The 15 Best Foods to Eat When You’re Sick
- Chicken soup. Chicken soup has been a go-to for sickness for generations — and for good reason. ...
- Broths. Like chicken soup, broths are excellent sources of fluid and electrolytes that can be helpful when you’re sick.
- Garlic. ...
- Coconut water. ...
- Hot tea. ...
- Honey. ...
- Ginger. ...
- Spicy foods. ...
- Bananas. ...
- Oatmeal. ...
What is the best food to eat when sick?
The 15 Best Foods to Eat When You’re Sick
- Chicken soup. Chicken soup has been a go-to for sickness for generations — and for good reason. ...
- Broths. Like chicken soup, broths are excellent sources of fluid and electrolytes that can be helpful when you’re sick.
- Garlic. ...
- Coconut water. ...
- Hot tea. ...
- Honey. ...
- Ginger. ...
- Spicy foods. ...
- Bananas. ...
- Oatmeal. ...
What fruit is best to eat when you are sick?
We’ve rounded up our very best recipes to cook and eat when you’re sick with winter colds ... Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, plenty of fibre and fermented foods, such as kimchi or sauerkraut is the best way to support your immune ...
What do you eat when your sick?
- Cod liver oil: 170% of the Daily Value (DV) per 1 tablespoon (13.6 grams)
- Herring: 27% of the DV per 100 grams
- Egg yolk: 27% of the DV per 100 grams
- Sardine: 24% of the DV per 100 grams
- Canned light tuna: 34% of the DV per 100 grams
- Salmon, wild-caught or farmed: 66% of the DV per 100 grams
- Fortified orange juice: 25% of the DV per 100 grams
What to eat when you feel sick?
While soup might be the number one meal you crave when you're sick, our favorite snack for when you're feeling under the weather is this Mango-Ginger Smoothie. This tasty snack has several soothing attributes that make it great for when you aren't feeling well.
What should you not eat when sick?
Foods to avoid when you have the fluCaffeinated drinks and alcohol. Between elevated temperatures and increased sweating, dehydration is something to be cautious of when you have a fever. ... Greasy foods. ... Hard to digest grains. ... Sugary food or drinks.
What do you give a sick person?
A Sick Day Gift Box: Our Best PicksCandles (try these homemade beeswax candles)Fresh flowers, a succulent, or an air plant.Rose oil and rosewater spray.Vitamins.Juice.Throat-soothing candies.A jar or two of homemade soup.Some simple crackers.More items...•
What to feed someone who is throwing up?
Try foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, dry toast, soda crackers (these foods are called BRAT diet). For 24-48 hours after the last episode of vomiting, avoid foods that can irritate or may be difficult to digest such alcohol, caffeine, fats/oils, spicy food, milk or cheese.
What to eat when you are sick and have no appetite?
Some good choices of cold foods include Jell-O, ice cream, chilled fruits, yogurt, custard, and frozen ice pops. If your nausea makes it difficult to keep food down, simply sucking on an ice cube may help. This is also a good way to slowly replenish your fluids.
What do you give someone in isolation?
For those that like to stay in, you can go past some pampering items such as a face mask, candle and hand cream. Any effort counts, and these gifts will go a long way towards making them feel special when things are not as usual.
Can you eat eggs when sick?
Yet you need protein to maintain your strength, whether you're sick or perfectly healthy. No worries! Fulfilling your protein quota is made easier with eggs, which are much easier to digest and cook. Eggs have zinc, a mineral found in many cold medicines and remedies.
What settles an upset stomach quickly?
Home treatments to settle an upset stomach may include consuming small amounts of clear liquids, drinking plenty of fluids, small sips of water or sucking on ice chips, sports drinks, clear sodas, diluted juices, clear soup broth or bouillon, popsicles, caffeine-free tea, and the BRAT diet.
What food makes your stomach feel better?
The 12 Best Foods for an Upset StomachGinger Can Relieve Nausea and Vomiting. ... Chamomile May Reduce Vomiting and Soothe Intestinal Discomfort. ... Peppermint May Relieve Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ... Licorice Can Reduce Indigestion and May Help Prevent Stomach Ulcers. ... Flaxseed Relieves Constipation and Stomach Pain.More items...•
Are eggs good for nausea?
Eggs. Prepared simply, eggs are one of the most easily digestible foods that you can eat to help ease nausea. Scrambled, poached or soft-boiled all do the trick, giving the body a lift of energy with minimal volume.
What should I eat if I have no appetite and Covid?
Due to decreased appetite, now is not the time to restrict calories. Eat nutrient-dense foods. Drink fruit juice, milk or other calorie-containing beverages. Double or triple the portion sizes of added fats and oils (butter, margarine, cream cheese, sour cream, and avocado).
