When you’re sick, you may not feel like eating or drinking much, but getting enough nourishment helps you recover from illness. The foods you eat or drink may also ease symptoms. Since you may not feel like having certain foods and may also not be up to consuming too much, knowing the best foods to eat when sick helps you figure out what to eat when your diet is pretty limited.
Here are 5 feel-good foods that are easy to keep down and may ease symptoms when you’re sick with a cold, cough, flu, covid-19, stomach bug, or other type of illness:
You may think it’s an old wives’ tale that chicken soup is a cure-all for what ails you but it really may be the best soup when sick. The steamy broth can help clear congestion and is comforting. The chicken, veggies, and noodles provide nutrients such as protein, antioxidants, and energy-promoting carbohydrates. Adding some garlic or ginger imbues the soup with medicinal properties. Garlic is immune-boosting and has antioxidants. Ginger is good for digestion and eases nausea.
Try these healthy soup recipes the next time you’re sick:
Eggs are one of the best foods when sick because they provide protein, as well as vitamin D and zinc that keep your immune system strong. They’re also easy to prepare and easy to digest, which is helpful if you have a stomach virus or are nauseous, vomiting, or have diarrhea. You can keep eggs bland if you can’t tolerate much flavor or can cook eggs with cheese, vegetables, and other ingredients as your appetite and taste buds get back to normal.
These egg recipes are not only tasty but easy to make:
When it comes to light foods that are easy to make and easy to stomach, smoothies top the list. You can add any fruits of your choosing, along with yogurt, dairy or non-dairy milk, nut butter, and/or protein powder. The fruit gives you a dose of immune-boosting nutrients that can help combat illness. You’ll also get some protein from yogurt, milk, nut butter, and protein powder. If you have a sore throat, the coldness of a smoothie may ease the pain.
Here are some illness-busting smoothie recipes worth trying:
Can’t stomach many foods or don’t have much of an appetite? Oatmeal is a comfort food that’s easy on your digestive system while giving you energy from the complex carbs. You can flavor it by adding extracts, fruit, honey, or maple syrup, while the warmth of oatmeal is soothing to your senses. Overnight oats are easy to prepare and last for days in the fridge so you’ll have something nourishing to eat without needing to make much effort.
These oatmeal recipes are nourishing, satisfying, and comforting:
Another food that’s easy to eat no matter how you feel is yogurt. The cool creaminess can soothe sore throats and it’s a great way to get a dose of protein and gut-friendly bacteria, which is especially helpful if you have a stomach bug. Some people think dairy is not good to eat when you’re congested, but there’s not much evidence to support this.
Here are some sweet and soothing recipes made with yogurt to eat while sick:
You may have heard the expression “feed a cold, starve a fever” but it turns out that this is a myth and is not the way you should treat an illness. Your body needs proper nutrition and hydration when you’re sick, so no matter what type of illness you have, it’s important to find ways to eat and drink enough to keep up your strength and give your body the nutrients it needs to support your immune system.
The next time you’re sick, try these foods to ease symptoms and help you get back on the road to recovery. Also, don’t forget to stay well-hydrated by drinking water and other decaffeinated beverages.
