Tomorrow, Night Owl's kindergarten will finally receive the H1N1 vaccine, but for us, it's too little, too late. My daughters were both ill two weeks ago with what their doctor described as "classic influenza" -- most likely H1N1, she said, since that's what's making the rounds right now.

The vaccine had been elusive at the pediatrician's office too -- initial doses reserved for high-risk children.

After their days of fever, cough, and upset stomach (and for Night Owl, a side of mild pneumonia), they are back in school. But even if they're now immune to this one virus, even if we decide to be doubly safe and vaccinate, I know the usual parade of seasonal horrors will still visit us. And believe me, some have been far more hideous than what we endured last week (the intestinal virus Night Owl spread to all 15 guests last Thanksgiving, for one).

In order to fortify my kids, I've been collecting information on boosting natural immunity during cold and flu season. Certainly, improving overall health can go a long way in fighting off infections and rebounding more quickly from them.

<!--more-->If everyone kept their children home when they were ill, the spread of germs could be greatly reduced. PS29 is cracking down on fevers, sending any student with a temperature above 100 degrees home. The reality is, some employers, by making it hard for parents to stay home with their sick kids, are inadvertently helping the flu spread. At PS29, there is a hand-washing campaign. It seems obvious, but we had gotten a bit lazy about enforcing thorough hand washes. The school nurse now has all the kids singing the alphabet while they wash -- and it carries over at home, too!

I'm trying -- not as successfully -- to launch a campaign to keep fingers out of noses, mouths, and eyes.

Good nutrition is so important and so overlooked. Kids can't properly fight off illness on a diet of additive-laden processed foods. Real foods -- fresh fruits and veggies, healthy proteins and whole grains -- deliver vitamins and antioxidants in their natural forms. I'm trying to sneak more garlic into my kids' soups and pasta sauces, too, since there's evidence it helps bodies fight infection. My friend Tara has gotten her kids excited about healthy eating by serving a "rainbow of colors" on their plates each night (think salmon, broccoli, brown rice, concord grapes). Volunteering in Night Owl's cafeteria, I was encouraged to see the salad bar had a similar variety of natural hues.

Studies have shown that certain probiotics ("friendly bacteria") may lessen the duration of cold and flu in children. Look for natural yogurts without sugar as one of the first ingredients (or better yet, serve unsweetened yogurt with fruit)

Doctors debate whether refined sugar actually depresses immune system function, but I know how run-down I feel -- and how my kids act -- after too many sweets, so I'm going to minimize them this winter. Night Owl and her sister got to indulge on Halloween, but then I threw out all the candy.

Our pediatrician, though traditional, is also open to complimentary remedies. She suggests cranberry and elderberry juice as anti-virals, and rosehip tea, high in vitamin C, to nurse an unwell child.

Chicken soup, hot tea, "an apple a day," and lots of sleep are some "mom knows best" remedies that some swear by. What are you and your child's school doing to keep everyone healthy this winter?