15 Allergy-Calming Meals for Cold Months – One Green Planet

You may think that with the cold weather, frost, and snow also comes relief from those annoying warm weather allergies… unfortunately, think again.

The winter months come with their own set of challenges for those that suffer from or are sensitive to allergies. Along with dry, cold air and increased winds, you are also posed with indoor challenges such as forced-air furnaces circulating “airborne dust containing lint, fabric fiber, bacteria, food material, and animal dander.” Think that’s all? Not quite. Spending more time sequestered indoors also means you’ll be plagued by dust mites, pet dander, and cockroach droppings … yes, this is one of the most common of winter allergy instigators!

With that said, you’re not out of luck when it comes to relief! In fact, there are a variety of natural ways to not only treat but prevent winter allergies from manifesting. For preventative and treatment measures outside of your diet, take a gander at this article Treat Winter Allergies Naturally.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App on iTunes –– with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy!

Today, we’re going to focus on those calming and comforting foods and beverages to incorporate into your daily winter routine to help manage those winter allergies!

1. Orange Jam

Source: Orange Jam

We’re starting out with one of the most popular fixes — vitamin C-rich oranges! This Orange Jam recipe by Lenia Patsi is the perfect simple dish to keep in your fridge and use throughout the winter season to keep those allergies in check!

2. Sesame-Ginger Chopped Salad With Crispy Wonton Strips

Source: Sesame-Ginger Chopped Salad With Crispy Wonton Strips

Allergies are oftentimes caused or accompanied by inflammation, which is where ancient traditional medicines such as ginger come in handy. This Sesame-Ginger Chopped Salad With Crispy Wonton Strips recipe by Molly Krebs offers a dose of ginger alongside some other anti-inflammatory powerhouses such as garlic, cabbage, and healthy fat-filled olive oil.

3. Warming Turmeric Baked Oats

Source: Warming Turmeric Baked Oats

Much like ginger, turmeric is yet another anti-inflammatory traditional medicinal agent that has been used for years. This Warming Turmeric Baked Oats recipe by Hayley Canning is a great way to get turmeric into your diet, while also infusing your body with a wonderfully comforting, tummy-filling meal for the winter!

4. Pepper and Almond Spread

Source: Pepper and Almond Spread

You may turn strictly to those citrus fruits for vitamin C, but did you know that tomatoes are also a rich source? This Pepper and Almond Spread recipe by Simona Malerba combines vitamin-C rich tomatoes with healthy fat and protein-filled almonds.

5. Lemon Garlic No-Oil Tofu

Source: Lemon Garlic No-Oil Tofu

Give me more of that wonderful vitamin C! Lemons are also a wonderful flavorful agent to cook with and can help you stay hydrated during those dry winter months. Talk about a double-hit of anti-inflammatory goodies! This Lemon Garlic No-Oil Tofu recipe by Robin Runner combines vitamin C-rich lemon, garlic, and protein-rich tofu.

6. Spicy Sweetcorn and Onion Fritters

Source: Spicy Sweetcorn and Onion Fritters

Onions are not only incredibly delicious and flavorful, but they are also a “natural source of quercetin, a bioflavonoid … [that] acts as a natural antihistamine.” There’s nothing like a mixture of spice and onion to clear your allergy-ridden nasal passageway! This Spicy Sweetcorn and Onion Fritters recipe by Holly Jade offers a spicy dose of chili flakes, alongside anti-bacterial garlic, and allergy-fighting onions!

7. Roasted Corn and Pepper Soup

Source: Roasted Corn and Pepper Soup

Let’s say citrus fruit isn’t your jam, try getting your daily dose of vitamin C from sweet peppers! This Roasted Corn and Pepper Soup recipe by Kristina Jug and Mitja Bezensek is perfect for the cool winter months, plus it’s loaded with allergy-fighting onion, anti-bacterial garlic, vitamin C-rich tomato, and healthy fat-filled olive oil!

8. Blueberry-Almond Dark Chocolate Bark

Source: Blueberry-Almond Dark Chocolate Bark

While blueberries are rich in vitamin C, the true key in this recipe is dark chocolate! Dark chocolate is filled with all kinds of body-boosting nutrients including a load of antioxidants. With this Blueberry-Almond Dark Chocolate Bark recipe by Cathy Elton you get the best of both worlds!

9. Grapefruit Cardamom Oatmeal

Source: Grapefruit Cardamom Oatmeal

When it comes to fruit, this often demonized ball of goodies has a ton of health benefits including vitamin-C, antioxidants, it helps boost immunity, and even curbs appetite. For those that aren’t necessarily in love with grapefruit, this Grapefruit Cardamom Oatmeal recipe by Lauren Smith is a great balancing act: the bitter grapefruit is complemented by vanilla extract, cardamom, and maple syrup.

10. Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

Source: Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

Your quest to knock out those allergy symptoms doesn’t have to be all misery. For instance, enjoy this delightful Strawberry Smoothie Bowl recipe by Maryke Wylde while also kicking that runny nose!

11. Jumbo Raspberry Dark Chocolate Oat Biscuits

Source: Jumbo Raspberry Dark Chocolate Oat Biscuits

Raspberries are not only low on the glycemic index, making them a great sweet treat for many different diets, but they’re also rich in vitamin C. This Jumbo Raspberry Dark Chocolate Oat Biscuits recipe by Hayley Canning combines the miraculous powers of dark chocolate, with the filling fiber of oats, and the vitamin C of raspberries.

12. Blood Orange Jalapeno Salsa

Source: Blood Orange Jalapeno Salsa

Not only will you get a dose of jalapeno-derived capsaicin — to clear out that snot riddle nose — but this Blood Orange Jalapeno Salsa recipe by Laura Nockett is also loaded with vitamin C-filled blood orange and detox-friendly cilantro.

13. Nutella Buckwheat Smoothie With Warm Blackberry Sauce

Source: Nutella Buckwheat Smoothie With Warm Blackberry Sauce

You may not turn to blackberries very often — I mean you’ve got raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries to choose from! — but these little vitamin C-suckers are a great treat to have in your fridge to kick those winter allergy symptoms. This Nutella Buckwheat Smoothie With Warm Blackberry Sauce recipe by Mitra Shirmohammadi takes healing to a whole new level by combing heart-healthy, filling buckwheat, fiber-filled flax seeds, vitamin C-rich lemon, and anti-inflammatory cinnamon.

14. Ginger Walnut Slice

Source: Ginger Walnut Slice

Another treat brimming with allergy kicking ginger! This Ginger Walnut Slice recipe by Sara Kidd is not only one of my favorite healing treats, but it’s loaded with omega-3 walnuts and more of that vitamin C from lemon. Plus, you’ll not only get freshly grated ginger, but also another dose of ginger powder.

15. Turmeric Flatbread

Source: Turmeric Flatbread

Need something to slather that orange jam or pepper and almond spread on? This Turmeric Flatbread recipe by Gabrielle St. Claire includes anti-inflammatory and immune system-boosting turmeric.