In the face of new viruses, people will think about what they can eat to strengthen their resistance, but when faced with infectious diseases, why are some people susceptible to infection and others not? “Balanced diet” is an important key!
If the daily diet has been more balanced, vitamins, minerals are adequate intake, it is more capable of defending their bodies. People who are prone to illness may not be taking enough in some areas or are picky eaters.
Recipe 1 – Supplement the minerals zinc and iron to strengthen the immune system
During the immunization period, in addition to taking vitamins, you can also supplement minerals. Zinc and immunity are also related and can help the body to repair some epithelial cells. Parents can alternate these ingredients in their daily cooking, sometimes cooking seafood, sometimes changing to pork, etc.
Since babies lose iron from 4 months of age, mothers should not forget to supplement their babies with iron-rich side dishes. The iron in beef is more easily absorbed than plant-based iron, and the fat produced during cooking brings out the beta carotene in carrots, making your baby’s eyes brighter, and adding white radish, which helps with digestion, makes for a balanced diet of vegetables and meat.
Beef soup with carrot and white radish
Suitable age: 2 years old and up
Ingredients (3 servings).
240g beef brisket, 750cc boiling water, 75g carrot, 125g white radish, 1 green onion, 2 slices ginger, 1 tbsp rice wine, 2 dried bay leaves, 2 star anise, 1/2 tsp salt
Directions.
1. Boil the whole beef brisket in boiling water, add green onion, ginger and rice wine and cook for about 10 minutes.
2. Save the broth and remove the beef. After the beef has cooled slightly, cut it into small pieces or slices that are easy for children to eat.
3. Peel the carrots and white radish, cut them into small pieces or slices, and add them to the original broth with the beef and heat.
4. Add bay leaf and star anise, bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and continue to cook for 20-30 minutes.
5. Make sure the beef is stewed until soft and rotten, then add salt to taste and turn off the heat.
Recommended for small children: Beef Porridge with Carrot and White Radish
Suitable age: 6 months or older
Ingredients: 1 bowl of beef soup, 1/3 cup of white rice
Directions
1. Take 1 bowl of beef broth from the unseasoned soup, mix it with 1/3 cup of cleaned and drained white rice, and put it into an electric pot to make porridge.
2. Scoop appropriate amount of carrot, white radish and a little beef, mixed with the bottom of the congee into the juicer to puree, ready to take out for baby to taste.
Recipe 2 – Take Vitamin A to increase the mucosal barrier
A healthy and balanced diet can strengthen your child’s immune system. Dietitian P.F. Chan suggests that parents can prepare their children’s protection by enhancing their vitamin intake. In this novel coronavirus prevention, Chen emphasized the importance of mucosal protection. Vitamin A is related to the body’s mucosal barrier and is abundant in carrots and groundnuts. Vitamin A is fat-soluble, so when taking vitamin A, you can also add a little bit of fat to cook to help absorption.
Go to the market and buy some seasonal carrots and string beans! If you don’t want your kids to recognize carrots at first glance, add plenty of shredded groundnuts of similar color to cover the sweetness of the groundnuts and the unique smell of carrots. During the preparation process, you can also take your child along with you to peel the beans, beat the eggs, and mix the batter to give them a sense of participation and a chance to operate.
Vegetable Pancake
Suitable age: 2 years old and up
Ingredients (3 servings).
100g groundnuts, 50g carrots, 35g string beans, 3 tbsp flour, 1~2 tbsp water, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp salt, 4 tbsp olive oil
Directions.
1. Peel the groundnuts and carrots and grate them into fine julienne strips. Remove the ends of the beans and the beards, cut them into slanting pieces and then shred them.
2. Put flour, water and egg into a mixing bowl and mix to form a batter.
3. Add the vegetables and salt to the batter and toss with chopsticks to mix well.
4. Heat the oil in the pan, divide the battered vegetables into small flat piles, and shake off the excess batter.
5. Place the pancake on an absorbent paper towel to soak up the oil and serve. Serve with your child’s favorite tomato sauce, but not too much.
Reminder.
You can add other ingredients that your child likes, such as corn kernels, to the vegetable portion at your discretion. However, it is best to use vegetables that are not easily watered down, otherwise the batter will be too wet.
Recommended reading:
Carbohydrates: Insufficient intake or shortened life span of 4 years
