Immunity Boosting Broccoli Salad

Immunity boosting broccoli salad? You know it. I’m always looking for ways to boost our immune systems, especially when the kiddies go back to school. A new school year equals new germs and I have no problem admitting my germophobia. It’s a little intense. So when it comes to packing lunches, I make sure to have an immune boosting strategy!

Speaking of a new school year… where the heck did summer go? Just when I felt like we were falling into a summer routine BAM it’s time to start a new school year! As much as I’m going to miss lazy summer days, I am looking forward to a fall routine! We all thrive on a good routine at our house and mornings are my favorite. If I start the day early and with a schedule, I am so much more productive. You can read all about our morning routine here.

Do you pack home lunches for your kiddies? I tend to run out of ideas quickly. Large batches of veggie packed salads make our mornings a breeze. They take the guess work out of a balanced lunch and are easy to bulk up with protein for a well rounded meal.

This broccoli salad is packed full of immune boosting ingredients! Not to mention you’ll be boosting your OptUP score after shopping for them! You all know how obsessed I am with our family OptUP score. I check it weekly to see if it’s gone up (this week we upped it by 6 whole points) best part the only person I’m competing against is myself. Its genius really. I have become far more cautious roaming the aisles of the grocery store. I strive to fill my cart with at least 50% green scoring items. That means lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and quality meats and dairy. Pretty much what we shop for anyways, with an occasional treat!

Foods that help Boost Your Immune (and your OptUp score)

Broccoli- is supercharged with an abundance of vitamins and minerals. It’s loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as many other antioxidants and fiber. Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can put on your table and is best to consumed raw, as the health benefits tend to lessen as it’s heated.

Citrus fruits- are packed full of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is thought to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections. Because your body doesn’t produce or store it on it’s own, you need daily vitamin C for continued health.

Greek yogurt- yogurt, especially that with “live and active cultures”printed on the label, like Greek yogurt may stimulate your immune system to help fight diseases. Yogurt is also a great source of vitamin D, which helps regulate the immune system and is thought to boost our body’s natural defenses against disease.

Sunflower seeds- are full of nutrients, including phosphorous, magnesium, and vitamin B-6. They’re also incredibly high in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, which plays an important role in regulating and maintaining immune system function.

Chickpeas- contain zinc which is one of the most important minerals for the immune system and one of the minerals most of us are deficient in. Zinc plays an important role in the function of T-cells, natural killer cells and lymphocytes, which are some of the power houses of your immune system.

Bell peppers- did you know red bell peppers contain twice as much vitamin C as citrus fruits? Crazy right?! They’re also a rich source of beta carotene, which helps keep your eyes and skin healthy… BONUS!

This salad is packed full of all the above making it a delicious addition to your healthy meal plan!

I’m really loving all of the Simple Truth Organic products that keep popping up on Kroger shelves! High five for making this mamas life easier! Not only can I can grab my specialty groceries but I can also stock up on all of my families vitamins + supplements AND grab a venti iced green tea to fuel my shopping in one stop! PRAISE.

I’ve also been snagging some major health and wellness inspiration through their Wellness Your Way site. They have an impressive round up of vegan and gluten free recipe inspiration over there. Go check it out.. after you make this broccoli salad of course!

I love bento boxes for my kids but I love them even more for MYSELF! One way I have incorporated a healthier lifestyle is by meal planning and prepping my lunches in advance. I don’t know why but feeding myself lunch seems to be a tricky task. Spending a full day in the kitchen prepping isn’t always an option for me, but I make sure to prepare large batches off veggies and extra protein for dinner to use for lunches during the week! That way I’m only cooking once but I have my meals covered for a few days. Try it. It takes no longer to grill 12 breasts of chicken than it does 4. Easy peasy!

Simple Truth rotisserie chicken | mini bell peppers + Simple Truth hummus | immune boosting broccoli salad

Mamas, don’t forget to put as much energy into YOU as you do your babes when it comes to mealtime. It’s easy to put our nutritional needs on the back burner when we are making sure our kiddies have all their bases covered. The best thing you can do for your kids is to ensure they have a healthy, happy and active mama. I promise you when you fuel your body properly the stars will align and you will notice a huge difference overall. Food is fuel.

Make yourself a priority. Xo

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kroger, the opinions and text are all mine.