Whimsical, Fun Foods: Inspire Joy With These Delicious Recipes

Don’t take your diet and nutrition so seriously. These whimsical, fun foods can spark a little more creativity and joy in your kitchen, and lighten your mood no matter what your day looked like. And each of these fun foods are inspired by lighthearted childhood moments — perfect for cooking or baking with your own children, or taking you back to a time when you were more carefree and stress-free. Best of all, each delicious recipe is tasty and packed with immune-boosting nutrition.

BREAKFAST: Decadent French Toast

Start your day of fun foods with this sinfully delicious, yet surprisingly healthy, french toast. It’ll make your Monday morning feel like a Saturday morning, and only takes a couple of minutes to put together.

This breakfast helps you to hit your daily goals of immune-boosting whole grains, and also gets you a full serving of protein, fiber, and lots of vitamin C (another proven immune enhancer). You’ll be surprised at how little actual sugar is in this healthy breakfast. The secret is vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon and nutmeg. These spices and seasonings increase the sweetness profile of your french toast, without needing extra syrup!

8 slices of whole-grain bread

4 large eggs (ideally local, free-ranged and organic)

1 c almond milk

1/4 c no-pulp orange juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp maple syrup

2 tsp coconut oil

Whisk together the eggs, milk, juice, syrup and spices (including the vanilla and almond extracts).

Soak the bread slices in the mixture for a couple of minutes on each side. While the bread is soaking, heat up the coconut oil in a frying pan.

Fry the bread for 3 minutes on each side, then enjoy warm. Take your fun foods recipe to another level by serving this french toast with fresh berries for extra antioxidants and immune support!

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LUNCH: Reimagined PB&J “Sandwiches”

PB&J sandwiches are one of the classic fun foods that most of us loved when we were kids. This healthy lunch takes that concept, then reinvents it in a creative, whimsical way.

The rice cakes are a great source of digestion-enhancing fiber, and pair well with the creamy nut butter. But the secret lies in the ultra-fresh jam (no premade, store-bought jelly here!). Berries have some of the highest antioxidant activity levels of all foods, and they’re powerhouses for supporting a strong immune system.

1/2 c each of fresh, organic raspberries and blueberries

1 tbsp chia seeds

2 tsp honey

8 large brown rice cakes

4 tbsp of your favorite nut butter

1/2 small Asian pear, cored and sliced horizontally into circles

Whisk together the berries, chia seeds, honey and a spoon or two of tap water. Mash the mixture with a fork and let it soak for 30 minutes in your fridge (the chia seeds will create a gel-like mixture that turns the mashed berries into a healthy, spreadable jam).

Spread nut butter on the rice cake and top with a spoon of jam and a slice of pear. Add another rice cake on top of it to form a sandwich and enjoy!

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DINNER: Keto Tuna Cups

There’s something about this fun foods recipe that instantly transports you into a whimsical, creative state of mind. It’s colorful. It’s unusual. And it’s served in adorable lettuce cups that are a joy to hold (and to eat!).

Tuna is one of the most-recommended, well-researched sources of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fats help to reduce cortisol, minimize inflammation, and boost your immune system. You’ll get extra protein from the eggs, plus lots of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals from all of the veggies that sneak their way into this lunch dish.

4 eggs, hardboiled

1/3 c avocado oil mayonnaise

2 tbsp sour cream

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 celery stalk, sliced

Two 5-ounce cans tuna, drained

2 scallions, diced

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 Roma tomato, cut into slices

16 leaves Bibb lettuce

Peel the eggs, then dice them.

Mix the mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, celery, scallions, salt and pepper, tuna and eggs until combined.

Double-layer each lettuce leaves, so that the 16 leaves become eight lettuce “cups.” It’s important to use Bibb lettuce, which is soft, flexible and naturally cup-shaped.

Place a slice or two of tomato into the bottom of each lettuce cup, then fill the cups with tuna. Enjoy!

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Hungry For More Fun Foods? Keep Reading More:

Immunity Lunches for the Whole Family