16 of the Best Vitamin C Recipes to Beat the Common Cold (2024)

The risotto recipe is packed with one of the best vitamin C foods for kids

Think vitamin C is only found in oranges? Think again. Boost those immune systems with these Vitamin C foods for kids that will upgrade your family’s daily dose of this all-important vitamin, starting with breakfast all the way through dessert. Doing this might even help stave off some of the impending sick days we know are on the horizon. From healthy Dole Whip to irresistible Brussels sprouts, these foods are high in vitamin C and worthy of any winter menu.

One-Pot Cheesy Cauliflower Pasta

Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Garlic Parmesan Cream

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Brussels sprouts are an excellent choice if you want to boost your vitamin C consumption. And if you're looking for a recipe that'll be a winner with kids and adults alike, you're in luck. This dish is a comfort food classic, sporting bacon, anda cheesy sauce. Click on over toOat & Sesamefor more!

Healthy Dole Whip

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If you're a fan of Disneyland's Dole Whip, we've got a double dose of good news. We have a recipe that not only promises a healthy version of your favorite treatbut also includes a good dose of vitamin C, thanks to pineapple. Grab your Mickey Mouse earsand get the recipe from Almost Supermom.

Broccoli Cheddar Risotto

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Broccoli actually has more vitamin C than an orange, so it's a great green bet for your family's diet! This recipe fromSavory Tooth is a kid-friendly way to welcome broccoli to your dinner table—and it doesn't require constant stirring!

Zucchini Pizza Casserole

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Zucchini is a good source of vitamin C (the skin especially), and this recipe is great for a quick and delicious dinner. It has themelty cheese and pepperoni of your favorite pizza, but with a healthy twist. Best of all, it's a dump-and-bake kind of meal! Get the recipe from The Seasoned Mom.

Lemon Chicken Veggie Bake

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Oranges may get a lot of the vitamin C glory, but lemons are a powerhouse source, too. The best way to take advantage? This one-dish meal that’s homey, tasty, and bursting with lemon flavor.Get the recipe here.

Broccoli Tots

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If your tots love tots, you've got to give this version, courtesy ofGimme Delicious, a try. Here, broccoli is the star, along with its hefty dose of vitamin C. Plus, they're baked, not fried, and perfect for a snack or main meal.

Roasted Cauliflower Corn Chowder

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Cauliflower has a surprising amount of vitamin C, but the trick is finding a kid-friendly recipe spotlighting this particular veggie. Cue this chowder that pairs roasted cauliflower with sweet corn, bacon bits, and cheesy goodness.Get the recipe from Valerie’s Kitchen.

Stuffed Red Peppers

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Just acup of red bell peppers has a whopping amount of vitamin C and this recipe uses whole peppers in a super delicious way! They’re also so easy to make that kids can even help out.Get the recipe here.

Mango Smoothie Bowl

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This colorful smoothie bowl isn’tjusta beautiful way to start your day. It’s also chock-full of healthy fruit, including vitamin C-rich mangos. And if you don’t live in a tropical climate? Just grab the majority of your ingredients from the frozen aisle.Get the recipe from Downshiftology.

Salmon Teriyaki with Pineapple Salsa

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We have just one word for this salmon dish: yum! It gets points for being easy to whip up, and there’s also a pineapple salsa full of fresh flavor and vitamin C. It sounds like a dinner winner to us! Get the recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.

Strawberry Agua Fresca

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There are tons of ways to enjoy strawberries and their sweet vitamin C benefits, but we’re partial to this three-ingredient agua fresca. It’s a perfect summer drink (or a perfect drink if you want to pretend that it’s summer).Get the recipe from Lola’s Cocina.

Crispy Kale Chips

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We salute you if you've got a kid who will eat kale chips. This homemade version is ultra-easy to make and features all the fantastic nutritional perks of kale (including vitamin C!). Get the recipe here.

The Green Goblin Smoothie

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Not only can you prep all the ingredients for this smoothie ahead of time, but you can also feel good about those ingredients (Think healthy superfoods: spinach, oranges, pineapple, and banana.). Get the recipe here.

Kiwi Popsicles

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Did you know kiwi is a killer source of vitamin C? It also makes an excellent popsicle—and this no-fuss recipe is proof! Grab dixie cups and frozen peas (yes, peas!), and you’re halfway to enjoying a delish frozen treat.Get the recipe here.

Coconut Tangelo Rice Pudding

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The vitamin C train doesn't have to stop at dinner. Give your dessert the extra boost with this delicious creamy coconut tangelo rice pudding recipe from Boulder Locavore. Tangelos (a hybrid of mandarin oranges and tangerines) have a tangy kick that pairs well with creamy coconut milk.

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16 of the Best Vitamin C Recipes to Beat the Common Cold (2024)

FAQs

How much vitamin C to fight a cold? ›

Vitamin C might help to treat your cold, but it's probably not enough to notice. Research shows that regularly taking 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg of vitamin C may reduce how long cold symptoms last and how severe they are.

