Having a cold is one of the worst things in the world. You’re not completely knocked out of activities, but it’s more annoying to be sniffling constantly or getting up to blow your nose.
While no one is yet to find a cure for the common cold, we do have some basic remedies. They often involve a combination of the following:
- Warm showers/baths
- Chicken noodle soup
- Orange juice (chief amongst all fluids)
- Plenty of rest
- Staying bundled up
While you should definitely make sure your child is staying bundled up, taking a warm bath, and getting plenty of rest, you don’t have to stick to just orange juice and chicken noodle soup, especially if your kid is a picky eater.
Below, we’re going to list out a few different foods you could give your child to help them get rid of that runny nose and constant stream of tissues.
Strawberries
It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like strawberries. These little red fruits are delicious and packed with plenty of vitamin C. You can either cut them up and serve them alone or put them together with other fruits.
They make for the ideal snack or a meal compliment if they’re feeling up to eating something a bit more substantial. A small bowl of strawberries has around 100 mg of vitamin C.
Cantaloupe
It’s no surprise that we’re sticking with fruit on our list, as cantaloupe is stuffed with vitamin C. Much like strawberries, you can put it with other fruits in a fruit salad or simply eat it on its own.
While not providing the fun and splash effect that watermelon has, you can still dig your face into some cantaloupe. Just make sure you have plenty of towels around. Just one cantaloupe has over 200 mg of vitamin C!
Kiwis
Three in a row for the fruit! Kiwis are excellent sources of vitamin C and offer perhaps one of the more unique tastes among all fruits.
You can serve them alone or mix them together with other fruits to make a delicious meal. One kiwi has about 65 mg of vitamin C, and you can easily eat multiple kiwis. If your kid takes a liking to kiwis, try making kiwi sorbet in the future for a fun treat.
Pineapple
Talk about a contrast of flavors between kiwis and pineapples! Yes, pineapples can be excellent sources of vitamin C. One cup of pineapple has about 80 mg of vitamin C, almost enough for a recommended daily intake.
While many of the other fruits can be mixed, it’s better to eat pineapples by themselves. They don’t seem to mix quite well with all fruits (save strawberries) and are best eaten alone. If your kid takes a liking to them, why not put them on meat later for a bit of flavor change?
Cherries
Rounding out our fruits on the list, cherries are bite-size and plenty delicious. Just make sure you’re removing the pits before handing them over.
The best cherries out there are acerola cherries, and a half-cup of the tasty treats packs a whopping 822 mg of vitamin C, or 900% of your recommended daily intake.
When you’re finished eating, you can always see if you can tie a knot with the stem.
Peppers
If you haven’t introduced peppers to your child’s diet yet, you might want to give it a go here. Peppers are loaded with vitamin C. The average bell pepper is packed with 300% of the recommended intake of vitamin C, meaning it packs quite a punch.
If they do like peppers, you can start making meals with them. While they often serve as a compliment to your salads or fajitas, try making them the centerpiece of your meals. They will give you a great chance to experiment!
Broccoli
We move past fruit and land on one of the world’s most loathed vegetable: broccoli. Maybe you’re lucky and your child enjoys broccoli. If so, then you can give it to them for lunch and dinner.
A half-cup of broccoli has around 60 mg of vitamin C, a little over half of the daily value. Broccoli also has a number of other benefits, so it’s a great food to eat every day.
