Superfoods for your immune system - Try these 20 immune-boosting snacks at less than 150 calories each!

Brenda Braslow, MS, RDN, LDN, CDCES - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)

Are you looking for snacks that feature foods to strengthen your immune system? If you snack, make snack foods count towards your health by including superfoods for your immune system!

Why and how to include superfoods for immune system function

A healthy diet that includes a wide variety of immune-boosting nutrients can be part of your strategy for optimal health. In fact, it is best to explore a wide variety of nutrients and antioxidants from foods instead of focusing on a single dietary supplement or nutrient.

Some immune-system strengthening nutrients found in superfoods include protein, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, selenium, zinc, iron, and copper. Scientists are also exploring how our digestive system defends us from outside invaders. This is where prebiotics and probiotics come into the picture. They help you maintain a healthy gut.

Of course, along with a healthy diet, holistic strategies such as getting enough sleep, staying active, managing stress, and washing hands are essential for a robust immune system.

Ideas for including immune system superfoods at snack time

If you are a snacker, selecting foods that count towards your health is smart. Ask yourself"Do I focus on healthy foods during meals but use snack time to junk out?"

Here are some superfood snack ideas, all under 150 calories, which focus on essential immune system strengtheners (e.g., nutrients, antioxidants, prebiotics, and probiotics) to boost your immune system's power.

Superfood snacks for your immune system at less than 150 calories each

Superfood snack	Key nutrients & antioxidants
1 cup jicama slices with ¼ cup salsa as dip	vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, prebiotics
1 cup nectarine slices, ¼ cup cottage cheese topped with 2 teaspoons sunflower seeds	vitamin A, vitamin C, flavonoids, protein, vitamin B6, vitamin E, copper, iron, selenium, zinc
1 tablespoon almond butter on 10 rice crackers with sprinkle of cinnamon	protein, vitamin B6, iron, polyphenols (antioxidants)
10 baby carrots and 2 tablespoons hummus	vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, copper, iron
1 small apple with ½ tablespoon peanut butter and green tea	vitamin C, prebiotics, antioxidants such as polyphenols and catechins
1 ounce sardines with 10 whole grain crackers	omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B6, copper, iron
2 ounces deli turkey wrapped around avocado wedges (¼ avocado)	protein, vitamin B6, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, folate, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium
¼ cup tuna with 1 teaspoon mayonnaise, ½ tomato, dusting of turmeric	protein, omega-3 fatty acids, copper, selenium, vitamin C, curcumin
½ Ruby red grapefruit topped with dash of cinnamon and 6 ounces low-fat milk	vitamin A, vitamin C, polyphenols, protein
⅓ cup strawberries and ⅓ cup blueberries topped with 4 ounces plain low-fat yogurt and 1 teaspoon sunflower seeds	vitamin C, anthocyanins, prebiotics, probiotics, vitamin E
4 slices each of green pepper and red pepper and 4 baby carrots Dip: 2 ounces Greek non-fat yogurt mixed with dash of curry and turmeric	vitamin A, vitamin C, prebiotics, probiotics, curcumin
4 ounces plain low-fat yogurt topped with ½ tablespoon pumpkin seeds, ½ tablespoon sunflower seeds, ½ teaspoon honey	prebiotics, probiotics, vitamin E, copper, iron, zinc
1 hard-boiled egg and ⅓ cup edamame	protein, vitamin B6, selenium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids
6 ounces low-fat kefir (drinkable yogurt) and 7 almonds	protein, prebiotics, probiotics, vitamin E, zinc
3 ounces shrimp with 3 tablespoons cocktail sauce and a lemon wedge	protein, vitamin B6, selenium, zinc, vitamin C
1 medium orange and ½ kiwi	vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, lutein, folate, zinc
½ small banana cut in half with 2 teaspoons almond butter and dash of cinnamon	vitamin C, B6, copper, prebiotic, protein, polyphenols
1 cup strawberries topped with 4 ounces Greek non-fat yogurt, ½ teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon flax seeds	vitamin C, protein, prebiotics, probiotics, phenolic acid, flavonoids, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc
5 dried apricot halves and 7 walnuts	vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, folic acid, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc
½ cup raw broccoli, ½ cup cherry tomatoes and 1 ounce mozzarella cheese	vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, iron, lutein, protein