid gets home from school might just be what the body is craving in order to fight off illness.  This is an especially challenging one to try to do during the holiday times when things get so hectic; it is also the perfect excuse to fall asleep on the couch to a classic holiday movie!

5) Sanitize your home!  Once a week Super Snack Lady and her husband use disinfecting wipes and sanitize surfaces in our home such as door knobs, computer keyboards and mice, counter tops, knobs on sinks, and refrigerator handles.  When sick, Super Snack Lady goes the extra mile and disinfects everything- pencils, pens, remote control, cell phone, blankets, pillows, and anything else that I come in contact with on a regular basis.

I hope this blog post finds you feeling well and if it doesn't- use some of the tips above to make yourself feel better and help your body fight off whatever you have going on.