How do you get a sick person to eat?
Feed sick people frequently and give them plenty to drink Advise families to: offer small amounts of food frequently, especially if the person is not hungry. Often a sick person prefers soft foods (e.g. gruel, mashed bananas or soup) or sweet foods.
Is pasta good when your sick?
The flu occasionally causes stomach upset, leading to nausea and diarrhea, so you may be tempted to stick to bland foods like pasta and rice. This is a good idea, but be mindful of how your tum handles it. "You want to stick to easy to digest foods like simple [or] refined carbohydrates," Vavrek says.
What to eat when sick?
Let’s find out what is good to eat when you are sick. 10. Hot Tea. Some of the best comfort food when sick is the simplest kind of food. The first few items in our list fit that category perfectly, including tried-and-true hot tea. Used for millennia as a soothing drink, tea acts as a natural decongestant.
What is the number one comfort food when you're sick?
And the number one comfort food for when you’re sick? No surprise from us: it’s chicken soup. You can read all about why chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food when sick. But we’ll stick with the summary here.
What is the best food for an upset stomach?
Ginger. Ginger is a natural treatment for upset stomachs. So comfort foods featuring ginger can provide extra solace for women suffering morning sickness or for people going through cancer treatments. Ginger acts like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, but it does it all by its natural self.
What is a BRAT diet?
You may have heard a healthcare provider (or maybe even Mom) talk about the BRAT diet. That’s short for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast – all carbohydrate-rich, easy-to-stomach, and easy-to-digest foods. Bananas pack a lot of nutrients and healthy calories into a not-too-sweet package.
What is the best tea for colds?
Hibiscus and Echinacea teas also have been shown to shorten the length of cold and flu symptoms. Tea is a soothing drink on a hectic day or a cozy treat to curl up with near a fire—and hot tea starts off our list of what is good to eat when you are sick.
Is garlic a good antiviral?
A medicinal herb, garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal (dare we say with anti-vampire properties, too?). This wonder bulb stimulates the immune system and has been proven to help fight sick days and ward them off, too.
Does oatmeal help with inflammation?
Its fiber (specifically beta-glucan) helps improve blood sugar control and reduces inflammation in the gut. You can get the benefits of oatmeal cooked traditionally, as well as an ingredient in other recipes. To keep your focus on health benefits, replace sugary sweeteners with honey or fruit.
What to eat when your gut is sick?
Here’s what to eat and drink when your gut is sick: Anything on the BRAT diet. Mom was right. Eat a diet that follows the acronym, BRAT – bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Most people suffering from diarrhea can tolerate a few of these simple foods. Bland foods.
What to eat if you're having a hard time drinking?
Try foods like ice cream, popsicles, Jell-O and pudding. Fruit. Fresh fruit contains many important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that your body needs – even when you’re not sick!
What is the process of food moving through your body?
Diarrhea is when food is moving too quickly through your body. You’ll want to focus on eating foods that can slow that process down, which means choosing foods that contain soluble fiber. This type of fiber acts as a thickening agent and adds form to the stool to help slow it down.
How to get rid of nausea from eating ginger?
Dry foods. Try nibbling on a few pieces of dry foods every couple of hours when you’re battling nausea.
What to eat when you're pregnant?
Try pretzels, dry cereal, toast or plain crackers like saltines. Cold foods & foods with little odor. Because smells can trigger nausea (especially in pregnancy), cold foods might be a good choice. Try Jell-O, ice cream, frozen fruit, yogurt or popsicles. Even sucking on an ice cube is a good way to replenish fluids.
What to eat when you have a swollen thigh?
But bland doesn’t mean you can’t add protein or veggies into the mix if you’re feeling up for it! Try eating rice and baked chicken breast or cheese and crackers.
What to do when you get the flu?
Instead, stock up on food now to have on hand in case you or someone in your house gets sick. Canned soup.
What to eat when you're sick?
Bananas. Bananas are a great food to eat when you’re sick. They’re soft and bland but rich in nutrients and fast-acting carbs. The potassium in bananas can help replenish your electrolyte stores as well, since potassium is one of the key electrolytes your body needs ( 34.
What is the best food to eat when you're sick?
Oatmeal. Like bananas, oatmeal is bland and easy to eat but also provides calories, vitamins, and minerals you need when you’re sick. One study in rats found that beta-glucan, a type of fiber in oats, helped decrease inflammation in the gut.
What foods cause a burning sensation?
