Fourteen Days In

There's so much talk of quarantine and basically life shutting down these days. It brings the question - what do you do for those two weeks - especially if you have kids? It boils down to  eating healthy and  creatin enough projects to keep everyone relatively happy.

The Coronavirus is part of the common cold family. It is stronger and deadlier yet it can be buffered by having a boosted immune system. Think of the cold diet, foods that can help alleviate the ailment. Try to have plenty of colorful veggies such as tomatoes, peppers and different kinds of squash. Onions and garlic are also must haves. Make a big pan of ratatouille which can be made in double batches for freezing and later eating. Another healthy dish is crockpot tomato sauce, made with fresh tomatoes and garlic, the last the more the better. Serve with whole wheat pasta for a different healthier spin. Since you may be stuck in with kids of all ages, you may want to have some fun food plans in place.Spaghetti is one dish.Pizza is another. It's so easy to create a healthy pie.Use liberal amounts of olive oil as a first layer before you put on any sauce. It's good for colds and sore throats so you may want to incorporate more into your cooking. A pizza needs a good sauce. You can buy the already made ones or make it on your own. Add a healthy array of toppings, from slices peppers to roasted garlic. Mexican food is another healthy cuisine. Make sure you add potassium rich avocados which help in boosting the immune system along with tomatoes and a variety of beans.

Besides cooking healthy foods , a quarantine period can mean time to clean the kitchen if you're up to it. Cleaning the fridge helps. You can finally throw out those moldy cheeses and salads that you though the family would finish but didn't. It's also time to take stock of what you have and what you need for a healthier household. Make sure you have plenty of fruit  - actually more of that than cookies for the kids. We all know that oranges are great for colds and flu. They're rich in  Vitamin C and all those antioxidants. However apples are also good for treating all sorts of sicknesses. They're rich in flavonoids - which treat inflammatory problems. Another plus is that there are so many different kinds, from the sweet Mount Fuji to the deliciously tart Granny Smiths. Kids will love dipping apple slices in almond or peanut butter. These butters can be made at home for a fun family project. Both taste better homemade and it gives the kids a lesson in creating organic.Keep sweets at a limit. If the kids want to bake cookies, then stick to all organic recipes, one that call for whole wheat or nut flours and all natural sugars. As for candy - think healthy nut clusters loaded with raisins and dark chocolate chips. These are easy to make and they'll have fun making them.

Get ready for quarantines and having the kids on a full time basis. It means staying at home and eating healthy.  It means fun and nutritious projects with the kids.  Learn from this time together.