Every parent wants their children to have lots of friends and fit in at school, but friends come with germs. Those germs are spread when one child coughs or sneezes around other children or when a small child wipes his runny nose on his shirt sleeve and then pats his best friend on the cheek during play. Something as simple as sharing blocks or allowing a friend to borrow a pencil is enough for a child to catch the flu.Parents know what happens when germs make their way home from school. Everyone in the household is soon sniffling, sneezing, or possibly throwing up. If anyone in the family has a weakened immune system for any reason, this can bring problems far worse than a stomachache or a few missed days of school.Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your children leave those germs at school. Simple things like feeding your children the right foods and teaching them a few good habits can go a long way to battling flu for your entire family. If you work out in the public, then you probably need to follow these guidelines as well.
Eat for an Immunity Boost
Fresh foods in their natural state are loaded with vitamins and minerals that naturally boost the immune system. By focusing family meals on the following foods, you can help turn your children into germ-fighting machines.
1. Fresh Citrus Fruit
Buy the biggest bag of oranges you can find and throw them in a bowl at the center of your dining room table. Add a few grapefruits and maybe some tangerines. Encourage your children to eat these fruits daily because they are loaded with vitamin C, which is power for the immune system. You can also make fresh squeezed orange juice to serve with breakfast.
If you must go with orange juice instead of fresh fruit, make sure it is real orange juice instead of sugary orange drink. The vitamin C only comes from the actual fruit.
2. Fresh Vegetables and Seasonings
Incorporate leafy greens like kale and spinach into your family’s meals. Use fresh garlic, ginger and onion as flavor enhancers. Make steamed broccoli as a side dish and top a salad off with fresh bell pepper. These foods are high in vitamin C, and you can even incorporate them into smoothies along with fresh fruit for taste.
3. Greek Yogurt
Use plain Greek yogurt to make smoothies extra creamy or to infuse probiotics into any of your home-baked goods. Create delicious parfaits for dessert by layering Greet yogurt and fresh fruits in a cup or bowl. The probiotics in the yogurt will help fight off germs that do make it into your children’s bodies.
Five Flu-Fighting Behaviors
What can you teach your children that will save them from the flu? These five behaviors are at the top of the list:
1. Hand Washing
If warm water and soap is available, every member of your family should be washing their hands. You can also send hand sanitizer to school with your children. Don’t trust the teacher to give out hand sanitizer at the right moments. Your children need to know the importance of regular washing.
2. Eliminate Face Touching
The human face has three points of entry for the body: eyes, nose, mouth. Teach your children never to touch other children’s faces, and discourage them from touching their own faces. When your children do get sick, teach them to block their own germs by using their sleeves or arms to block their coughs and sneezes.
3. Disinfectant Spray Down
It is not overkill to greet your children at the door with a bottle of disinfectant when they come home from school. Give their clothing and book bags a good spray, and then send them off to wash their hands immediately.
4. Break the Sharing Rule
You have probably worked hard to teach your children to share their toys and be nice, but flu season is a reason to break this rule. Teach them to keep their personal belongings to themselves to avoid picking up germs from other children.
Healthy Families Avoid the Flu
Make sure every member of your household gets adequate amounts of rest, exercise and healthy foods. Make sure you are all well hydrated and not overly stressed. The healthier your family lifestyle, the more resistance your bodies will have against the flu.