Spicy foods. Spicy foods like chili peppers contain capsaicin, which causes a hot, burning sensation when touched. In high enough concentrations, capsaicin can have a desensitizing effect. It’s often used in pain-relieving gels and patches ( 29.
How to use fresh ginger?
Use fresh ginger in cooking, brew some ginger tea, or pick up some ginger ale from the store to get these benefits. Just make sure that whatever you’re using contains real ginger or ginger extract, not just ginger flavor. 8. Spicy foods.
How to recover from a sick person?
Resting, staying hydrated, and getting proper nutrition are some of the most important things you can do to feel better and recover faster when sick. Fortunately, many foods have benefits that go beyond providing your body with nutrients.
What is the best drink to drink when you're sick?
Coconut water is an ideal beverage to sip on when you’re sick. It’s rich in electrolytes, which need to be replenished along with fluids when you’re vomiting, sweating, having diarrhea, or running a fever ( 11#N#Trusted Source#N#).
Is broth good for you?
Like chicken soup, broths are excellent sources of fluid and electrolytes that can be helpful when you’re sick. When hot, they may also help relieve sinus congestion. They’re full of flavor and rich in a variety of nutrients while still being easy on your digestive system ( 6. Trusted Source.
Why is it important to eat healthy when a senior is sick?
When a senior is sick or recovering from an injury, it's important for them to eat a healthy diet. Getting enough calories from nutritious foods can help their recovery. It will help their bodies heal and give them the mental and physical energy they need. "The most important thing is to ensure that their immune system is working ...
What to feed elderly people to heal wounds?
When feeding your loved one, choose foods with nutrients that help healing. Foods rich in vitamin C and zinc are particularly helpful for seniors recovering from any type of skin wound, Glick says. Vitamin C. Because supermarket juices can lose their vitamin C content, she recommends whole citrus fruits.
What minerals are good for seniors?
Zinc. This mineral is found in fortified breakfast cereal, beef, crab and other shellfish, and chicken. Vitamin D . Found in milk, salmon, and tuna, vitamin D may also help seniors as they recover. According to studies, having enough vitamin D can mean a lower risk of falls and fractures with falls.
What fruits are good for vitamin C?
Try tangerines, juice squeezed at home, or homemade smoothies that include vitamin C-rich fruits such as strawberries. Zinc. This mineral is found in fortified breakfast cereal, beef, crab and other shellfish, and chicken.
How to help elderly people heal?
6 Tips to Help Your Senior as They Heal. 1. Don’t assume they’ll eat when hungry. Even when they're feeling well, many seniors don't have a great appetite. As we get older, we lose taste buds, making some foods taste blander. Sometimes dental problems can also limit what we can chew.
What to do if your elderly parent isn't able to get up?
If your senior isn't able to get up and around, keep a water bottle by their bed or favorite chair. Water-rich fruits such as watermelon and broth soups can also help ward off dehydration. 6. Get help. If your loved one loses 5% or more of her body weight, talk to her doctor, Lyles says.
Do seniors eat when sick?
When sick or recovering, many seniors are even less likely to eat. Many illnesses cause our bodies to lose appetite, says Mary Fennell Lyles, MD. She teaches gerontology and geriatric medicine at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Some prescription medications can further squash the urge to eat. 2.
What is the best drink to drink when you're sick?
Here are the 14 best foods and drinks for when you’re feeling nauseous. 1. Ginger.
What is the best food for nausea?
Bananas are a good source of energy and vitamins when you’re nauseous and can help replace potassium lost due to vomiting or diarrhea. 9. Applesauce. Applesauce is a popular food for people with nausea or diarrhea. In fact, it’s part of the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
How to stop nausea from eating?
Besides consuming certain foods and beverages, you can take other steps to relieve your nausea ( 12#N#Trusted Source#N#): 1 Eat something small every 1–2 hours: Avoid skipping meals, as an empty stomach can worsen nausea. 2 Eat and drink slowly and in small amounts: This allows you to relax during meals and take time to enjoy your food. You may also want to avoid consuming liquids and solids at the same time. 3 Do not lie flat after eating: Avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after eating, as this can put pressure on your stomach, making nausea worse. 4 Avoid food preparation: The smell while cooking and preparing food can worsen nausea. If possible, avoid or shorten the time spent in the kitchen. 5 Keep your mouth clean: Nausea and vomiting can leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth, which may prevent you from eating. Rinse and brush your teeth regularly and use sugar-free mints to keep feeling fresh.
What is it like to have nausea?
Nausea is a very unpleasant sensation that can make it difficult to eat, drink and keep down food. Those experiencing it seem to tolerate certain foods better than others, including bland rice, pasta, potatoes, salty crackers and cold foods.
What to drink when you're nauseous?
