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

16 of the Best Vitamin C Recipes to Beat the Common Cold (1)

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 stop 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? ›

1. 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).

How many 1,000 mg vitamin C per day? ›

The recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 75 milligrams (mg) a day for women and 90 mg a day for men. During pregnancy, 120 mg a day are recommended. The upper limit for all adults is 2,000 mg a day.

What is the best drink for vitamin C? ›

Out of some of the most commonly bought juices, including apple juice, orange juice, and cranberry juice, orange juice is a recommended option due to its high concentration of vitamin C compared with apple juice and cranberry juice. Just make sure that it is 100% orange juice.

Does vitamin C actually shorten colds? ›

The studies showed that it wasn't possible to prevent colds by taking vitamin C every day over a longer period of time. But doing so did shorten the amount of time that people were ill by about 10 percent. In other words, a cold that would have lasted ten days was over in nine days.

Can vitamin C shorten a cold? ›

When vitamin C was tested for treatment of colds in 7 separate studies, it was found to be no more effective than placebo at shortening the duration of cold symptoms. If you take at least 0.2 grams of vitamin C every day, you're not likely to have fewer colds, but they may end a day or two quicker.

Which 3 fruit are highest in vitamin C? ›

Foods High in Vitamin C
  1. Guava. Vitamin C DV: 417% ...
  2. Hot Chili Peppers. Vitamin C DV: 240-404% ...
  3. Bell Peppers. Vitamin C DV: 165.83-263.33% ...
  4. Kiwi. Vitamin C DV: 148.89% ...
  5. Mango. Vitamin C DV: 135.56% ...
  6. Papaya. Vitamin C DV: 98.11-106.22% ...
  7. Strawberries. Vitamin C DV: 108.89% ...
  8. Broccoli. Vitamin C DV: 90.22%
Aug 19, 2023

How do I get 100% vitamin C? ›

Sources of Vitamin C

Citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato juice, and potatoes are major contributors of vitamin C to the American diet [8]. Other good food sources include red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe (see Table 2) [8,12].

Are eggs high in vitamin C? ›

The egg and, more precisely, the egg yolk, is a vitamin-rich food that contains all vitamins except vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The absence of vitamin C in the egg may result from the fact that birds are capable of satisfying their own vitamin C requirements, by de novo synthesis from glucose [52].

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.

Is it OK to take 1000mg vitamin C everyday? ›

The upper limit for vitamin C in adults is 2,000 mg. Individuals with chronic liver disease, gout, or kidney disease are recommended to take no more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day. High vitamin C intakes have the potential to increase urinary oxalate and uric acid excretion.

What happens if I take 1000mg of vitamin C everyday? ›

Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause: stomach pain. diarrhoea. flatulence.

What is the fastest way to absorb vitamin C? ›

What is the Best Time to Take Vitamin C? Because vitamin C is water-soluble, supplements are best absorbed on an empty stomach. It's best taken in the morning, 30 minutes before eating for optimum absorption.

What is the fastest way to get vitamin C? ›

Vitamin C in Foods
  1. Citrus fruits. Raw citrus fruits are very high in vitamin C. ...
  2. Broccoli. Surprisingly, a cup of broccoli contains as much vitamin C as an orange. ...
  3. Red cabbage. Red cabbage, also called purple cabbage, is high in vitamin C and low in calories. ...
  4. Kiwi. ...
  5. Bell peppers.
Nov 17, 2023

How can I absorb vitamin C better? ›

In theory, slowing down the rate of stomach emptying (e.g., by taking ascorbic acid with food or taking a slow-release form of ascorbic acid) should increase its absorption.

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.

Can I take 2000mg of vitamin C at once? ›

The upper limit for vitamin C in adults is 2,000 mg. Individuals with chronic liver disease, gout, or kidney disease are recommended to take no more than 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day. High vitamin C intakes have the potential to increase urinary oxalate and uric acid excretion.

Is taking 500 mg vitamin C daily has been shown to prevent colds? ›

Supplementing with vitamin C won't reduce your risk of catching a cold, but it may speed up your recovery and reduce the severity of your symptoms. While taking supplements may be necessary to reach the high vitamin C intake required to improve colds, make sure not to go overboard.

How quickly does vitamin C work? ›

How long do you need to take vitamin C to start experiencing its benefits? Supplementing with vitamin C may lead to positive benefits within 1-2 days. Consistency is key and our research recommends taking your Feel supplements for at least 3 months to allow your body to adjust and provide the desired benefits.

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