Staying healthy during flu season

Over the holidays both kids had strep throat. Prior to that we passed some god-awful bronchial infection back and forth to each other so many times I was considering taking up separate residences until we were healthy again. And yesterday I heard a news story that the flu in Columbus is up some insane number compared to last year. So here’s my plan to keep my family as healthy as possible.

First hit up the drug store.

I ran over to Target today and grabbed a few essentials. Saline nose spray - I still buy the infant nose spray by Little Remedies, even though my kids are 4 and 7, because the nozzles are small and I change them out every season, so there’s less waste. Twice a day, in the am and before bed, will help keep their little noseys moisturized and clean. Vitamins - I love Olly brand kids chewables. They come in a few different combos, like Superfood or with probiotics added. This time though, since both kids just finished a dose of antibiotics for the strep, I went with a separate chewable called Ultimate Flora by Renew Life. I’ll give them both the vitamins and the probiotic with the breakfasts in the mornings.

Second, get to work in the kitchen. 

My kids love elderberry syrup and it's so easy to make at home. I feel like it's better for them, because I know exactly what's in it and where it comes from. I have tried a LOT of recipes - Pinterest abounds. But this one from Real Food RN is my absolute fav. 

I give them this after school or with dinner. Elderberry syrup is high in vitamins A & C and is an anti-viral - which lord knows we need right about now. Cooking it makes the house warm and steamy, perfect for a fridged winters day. Plus it smells strong, kind of like if you boiled Burgundy wine on your stovetop, and who doesn't want their house to smell like wine? 

Aromatherapy FTW.

I've also got the essential oil diffusers going around the house. Both the kids have the InnoGear models in their bedrooms as show above, and while there are diffusers from InnoGear which I do like, I wouldn't recommend these - they are hard to open, but they do the trick for now. We're all healthy at the moment, so I've been using lavender oil to promote good sleep - which always helps keep the germs at bay. 

Stock the shelves.

Feeding the whole family healthy meals and snacks is not alway the easiest, but it goes a long way in keeping everyone in the house healthy. We have a snack shelf in our house that the kids, and adults, can serve themselves from whenever they like. 

And, last, but not least - constant reminders to wash those hands. This is a struggle with my daughter and half the time she dials it in by passing her hands quickly under the running water and skipping the soap altogether - but it's a work in progress.  

What are you doing to keep your family healthy?