What food is highest in vitamin C? ›

Kakadu plums. The Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana) is an Australian native superfood containing 100 times more vitamin C than oranges. It has the highest known concentration of vitamin C of any food, containing up to 2,907 mg per 100 grams (g).

What is the best drink for vitamin C? ›

5 Effective Vitamin C Drinks To Add to Your Diet
  1. Orange Juice. Orange juice is a popular breakfast drink for Americans. ...
  2. Pineapple Juice. Pineapple juice has a delightful tropical flavor, and it's packed with vitamin C. ...
  3. Grapefruit Juice. ...
  4. Tomato Juice. ...
  5. Lemonade or Limeade.
Jul 31, 2023

Is 1000 mg of vitamin C too much? ›

Taking more than 2000 mg daily is possibly unsafe and may cause kidney stones and severe diarrhea. In people who have had a kidney stone, taking amounts greater than 1000 mg daily increases the risk of getting more kidney stones. When applied to the skin: Vitamin C is likely safe for most people.

Does Emergen-C actually work? ›

Although many people take Emergen-C to prevent or shorten a cold, the scientific evidence showing it works is minimal. There's also mixed research about vitamin C's effectiveness in preventing or treating colds in the general population. If you still decide to take Emergen-C, keep it to one serving daily.

Does zinc really help a cold? ›

The study found that zinc shortened the time people felt sick from their colds. It also reported a lot of side effects. Compared with people who didn't take zinc, those who did commonly complained of upset stomach, problems with taste and mouth irritation. Other side effects of taking zinc can be serious.

How can I get 100% of vitamin C daily? ›

Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of this vitamin.
  1. Citrus (oranges, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit)
  2. Bell peppers.
  3. Strawberries.
  4. Tomatoes.
  5. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower)
  6. White potatoes.

Which food is the king of vitamin C? ›

Vitamin C Foods by Nutrient Density (Vitamin C per Gram)
FoodServingVitamin C
1. Acerola Cherry100 grams1864% DV (1678mg)
2. Dried Herbs (Coriander)100 grams630% DV (567mg)
3. Rose Hips100 grams473% DV (426mg)
4. Guavas100 grams254% DV (228mg)
6 more rows
7 days ago

What is the richest natural source of vitamin C? ›

Good sources include:
  • citrus fruit, such as oranges and orange juice.
  • peppers.
  • strawberries.
  • blackcurrants.
  • broccoli.
  • brussels sprouts.
  • potatoes.

What is the fastest way to absorb vitamin C? ›

Vitamin C is best consumed in a raw state. The best way to consume vitamin C for optimum absorption is to supplement it together with iron. This is why it is commonplace to drink orange juice with your cereal. The iron in the cereal helps you to better absorb the vitamin C in the orange juice.

Does drinking lemon water increase vitamin C? ›

One lemon can offer about half of your recommended daily value of vitamin C, which contributes to immune system defense and may help the body fight infection. Lemons also contain citrus flavonoids.

What is the healthiest form of vitamin C? ›

Liposomal vitamin C. This form is best because there is almost always a gut malabsorption problem underneath a severe deficiency.

Why avoid taking vitamin C at night? ›

The evening is not the best time because vitamin C is acidic and can cause problems when consumed on an empty stomach, especially in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease – of course the dosage matters.

Can 5000 mg of vitamin C hurt you? ›

The upper limit for all adults is 2,000 mg a day. Although too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, large doses of vitamin C supplements might cause: Diarrhea.

What not to take with vitamin C? ›

Possible interactions include:
  • Aluminum. Taking vitamin C can increase your absorption of aluminum from medications containing aluminum, such as phosphate binders. ...
  • Chemotherapy. ...
  • Estrogen. ...
  • Protease inhibitors. ...
  • Statins and niacin. ...
  • Warfarin (Jantoven).

Does 1000mg of vitamin C help with a cold? ›

Taking vitamin C every day to try to prevent colds won't protect most people from colds. It only slightly shortens the amount of time that they're ill. Starting to take vitamin C once you already have cold symptoms won't have any effect on your cold.

Is 500mg of vitamin C too much for a child? ›

According to the NIH, children between the ages of 1–3 years should not take more than 400 mg/day of vitamin C, children 4–8 years should not take more than 650 mg/day and children between 9–13 years should not exceed 1,200 mg/day.

Is 5g of vitamin C too much? ›

Although vitamin C can be well tolerated at doses well above what government organizations recommend, adverse effects can occur at doses above 3 grams per day. The common "threshold" side effect of megadoses is diarrhea.

How much vitamin C can I take to boost my immune system? ›

It supports wound healing, collagen formation, and immunity. The RDA for vitamin C is 45–120 mg depending on your age and sex. Vitamin C supplements should meet the RDA and stay well below the established UL — 400 for young children, 1,200 mg for kids aged 9–13, 1,800 mg for teens, and 2,000 mg for adults.

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