What do you eat when you're sick?

[Danielle]

I'm in the midst of battling my First Official Cold of the Fall Season. My nose is draining...my head is clogged...my stomach feels volatile...everything I force myself to eat tastes like paper mache (or at least what I imagine it tastes like)...and for some reason all I can think about is a fish sandwich from McDonald's smothered in tartar sauce.

Do you get weird food cravings when you are sick? The last time I had the flu I drove to the grocery store with a 102 degree temperature just so I could buy a box of Edy's Strawberry all-fruit popsicles, which I had been craving all day. I also crave milk shakes, french fries, chocolate milk, and root beer when I'm ill. I bought the fixins' for the Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Leeks and Apples to make this week for dinner, but the thought of making it right now is turning my stomach (I've never made it before, but I've heard it's delicious.)

My mom used to give my flat 7-Up and Campbell's chicken soup when I was a child, so now I associate those things with being sick. Yucky!



[This message has been edited by Danielle (edited 10-05-2000).]

[SandyM]

When I'm sick, my cravings go toward ginger ale (only Canada Dry will do) oranges, saltines, and good old fashioned Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup.

[SueK]

When I have sinus problems, or a cold, there's nothing like having a big container of Hot and Sour soup from the Asian restaurant near our house. It clears out my head like nothing else!

Strangely enough, when I have an upset stomach, greasy things like cheesy pizza or a fast food burger helps me feel better. Good thing I don't get nauseated too often or I'd weigh 500 pounds! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Beth Y]

The last time I was real sick, my husband said, "what can I make you that would make you happy" (Yes, I have a great husband). My very strange reply was boxed macaroni and cheese, you know the kind from the orange powder package??? It was only thing I could get interested in eating. Is that scary or what?

The above mention of ginger ale reminds me that my mother always gave it to us when we were sick. So much so that, for a real long time, I associated ginger ale with being sick and wouldn't drink it otherwise. I was finally broken of that in college when bourbon and ginger ale was a staple of southern football weekends! Now, when I feel a nip in the air, my thoughts turn to bourbon and gingers!

[SandyM]

And now for something completely different...... for great cheese popcorn, sprinkle some of that orange powder from the macaroni & cheese on your popcorn.

[SueK]

Originally posted by SandyM:
And now for something completely different...... for great cheese popcorn, sprinkle some of that orange powder from the macaroni & cheese on your popcorn.

SandyM---isn't that stuff great! I used to eat popcorn that way in college all the time! You just brought back so many memories for me! (Naturally, I remember the food from college, and not the classes!)

[Danielle]

What a good idea! I've purchased cheese-flavored salt before for popcorn, but it just didn't seem cheesy enough. I'll have to buy some Mac and Cheese now just for the powder! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif My husband will love it.

[SandyM]

Yeah - except I could never figure out what to do with the silly macaroni..........

[Gail]

Having grown up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in LA, I can tell you that chicken soup (REAL chicken soup, not Campbells) is great when you're sick. Just smelling the stuff cooking on the stove is soothing-- and the taste is light years away from Campbells. (After being raised on home made soup, my son thinks that Campbell's tastes like mucus!) Of course, chicken soup is for those times when you feel positively rotten-- way too sick to even consider the spicy, greasy stuff you suddenly HAVE to consume when you're not consumed with a raging fever or GI symptoms. I think I crave spicy foods when I'm sick for two reasons: it's something I can actually TASTE, and the spiciness helps to at least temporarily relieve nasal congestion.

[SandyM]

If I'm too sick to spend the time making home made soup, Campbells does it for me. I guess I should double up on my home made batches and freeze it.......

[This message has been edited by SandyM (edited 10-05-2000).]

[iqueen]

Danielle: Based on the things that you are craving while you are sick it sounds like you are dehydrated. Don't forget to drink plenty of liquids, please.

[MrsReber]

Me and hubby both had the sore throat syndrome not too long ago so I made a huge pot of chicken soup. We finished almost all of it in one weekend!!

I do get a craving for pastina with some butter on it. My mom always made that when I was little and not feeling well.

[Gail]

Originally posted by SandyM:
...I guess I should double up on my home made batches and freeze it.......

[This message has been edited by SandyM (edited 10-05-2000).]

Absolutely! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[lorilei]

I must agree. I always feel better if I can conjure up a batch of good old fashioned chicken soup.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were both afflicted with an early cold/flu bug. On the day I stayed home from work, I threw together a pot of soup and let it cook all day long. By the time my husband got home, it was ready -- and we feasted together. I felt worlds better by the next day.

Two things I've found also help -- shiitake mushrooms (an immune booster) thrown in the soup, and lots and lots of garlic (natural antibiotic).

[Cathy]

Homemade chicken soup. It is the cure for sure!

[Vanessa]

chicken soup!! If I feel really miserable I will go for fluids. But chicken soup is the best.

