All the citrus fruits like lime, oranges, grapefruit, guava etc have rich amounts of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Vitamin C helps increase the production of white blood cells which are known to fight off infections. Also, when you give your child enough dose of Vitamin C through citrus fruits, the severity and length of common cold and flu is greatly reduced.

Whether your baby likes his eggs hard boiled, poached, scrambled or in an omelet form, eggs are good, in fact very good for him. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, iron and Vitamin A which has antioxidant properties that fight off a number of viral and bacterial infections. Also, eggs happen to be the only food that contains naturally occurring doses of Vitamin D.

A daily dose of a handful of dry fruits like walnuts, almonds, cashews, dates etc. should be included in your child’s diet.

These nuts contain essential vitamins and minerals like Niacin, Vitamin E, riboflavin etc which are essential for the body’s system. Vitamin E is a great antioxidant that helps maintain and keep the cells healthy. Don’t stick to one or two dried fruits but keep a variety so your child also doesn’t get bored. A handful of nuts everyday will help support your child’s immune system.

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Yogurt is one of the essential food items in almost every Indian household. I couldn’t agree more with the elders in our families who say that a child should be given a bowlful of yogurt every day (at least in summers if not every weather). The reason is that yogurt has been known to ward off gastrointestinal diseases in not only kids but adults as well. It is full of probiotics, meaning that it has all the good bacteria your body could use. This good bacteria keeps the bad bacteria from entering your body. If your baby doesn’t like yogurt, try to make tastier versions of it by including cut fruits of his choice in it. Or you could even give him in lassi form.

I know you must be thinking that since we use garlic in almost all the Indian meals we make at home, there is no need to give it separately to your child. It’s true in a way but garlic does more good to your and your baby’s health that you thought it did. Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

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It helps in the production of white blood cells that fights off infections. Not only that, even the cold and flu symptoms are taken care of by this power food. So an additional clove of garlic should do no harm if included in your baby’s diet.

What additional foods would you add to this list that help your child’s immunity? Let us know.