It's the cold and flu season. Try adding immune-boosting nutrients to your diet. You will find many of these foods featured on our District menus through our selections The Harvest of the Month, overnight oats, and fresh smoothies as well as our daily offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables. 
Do you know that you can choose 2 vegetables and 1 fruit everyday for lunch as part of the National School Lunch Program? 

These nutrients can play a role in boosting your immune health:

• Beta carotene: is found in plant foods, such as sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, mangoes, broccoli and tomatoes.
• Vitamin C: is found in citrus fruits, berries, melons, tomatoes, bell peppers and broccoli.
• Vitamin D: is found in fatty fish and eggs. Milk and 100% juices fortified with vitamin D also are good sources.
• Zinc: tends to be better absorbed from foods such as beef and seafood, but it's also found in plant-based sources, including wheat germ, beans, nuts and tofu.
• Probiotics: are good bacteria that promote health. You'll find them in cultured dairy products, such as yogurt, and in fermented foods, such as kefir and kimchi.
• Protein: comes from animal and plant sources, including milk, yogurt, eggs, beef, chicken, seafood, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils.

So, why not try some of these foods the next time you are coming through the lunch line and boost your immune health while you're at it.