Hello Everyone, Brennen here. Time for my monthly words of wisdom.

Last month I talked about my views on healthy eating and reducing impact on our earth, this month I wanted to focus more on foods that will help you build your immunity and fight cold and flu symptoms from happening. I made sure to do a lot of research on this at the beginning of the year (given recent events) and I have tried to incorporate most/all of these ingredients into our every day meals here at The Collegian.

Everyone knows the basics of foods to eat when you have the flu; orange juice, chicken noodle soup and ginger ale, but most people don't know the foods to eat to prevent the the symptoms from starting. Here is a list of common foods that you might try to incorporate into your diet.

Almonds
Apples
Beans
Bell Peppers
Broccoli
Cabbage
Fish
Garlic
Ginger
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Leafy Greens
Nuts
Oranges
Sweet Potatoes
Tea
Tomatoes
Vinegar
Yogurt

As most of our residents know, we are never in short supply of most of these ingredients, but how do we make things interesting and not eat chili and spaghetti every day? Well, one example would be our baker making Earl Grey Tea cookies. These cookies are actually made with tea in them so they are a sweet snack that also secretly builds the immune system. When making burgers, we try to accompany them with sweet potato fries instead of regular, not only is it healthier, it is also a nice change from the ordinary. Instead of a plain tomato sauce, we dice fresh tomatoes, basil, onions and garlic and slow cook it on to stove with a splash of balsamic vinegar.

There are many interesting ways to use these ingredients without making your diet feel stale and repetitive. At The Collegian, we are always experimenting and looking for new ways to make excellent food that also keeps you healthy and immune. I hope that these hints are helpful, for questions, more specific ideas (and recipes), as always, please feel free to contact me.


Sincerely,
Brennen O’Donnell
brennen@thecollegian.com