Not that anyone needs scientific facts to justify eating chocolate, now is as good a time as ever to remind consumers of the nutritional benefits of chocolate. RCI member and registered dietician, Patricia Godfrey, of Painted Turtle Chocolatier, shares a list of immune-boosting foods—including chocolate—plus, how to highlight your own nutrient-rich products and educate your community on sweet ways to fight off illness.

Did you know adding certain foods to your diet may strengthen your immune system? A healthy immune system can protect you from germs, viruses and illnesses like COVID-19. There’s no better time, than now, to make some lifestyle and diet changes to keep your immune system healthy.

The following immune-boosting foods are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E and zinc:

Although not all of these foods pair well with chocolate, many of them do. Take this opportunity to highlight immune-boosting treats that you may already carry or consider incorporating new power combinations to your product line and highlight them on social media, e-commerce sites and in-store (if you are able).

Painted Turtle Chocolatier has signs in their retail store to signify chocolates that are high in antioxidants, such as chocolate-covered blueberries, cranberries and cherries, chocolate-dipped ginger, chocolate-dipped apricots, chocolate almonds, almond clusters, dark chocolate bars and chocolate chai tea.

Encourage consumers to consider adding nutritious, immune-boosting foods to their grocery list, in addition to ordering antioxidant-rich chocolates from your business to fuel their immune systems.

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