Easy ways I’m supporting my Kiddos immune system this Fall

This past week all Beards came down with a bad cold. The kind that starts with a raw sore throat, goes into your sinus, ears, and ends with a gross stuffy nose. We all had multiple covid, strep, you name it tests. And it was...A bad cold. 

While obviously, this could have been soo much worse (it has chalked up to a week of semi-lost work, lots of Disney movies, and lots of gross kleenexes Katie finds later) it has launched me into the mode of building up the kids immunity for the winter.

This year's cold season is colliding with Beau becoming a crazy picky eater- so I’m doing everything I can to keep him as healthy as possible (he was a preemie and was in the ICU for a week for 6 months with RSV - we are extra careful with him). 

Some steps I am taking for the kiddos to support their immune system: 

1. I"M STEAMING THE KIDS VEGGIES IN BONE BROTH

I love bone broth for added protein and support for the gut and immune system. That being said - I usually add it to soups and am having a hard time getting my kids to like soup lately (plus - giant mess). 

An easy solution? Instead of steaming their veggies in water, I steam them in bone broth. I love Kettle and Fire bone broth and have started working with them recently. 

FIND THEIR BROTH HERE

Their website has a tone of really helpful tricks and you can read about the benefits of steaming veggies in bone broth HERE

My kid's favorite veggies to steam: Baby carrots with chicken bone broth. I add a little maple syrup and cinnamon to the carrots when they are done and you taste no different from the bone broth. 

They also love broccoli steamed in bone broth with added cheddar cheese on top.  

2. I SWITCHED BEAUS NIGHTLY MILK BACK TO TODDLER FORMULA

This one was super weird to me at 2.5 years but hear me out. Beau was a NICU baby and while I pumped for as long as I could, we switched to full formula at 8 months when I started grad school. When we switched to a formula we used a European brand because I liked the ingredients and because Beau has a milk intolerance.

Ever since then we have been giving him almond milk. As someone who has a lot of friends who have worked on milk brands in the advertising industry, I’m not a huge fan of the ingredients in most almond milk brands (note I drink it myself - but only the best for Beau Beau). 

So, when he started refusing most veggies and fruit, I switched him back to a toddler formula for his nightly bottle. I have always loved serenity kids products and can say the same for their formula. It has the same amount of vitamins and minerals as a multivitamin and is very unprocessed. You can read more and purchase HERE (under toddler formula). Feel free to use my discount code - METHOD15 to save 15% off.

3. I GOT OUR HUMIDIFIERS OUT EARLY

We live in Boston where it is super dry. We typically use humidifiers starting in December but I pulled them out early this year. Note: PLEASE make sure to read the cleaning instructions on humidifiers!! Using a dirty one can actually be really dangerous for babies.

4. WHEN THE KIDS ARE SICK I PUSH WATER AND CLEAN ELECTROLYTES 

We aren’t juice drinkers at home but when the kids are sick I’d pretty much let them drink paint it it helped keep them hydrated. Beau is obsessed with “Magic juice and water” in his bottle, which in none-toddler speak means a splash of electrolytes in water. I recently found the brand Kinderlyte (started by Jessica Alba- who knew?) and have started using it. It still has sugar but a lot less bad stuff than a Pedialyte. I buy it on amazon HERE.

5. I ADD VEGGIES INTO BEAUS DIET WHEREVER I CAN

There is a lot of research out there about not pushing kids to eat veggies by hiding them. It all makes sense until someone has a toddler who will only eat food the color of his hair. 

Some “hidden” veggie combos I do:

Serenity Kids pouches - not that hidden but these are veggie, healthy fat, and meat-based. Beau adores them and is way better than fruit pouches in my opinion. You can use my code - METHOD15 to save 15% off.

Serenity kids pouches + Birch Bender waffle mix- simply wisk  birch bender waffle mix, a veggie pouch, and water. You can make pancakes or waffles in a big batch and pack them in lunches or snacks. Boom. (can use same code at serenity)

Blender “monster” pancakes. I make these at least once a week. I often freeze them too. 

HERE is a good recipe. I use half the spinach. 

Blender “Monster Muffins” - see a theme here? The blender is the only way I bake. HERE is a recipe.