[Laura]

I vote for chicken soup as well, but I really make it spicy (if I have a killer cold or sore throat) with jalapenos, garlic and red cayenne pepper. I can barely get it down it is so hot sometimes but man it clears my cold in a day.

[kendra]

Timely topic. I am sick today and don't feel like eating a thing. Although two nights ago when I was first coming down with something I had a major craving for velveeta shells and cheese. But that craving could be related to the fact that it was also the easiest thing I had on hand to make!

[andreajackson]

I stick to very bland things, such as saltines, chicken noodle soup and 7-up! These were the things that my mom would always give me, and I really think they work.

[Ohioan]

When I ate meat, I too went for the chicken soup in times of illness, since (as we all know) chicken soup cures everything from a hangnail to a broken heart. But now that I'm a vegetarian, I find myself craving split pea soup instead -- with lots of celery and carrots cooked in the soup and some cooked pasta (ditalini or shells) dumped in at the end.

And isn't it strange... I too find myself craving spicy and/or salty food when I have an upset stomach.

Even stranger... I'm suddenly reminded of what we considered a preventive measure against hangovers after a hard night at the Officers Club when I was in the Air Force -- not that we stalwart defenders of the land would ever dream of drinking too much, of course: corned beef hash (as greasy as possible) with an egg cooked on top. I think it was something about the mix of protein, starch, and fat, but I'm not sure. Maybe we were just too drunk to care? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Cheers, Phoebe

[SandyDee]

If I am sick with a cold, I like jello, ice cream, oranges, hot tea, Campbells chicken noodle soup or hot tapioca. If I have an upset stomach I eat dry toast, a plain baked potato or plain noodles or rice. Not very inventive am I? However you notice that nothing ever keeps me from eating!!!! Darn!!

[Kristilyn1]

I guess I would have to say either the chef of all chefs....Chef Boyardee beefaroni (forbidden spendor as a child!) or Stouffers mac and cheese. When I'm sick--I go right out and stock up on both--that and white bread toast.......

Kristi

[karen w]

Danielle,
Sniffle, sniffle, cough! I too am just starting to get over my first cold of the fall/winter season. I have my 14 month old daughter to thank for this one, though. As far as what I like during a cold, I guess it depends if it knocks out the taste buds or not. Monday all taste and smell was nonexistent so I had no desire to eat anything. Out of necessity I usually resort to campbells tomato soup with saltines and instant cream of wheat(maple brown sugar flavor). Otherwise good old fashioned homemade chicken soup cures all evils, but it is best if made by someone else when you are sick!

[bijoux22]

When I am sick, nothing makes me feel better than a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. The heat of the soup seems to warm me up like a big fuzzy blanket, and well...grilled cheese sandwiches are always good comfort food.

[misstapioca]

when i'm all stuffed up and can barely breathe i head on down to the nearest sushi bar and drink HOT saki..cures me every time!

[lorilei]

Originally posted by misstapioca:
when i'm all stuffed up and can barely breathe i head on down to the nearest sushi bar and drink HOT saki..cures me every time!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif A woman after my own heart. Some wasabi probably wouldn't hurt either!!

[BarbaraL]

Why is it that even when I'm sick as a dog I can still eat? The only time I remember totally losing my appetite was when I had the flu years ago (the REAL flu with 102-103 fevers, aches and chills). When I'm sick, I like comfort foods -- it has to be hot (thermally, not spicy) food (I eat a salad almost every day for lunch, but not when I'm sick). Like everyone earlier on this post, cheesy stuff is good! I also like chicken soup, but I like Lipton's. One of these days I'll make homemade chicken soup -- I make vegetable soups, but for some reason, don't usually make meat/poultry soups.

I like some of the suggestions here. Next cold, I'm trying the sake cure!

[This message has been edited by BarbaraL (edited 10-06-2000).]

[AndreaU]

Wow, what a hot topic... my "sick foods" include chocolate pudding- yum! Usually when I'm sick, I'm so run-down that I don't even want to chew, so I also turn to applesauce and oatmeal. And for some reason, eating a bowl of cereal (especially Cocoa Krispies) for dinner is really comforting. Bye the way, I, too, was a product of a mom who insisted on flat ginger ale & saltines (or toast).

[Lisa D]

I agree with Bijoux22--Grilled cheese all the way, buttered on both sides!! I can also relate to the need for the orange powder!! HMM There seems to be a cheese theme?? I guess its a Midwestern thing http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
Lisa

[Gwenniver]

Yup, my mom handed out flat ginger ale and saltines (or toast cut into little fingers) too...seemed to work at the time.

Now it's sort of random--I eat whatever I'm craving at the moment, 'cause if I'm not craving it, I won't eat it when I'm sick. Comforting, cheesy foods do figure highly in my choices at these times (and I'm not even from the Midwest, go figure http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif). Hot tea with honey and lemon is a good one--especially if fixed for me, not by me. Chicken broth from bouillon is oddly soothing as well.