It’s important to stay hydrated, especially when you’re ill. Clear, cold beverages like water, oral rehydration solutions, iced tea, juice, sports drinks and coconut water can be sipped throughout the day when you’re nauseous. 3–5. Crackers, Pretzels and Toast.
Can you drink cold water while vomiting?
Very sweet, caffeinated or dairy-based beverages may worsen your nausea, so it may be best to avoid them. You may tolera te sipping cold drinks throughout the day better than drinking a lot at once, especially if you have been vomiting. Summary. It’s important to stay hydrated, especially when you’re ill.
Can you eat noodles cold?
Alternatively, potatoes can be boiled, steamed, baked or mashed with a little butter and milk for extra calories. Finally, noodles can be boiled and eaten plain. They can also be added to a light broth or sauce to increase your fluid intake.
What to eat when someone is sick?
People often focus on lunch and dinner when someone’s sick, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Breakfast casseroles are tasty, filling, and freeze and reheat very well. Eggs, potatoes, and cheese form a great (delicious) base. Incorporate bacon or sausage if your friend or loved one enjoys meat.
What to do with a large chunk of chicken?
Mmmm… Sesame chicken. Dice up large chunks of chicken and stir in broccoli and red bell peppers. Whip up a sesame chicken sauce and stir it in with the chicken and veggies.
What to eat with wild rice and mushrooms?
A chicken and wild rice casserole with cremini mushrooms has a rich, earthy quality without a lot of added fat. You can also pack it with veggies like carrots, celery, and leeks for additional nutrients.
How to show support for someone who has had surgery?
Perform a meaningful action to show your support. Help with laundry and chores or drive your friend or loved one to doctor appointments. Remember, your friend or loved one who’s fresh out of surgery may not have the energy to cook. Help by preparing meals.
Is mac and cheese a comfort food?
Macaroni and cheese = An all-time classic comfort food. It’s also super easy to make. Are you preparing a meal for a family? If so, bring your best mac and cheese recipe over in a full sheet pan.
What to give someone who is sick?
If you aren’t sure what to give someone who is sick, Spoonful of Comfort can help you take your care gift basket to the next level with our Get Well Soon gift package. This package comes with soup, cookies, and lots of love—a combination that is sure to make your sick friend feel all the tender comforts of home.
What to do when your friend is sick?
Give your sick friend the gift of a good story or an uplifting book that shows how much you care while they’re in recovery. Diving into other stories and experiences will help them forget about being sick, if even just for a little while.
What can you put in a care basket?
The basic care basket can incorporate just about anything. From medicine to homemade soup, balloons, and heartfelt cards, you can give them any and everything you can think of that demonstrates care and love.
What to wear to help with recovery?
Everyone can use a new pair of sweats or yoga pants. (So much better than hospital gowns and PJs, right?) Couple with a pair of new socks that encourage as well as keep their feet warm during recovery.
Can you take pain away from a sick friend?
While you can’t take the pain or discomfort away, you can do little things here and there to try and brighten someone’s day and let them know they’re loved and that others are thinking about them. Figuring out some personalized gift baskets for sick friends is a good place to start.
What to eat when someone has impaired vision?
Biscuits and gravy. Oatmeal with banana. Peanut butter and jelly on white bread. You can also make meals more tempting by using colorful foods with different textures, separated on a plate to increase the visual appeal. This is especially helpful if your loved one has impaired vision.
How to treat constipation and nausea?
To treat constipation, ensure that your loved one is properly hydrated and speak with your doctor about the appropriate treatment options, including laxatives and fiber supplements. 2 .
What to do when you lose appetite?
If the loss of appetite is severe, don't worry so much about feeding your loved one the "right" diet. Instead, find the foods that whet the appetite, even if it's just dessert or a plate of mashed potatoes. You can even bolster calories by serving the dessert à la mode or pouring gravy with meat bits over the potatoes.
How to increase caloric intake?
One of the easiest and most effective ways of increasing a loved one's caloric intake is to offer a smaller meal every couple of hours several times a day, ideally five to six. Often, people struggling with an appetite will dread the prospect of sitting down for a big meal they know they can't eat.
Why is it bad to isolate someone who isn't hungry?
Isolating someone who isn't hungry can cause depression and loneliness. To encourage eating, make mealtimes an opportunity to socialize. Even if eating is difficult, invite your loved one to the dinner table or recruit family members and friends to share meals at the bedside. Doing so may enhance their appetite.
What to do if you have a sore mouth?
If your loved one is struggling with nausea, try bland foods such as the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). Ginger tea is also a popular anti-nausea remedy. 3 The same non-irritating foods can help people with mouth sores.
