7-Day No-Sugar Meal Plan for Healthy Immunity

How well your immune system functions depends on several factors, some you can influence and others are based on luck of the draw. While there's no single food or nutrient that can prevent you from getting sick, eating a varied and nutritious diet with a special focus on foods that support a healthy immune system certainly won't hurt. In this plan, we focus on foods high in nutrients that help our immune system function properly, like protein, zinc and vitamins A, C, D and E. What you won't find? Added sugars. On average, the American adult eats 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; significantly above the American Heart Association's recommended daily max of 9 teaspoons of added sugar for men and 6 for women.

Because added sugars are a growing source of calories—without nutritional benefits—in many people's diets, we opted to skip them for this plan and focus on healthy immune-supporting foods. Because excess body weight could negatively impact your immune system, we set this plan at 1,500 calories per day, which is a level where most people will lose weight. For those with other calorie needs, we also included modifications for 1,200 and 2,000 calories a day.

Strategies for a Healthy Immune System:

• Hydrate: Drinking plenty of fluids has many benefits, including lubricating your nasal passages, which helps fend off viruses better than a dry nose.
• Rest: Quality and sufficient sleep at night is important for many areas of our body to function properly, including a healthy immune system.
• Eat a Nutritious Diet: Eating a balanced and healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and nutrient-dense foods helps support a healthy immune system.
• Socialize: There's some evidence that laughing and socializing with others reduces stress, which helps support a healthy immune response.

Immune-Supporting Foods to Focus On

While there's no evidence that any one specific food or nutrient can support your immune system, certain nutrients are needed for your immune system to function. Focusing on foods high in these nutrients, in addition eating to a healthy and varied diet, plays a role in supporting our health.

• Vitamin A: Sweet potato, carrots, liver, spinach, milk, egg, cantaloupe, mango, dark leafy greens.
• Vitamin C: Broccoli, oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, cantaloupe
• Vitamin D: Salmon, tuna, sardines and other fatty fish, fortified milk and yogurt, eggs
• Vitamin E: Sunflower seeds, nuts, peanuts, nut and peanut butter, avocado, dark leafy greens, wheat germ
• Protein: Meat and poultry, Greek yogurt, cheese, nuts and seeds, legumes, eggs, quinoa, tofu
• Zinc: Oysters, crab, beef, lobster, pork, turkey, pumpkin seeds, legumes, yogurt, cashews and fortified cereals

How to Meal-Prep Your Week of Meals

1. Prepare Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers to have for breakfast on days 2 through 4.
2. Make Vegan Lentil Stew to have for lunch on days 2 through 5.

Day 1

Breakfast (403 calories)

• 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie
• 20 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

A.M. Snack (125 calories)

• 5-oz. container low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup blueberries

Lunch (387 calories)

• 1 serving Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
• 1 medium orange

P.M. Snack (200 calories)

• 1 medium apple
• 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter

Dinner (405 calories)

• 1 serving Sheet-Pan Chili-Lime Salmon with Potatoes & Peppers

Daily Totals: 1,518 calories, 64g fat, 81g protein, 166g carbohydrate, 35g fiber, 1,100mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Omit almonds at breakfast and change P.M. snack to 1 plum.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, increase to 3 Tbsp. peanut butter at P.M. snack, and add 1 serving Basic Green Salad with Vinaigrette to dinner.

Day 2

Breakfast (341 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
• 1 cup sliced strawberries

A.M. Snack (231 calories)

• 30 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Lunch (374 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Lentil Stew
• 1 medium pear

P.M. Snack (171 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
• 1 medium orange

Dinner (433 calories)

• 1 serving Beef Stir-Fry with Baby Bok Choy & Ginger
• ¾ cup cooked brown rice

Daily Totals: 1,489 calories, 61g fat, 77g protein, 169g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,640mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1 clementine and omit kefir at P.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast and add 1 serving Guacamole Chopped Salad to dinner.

Day 3

Breakfast (341 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
• 1 cup sliced strawberries

A.M. Snack (125 calories)

• 5-oz. container low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup blueberries

Lunch (374 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Lentil Stew
• 1 medium pear

P.M. Snack (200 calories)

• 1 medium apple
• 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter

Dinner (511 calories)

• 1 serving Garlic Chicken Thighs with Olives & Potatoes

Daily Totals: 1,488 calories, 62g fat, 75g protein, 163g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,748mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Omit yogurt at A.M. snack and change P.M. snack to 1 plum.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast, increase to 2 1/2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter at P.M. snack, and add a 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette to dinner.

Day 4

Breakfast (341 calories)

• 1 serving Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers
• 1 cup sliced strawberries

A.M. Snack (193 calories)

• 25 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Lunch (374 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Lentil Stew
• 1 medium pear

P.M. Snack (171 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
• 1 medium orange

Dinner (507 calories)

• 1 serving Cheesy Black Bean & Quinoa Skillet Casserole

Daily Totals: 1,525 calories, 66g fat, 67g protein, 180g carbohydrate, 36g fiber, 1,710mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1 clementine and change P.M. snack to 1/4 cup sliced cucumber.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast and add 1 serving Guacamole Chopped Salad to dinner.

Day 5

Breakfast (341 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup raspberries
• 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts

A.M. Snack (230 calories)

• 1 cup edamame, in pods
• 1 plum

Lunch (374 calories)

• 1 serving Vegan Lentil Stew
• 1 medium pear

P.M. Snack (115 calories)

• 1 medium bell pepper, sliced
• 3 Tbsp. hummus

Dinner (421 calories)

• 1 serving Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Daily Totals: 1,480 calories, 61g fat, 82g protein, 164g carbohydrate, 41g fiber, 1,692mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Reduce to 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts at breakfast and omit edamame at A.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 slice sprouted-wheat toast with 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to breakfast and add 1 serving No-Cook Black Bean Salad to dinner.

Day 6

Breakfast (403 calories)

• 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie
• 20 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

A.M. Snack (95 calories)

• 1 medium apple

Lunch (377 calories)

• 1 serving Chile-Spiced Chickpea Salad
• 1 medium banana

P.M. Snack (171 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
• 1 medium orange

Dinner (432 calories)

• 1 serving Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad

Daily Totals: 1,478 calories, 51g fat, 78g protein, 186g carbohydrate, 38g fiber, 1,165mg sodium

Tomake it 1,200 calories: Omit almonds at breakfast and kefir at P.M. snack.

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 slice sprouted-wheat toast with 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter at breakfast, add 1 1/4 cup edamame in pods to A.M. snack and add a 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette to dinner.

Day 7

Breakfast (341 calories)

• 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup raspberries
• 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts

A.M. Snack (154 calories)

• 20 unsalted dry-roasted almonds

Lunch (377 calories)

• 1 serving Chile-Spiced Chickpea Salad
• 1 medium banana

P.M. Snack (200 calories)

• 1 cup edamame, in pods

Dinner (408 calories)

• 1 serving Sheet-Pan Balsamic-Parmesan Chicken & Vegetables

Daily Totals: 1,480 calories, 66g fat, 97g protein, 128g carbohydrate, 34g fiber, 962mg sodium

To make it 1,200 calories: Reduce to 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts at breakfast and change P.M. snack to 1 plum

To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 large apple to A.M. snack, add 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to the banana at lunch, and add 1 serving Traditional Greek Salad to dinner.