# Eating When Ill **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354 "2018-02-07T12:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/1 "2018-02-07T12:35:15Z")
Our go-to is chicken noodle soup with a grilled cheese sandwich. Sometimes I add baby carrots for the crunch factor. If I’m craving sodium I’ll add potato chips like I did last night. It HAS to be chicken noodle. The cheese has to be yellow. I don’t care if it’s American or a cheddar. We were out of butter when I came down with this horrendous cold a couple of days ago. Used mayo on the sandwiches instead. They grilled up nice and crisp, if a little too brown. There’s a richness there you cannot quite place if you didn’t know mayo was used. Tonight we’re having scrambled eggs with hot dog _coins_. Cut up and cook the hot dogs first, set aside while you do the eggs. Add the hot dogs before the egg sets enough so you can _scramble_ them in. Serve with toast. The sodium craving has always fascinated me. I don’t use very much of it in my own cooking. I’ve heard that it’s because one cannot taste anything when one’s ill but one can always taste salt. I’ve always wondered if it’s because you suddenly have an electrolyte imbalance…? What do you eat when you’re ill? ---
**Author:** ![GoodOldKJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc79bd/32.png) [@GoodOldKJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOldKJ)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/2 "2018-02-07T12:45:20Z")
Hot Tea with twice the sugar I like when not sick Ramon noodles Sugar cinnamon toast Jello ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/3 "2018-02-07T13:04:23Z")
Mashed potato mixed with grated cheese. Tinned heinz tomato soup with cheese on toast. Scrambled eggs. Beans and cheese on toast. Mainly because those things remind me of childhood. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/4 "2018-02-07T13:14:42Z")
My go to is Lipton’s Chicken Noodle Soup with real diced white chicken meat. IOW, lame broth, barely any noodles, a few parsley molecules, and a bit or two of dried chicken meat. If I tolerate that will I’ll move up the food quality ladder. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/5 "2018-02-07T13:28:49Z")
After a period of not eating, I sometimes get back online with a bowl of oatmeal. And if it’s not really time to start eating yet, well, it tastes about the same when it comes back. A thing I never allow myself in daily life, but only as a treat when I’m sick: soda. I don’t know that it does me much good physically, but mentally, it’s cheering that I get to have that special thing. ---
**Author:** ![Bic\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bic\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bic_D)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/6 "2018-02-07T13:34:18Z")
I have a crazy wrestling mentality from college so when I get sick, I use it as an opportunity to cut some lbs. I know…stupid ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/7 "2018-02-07T14:01:35Z")
Usually nothing. I don’t have much of an appetite when I’m sick. If I do feel like something, it’s usually a bowl of cold cereal with milk. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/8 "2018-02-07T14:09:35Z")
The first step is chicken boullion, from a Maggi cube. If it stays down, we move on to real soup and work our way up from there. For hangovers, greasy Chinese takeout is a must. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/9 "2018-02-07T15:02:16Z")
> [@Bic\_D](#): > > I have a crazy wrestling mentality from college so when I get sick, I use it as an opportunity to cut some lbs. > > I know…stupid I have to admit, the thought crosses my mind. Hey, I’m sick, let me find the silver lining! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/10 "2018-02-07T16:29:32Z")
Ginger ale. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/11 "2018-02-07T16:38:08Z")
Cup after cup of hot tea with milk and honey, because I’m prone to dry, hacking coughs. It helps melt my nasal passages, too. Other than that, the kind of comforting, carb-driven stuff you mention. Grilled cheese is very good. Pasta with salt and butter. Ramen, with fried eggs on top if I have the stamina, and a shot of Sriracha again to melt the nasal passages. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/12 "2018-02-07T16:52:15Z")
Yogurt and fresh fruit. maybe some vegetable soup if feeling adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/13 "2018-02-07T16:58:43Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > For hangovers, greasy Chinese takeout is a must. +1 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/14 "2018-02-07T18:02:36Z")
My father used to make me a hot toddy when I had a bad cold. Lemon juice, honey, water as hot as you can stand it and two shots of whiskey. You’re still as sick as ever but so drunk off your ass you don’t mind. My mother was all about the dry toast and unsweetened tea. No fun at all. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/15 "2018-02-07T18:20:07Z")
When I get a nasty cold, for some reason I crave Little Debbie’s Nutty Bars. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/16 "2018-02-07T19:17:01Z")
Chocolate any thing is always my go to. When I broke my jaw, and it was wired with just a small gap between my teeth as a opening, I lived on chocolate Carnation instant breakfast. If I have an upper respiratory type thing I usually lose my appetite. Chocolate Shakes help my mood though.Tummy issues? Insta-fast! ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/17 "2018-02-07T20:14:24Z")
When I get sick I lose my appetite so it’s protein shakes I make with unflavored protein powder, scrambled eggs, and applesauce. Not all at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/18 "2018-02-07T21:36:18Z")
Soft boiled eggs, mashed up with salt and butter, and served in a mug with a spoon. And soup. Any fairly brothy soup will work, even chicken noodle. Once I get a bit better, boxed macaroni and cheese, or what we call Kraft Dinner here in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/19 "2018-02-07T21:54:19Z")
I always offer smoothies, which are always agreed to. I make them with frozen fruit, juice, and plain yogurt. I was sick with the flu a couple weeks ago and my husband made me one, and damn if I didn’t feel better. Cream of Wheat is the #2 sick-food, followed by rice and broth, and ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354/20 "2018-02-08T00:08:16Z")
For me, it’s potatoes in any form - Bob Evans mashed, tater tots, baked, etc. And ice cream, preferably chocolate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-when-ill/808354.md?page=2)