image via Eliza Domestica
Growing up I remember my mom boiling a pot of water and making us breathe steam at the slightest sign of sniffles. She’d do just about anything to keep us from getting sick. Of course I get it now — there’s nothing worse than sick kiddos. Especially during the holidays with all the commitments and fun to be had.
So we asked Dr. Kate Naumes, a naturopathic doctor in Oak Cliff who specializes in women’s and children’s health, to give us the skinny on boosting immunity and keeping kids well during the winter months. Here are her tips for staying healthful:
- Eat organic soups, root vegetables, onions, garlic, and warming herbs such as cinnamon, ginger, turmeric
- Avoid sugar, especially in treats and processed foods
- Eat foods with anti-viral herbs such as thyme, rosemary and oregano
- Stay hydrated with fresh filtered water and warming herbal teas (we like the selection at Crooked Tree CoffeeHouse)
Dr. Naumes also shared a winter soup recipe that I’ll be working into our snack and dinner rotation stat:
Winter Wellness Soup
Ingredients:
1-2 cups filtered water
1 tbs miso (from the refrigerated section)
1 tsp ginger, fresh grated and/or 1 tsp garlic, fresh pressed
½ cup shitake mushrooms, sliced
(if your little one doesn’t like shitake mushrooms, substitute their favorite root vegetable – such as sweet potatoes, chopped into ½ cubes)
1 tbs organic sesame oil
Directions:
1. Boil water.
2. While the water is coming to a boil, heat skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add sesame oil. Stir-fry mushrooms and ginger for 2-3 minutes until the mushrooms are cooked through and softened. Add garlic and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Turn off skillet.
3. Once water has come to a boil, turn off the stove top. Add miso and stir well. Add mushroom/ginger/garlic mixture.
You can find more of Dr. Naumes recipes and holistic tips, on topics from fertility issues to allergies, on her website and blog.
