Back to School, Stronger Than Ever: Immune Support for Kids and Parents

The summer break is winding down, and now the school year is right around the corner. Scurrying for pencils, supplies, and finding a semblance of routine can certainly be chaotic.  While settling into a new school year often brings stress, maintaining a strong and healthy immune system can be paramount, as getting sick when the year starts can be a setback of all sorts. 

Tips for Adding Healthy Foods During Back to School Season

Before the school year takes effect, consider focusing on making your diet loaded with nutrients. Adding more of the valuable immune-supporting nutrients may help to play a role in nourishing this aspect of health, but making it a habit throughout the week can help to ensure you make the right choices. Here are some tips that any busy family can use to help add more nutrients to the diet.

  • Meal prep on the weekend. Meal prepping for the week ahead can be an easy way to eat healthy when you are busy.  Utilize a little time on the weekend to make a few healthy meals that have vegetables to add key nutrients.
  • Pre-cut your fruit. Have your fruit washed and cut ahead of time to make it a truly grab-and-go option.
  • Watch what you snack on. Packing healthy snacks for in between meals can add valuable nutrients needed to support immune health.

Let’s take a look at some of the key elements of a healthy immune system and what nutrients may help to support lasting protection. 

How Does a Healthy Diet Affect Immunity?

Your immune system is a collection of cells and hormones that are designed to detect and destroy potential invading organisms. While the immune system is vital to human life, nourishing the immune cells may help to support lasting protection and function. 

A diet that offers various antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals is best for establishing lasting immunity at any time of the year. Here are some important nutrients to consider in your diet for a healthy immune function for back to school time. 

  • Zinc.  The essential mineral is vital to adaptive immunity and is important to maintain for back to school. Zinc may play a role in detecting an illness and release compounds to destroy this potential invading organism. 
  • Vitamin C.  Perhaps the most notorious vitamin for immunity, vitamin C may play a role in supporting various elements of immune function.  Vitamin C promotes the production of specialized proteins called antibodies to be formed, which can help to maintain and protect the body’s defense mechanism against germs. 
  • Vitamin D.  Widely known for its ability to aid in bone health, vitamin D is crucial for immunity. Vitamin D may help to maintain compounds in the body that kill foreign invaders
  • Selenium.  Found in many plant-based options, selenium may be an important mineral for immune support for kids and the family. Selenium may help to activate immune cells to destroy potential foreign invaders, including bacteria, with detection. 
  • Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a potential illness fighting ingredient that provides powerful carotenoids that are derived from plant-based sources.  The diet can provide an abundance of this essential antioxidant, and it can be found in immune-supporting supplements. 

When is a Supplement Necessary?

Supplements that are designed for immune health are highly popular, especially around respiratory illness season. When the diet cannot keep up with the body’s needs, consider a supplement for back to school season to encourage immune support for kids. Listed below are some options for immune support for kids, formulated by Mary Ruth vitamins. 

  • MaryRuth’s Organics Immunity Gummies, Sugar Free – MaryRuth’s Organics Immunity Gummies, Sugar Free offer a vast amount of vitamins and minerals to support immune function. It contains powerful vitamins C and D, zinc, elderberry, and echinacea for a combination of ingredients that are specific to supporting your health. 
  • MaryRuth’s Organics 7-in-1 Immunity Support Liposomal – This specialized formula by MaryRuth vitamins is created with liposomal technology for nutrient delivery and absorption.  MaryRuth’s Organic 7-in-1 Immunity Support Liposomal is headlined by essential vitamins C, D, E, zinc, elderberry, and echinacea for a complete delivery of nutrients to nourish the immune system. 
  • MaryRuth’s Organics Organic Kids Immunity Gummies – Adding immune support for kids is best with tasty gummies. MaryRuth’s Organics Organic Kids Immunity Gummies features a mixed berry flavor that delivers vitamin C, zinc, and elderberry in every serving. Adding these gummies can be a delicious way to nourish the body and provide nutrients that may promote continued immune support. 
  • MaryRuth’s Organics Organic Kids Liquid ProbioticMaryRuth Organics offers a wide range of products formulated for various elements of immune health. MaryRuth’s Organics Organic Kids Liquid Probiotic supports your kid’s gut microbiome, including five key strains of probiotics, for overall immune health. 
  • MaryRuth’s Organics Megadose Vitamin D3 Organic Liquid Drops – Delivered as a high-dose serving of vitamin D3, MaryRuth’s Organics Megadose Vitamin D3 Organic Liquid Drops helps to support immune function. Only 1 mL of these drops is needed to supply ample amounts of vitamin D3 for immune, bone, and mood support. 
  • MaryRuth’s Organics Omega 3-6-7-9 Gummies – MaryRuth’s Organics Omega 3-6-7-9 gummies supplies a mixture of omega fatty acids for heart health, energy support, and the delivery of essential nutrients. Omega fatty acids may help to combat inflammation throughout the body and can deliver valuable Omega-3 fats for overall wellness. 
  • MaryRuth’s Organics Kids Magnesium Calm Gummies – These delicious gummies are designed for kids. MaryRuth’s Organics Kids Magnesium Calm Gummies supplies magnesium citrate in every serving for the support of stress and to help promote calmness. 
  • Mary Ruth’s Organics Kids Morning Multivitamin – What better way to start the back to school year than with Mary Ruth’s Organics Kids Morning Multivitamin. Sweetened with apple berry blast flavor, this daily multivitamin can help to fill the gaps in nutrition and support cognitive function and immunity. Try Mary Ruth’s Organics Kids Morning Multivitamin today!

FAQs

How often can I give a multivitamin for immune support for kids?

Typically speaking, multivitamins are designed to be consumed daily or as directed by your doctor. The Mary Ruth vitamins are mostly for daily support, but your healthcare practitioner can better direct what is best for you and your kids. 

Are there benefits to high doses of vitamin D3? 

Vitamins are recommended based on a Daily Recommended Intake, or RDI, and have an upper level tolerance amount. This is for the standard adult or child, but doses or serving sizes are best determined with a healthcare practitioner for safety. 

Are Mary Ruth vitamins best consumed during the day or night?

The timing of vitamins should generally occur around meals, as food allows for metabolism and absorption. With that in mind, most commonly, people opt for daytime use. 

Resources:

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/support-your-immune-function-with-good-nutrition

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8702655

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/eat-these-foods-to-boost-your-immune-system

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Doctor

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jamy Antoine, D.C. — by Chris Churan — On July 28, 2025

Doctor

Chris Churan

Chris holds a master of science in exercise and wellness and has been a healthcare worker since 2005. While actively working as a cardiac sonographer, Chris is also passionate about educating the public with accurate and evidenced-based information. Outside of the hospital, he is a health and wellness writer dedicated to creating content that allows readers to make healthy choices.