# What Do You Eat When You're Sick? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413 "2010-03-05T14:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/21 "2010-03-05T19:57:34Z")
A few years ago, I had weight loss surgery that required a high-protein (90g a day) diet. Oddly, before the surgery, if I was sick, _all_ I wanted was simple carbs: toast with jam or jelly, no butter; graham crackers; saltine crackers; on and on. Post-WLS, it seems like my body _knows_ it needs the protein. When I’m sick (as I am now, kidney infection _plus_ getting a cold), I want protein all the way. A whole can of tuna, mixed with mayo and sweet pickle relish, heaped on saltine crackers, and nibbled at all afternoon? Score! Graham crackers (honey grahams, not cinnamon) heaped with creamy peanut butter? Score! And lots and lots to drink! I alternate between water, hot tea, and semi-flat Diet Coke. BUT if the hot drink is hot, it has to be HOT. Once it cools down to room temp (like if I doze off while I’m drinking it), it’s no good. And the cold stuff has to be COLD. If the ice all melts while I doze off, I have to get someone to bring me more ice! When 10YO **mudgirl** is sick, she wants chicken broth, Italian ice, ginger ale, and maybe Jell-O. ---
**Author:** ![TheTerribleTako](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TheTerribleTako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTerribleTako)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/22 "2010-03-05T20:19:53Z")
I’ve been sick a lot these past few months and it’s always about fatty and super spicy foods. Korean BBQ with some tofu hot pot always hit the spot during those times. I would horde the kimchi and just eat it as an afternoon snack. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/23 "2010-03-05T20:25:24Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > You do realize this list just screams salt, Salt, SALT!! > > Seems to me the intent is ok, but the practical is not. FWIW, this was a list my mother gave us as kids: > > [ul] > [li]Seven-Up.[/li][li]Dry toast.[/li][li]Unsalted salines.[/li][li]Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup.[/li][/ul] > > Nowadays if I get sick, the list remains the same, except for the soup. In this case, I put one big cut up potato in the soup and let it simmer for a while. The potato sucks up all the salt. Of course, you discard the potato before slurping. If you’re sick, you’re likely to be dehydrated. [Link](http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/dehydration/treatment) to why the list with the salt and the sweet drinks is the right thing. I would hate to be in a position where my fear of salt (no doubt you have reasons, not dismissing genuine medical issues that I can’t know about) didn’t even allow me to rehydrate myself when I was ill. ---
**Author:** ![Sonnenstrahl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Sonnenstrahl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonnenstrahl)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/24 "2010-03-05T20:29:09Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > french bread > milk > cheese > > Those are the few things I can stand when I have a cold. I was “lucky” enough to get a bout of stomach trouble when I was in France last year. (I assume it was my stomach reacting to unfamiliar everything because I had the same thing in Austria two years before.) What a terrible thing it was, an excuse to eat nothing but baguettes. Unfortunately, cheese was off the table for a week. Also, is it horrible that I’m kind of wishing I could get a cold so that I’d have an excuse to eat salty food and drink ginger ale, as well as stay in bed watching movies? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/25 "2010-03-05T20:40:39Z")
Bean and bacon soup, mushroom soup, graham crackers. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/26 "2010-03-05T20:44:34Z")
[Bubur](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congee)(rice porridge to you non-Indonesians). Usually with chicken bits in, and always topped with Maggi sauce. Tea, lots of it. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/27 "2010-03-05T21:04:24Z")
I crave onion when I’m sick. French Onion soup, onion rings, Bloomin’ Onion from Outback, even, God Help Me, entire bags of Funyuns. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/28 "2010-03-05T22:05:27Z")
When I’m feeling rundown I crave jalepenos. Spicy food of all kinds, but jalepenos in particular. I assume jalepenos have Vitamin C? I don’t really know. They also clear out my sinuses, which is good. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/29 "2010-03-05T22:34:53Z")
I normally only have fast food once or twice a year, but when I get sick the only thing I want is greasy KFC chicken. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/30 "2010-03-05T23:48:56Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I crave onion when I’m sick. > > French Onion soup, onion rings, Bloomin’ Onion from Outback, even, God Help Me, entire bags of Funyuns. :rolleyes: This. My last cold I was putting thick slices of red onion on sourdough bread with mozzarella underneath the broiler, making open face sandwiches. It was all I wanted to eat. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/31 "2010-03-06T00:15:54Z")
Porridge ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/32 "2010-03-06T00:19:30Z")
Weirdly, dill pickles and green onions. But, reassuringly my weirdness is matched by that of others here on this great message board. \ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/33 "2010-03-06T01:00:55Z")
When I’m sick I live on Rice Pudding. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/34 "2010-03-06T01:19:38Z")
Tea. Sometimes ginger ale, though otherwise I don’t like sodas. Creamy tomato soup with oyster crackers. Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato slices. If I really want a treat, I get the Mish Mash Soup from The Bagel down the street. Homemade chicken broth in one container, noodles, rice, matzo and kreplach in the other container, meant to be combined at home and enjoyed. Lasts about 3 days and I never crave it unless I’m sick. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/35 "2010-03-06T02:31:10Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > You do realize this list just screams [SIZE=4]salt… > Seems to me the intent is ok, but the practical is not. For many healthy Americans, salt is not a major health issue. \*Consult your MD, see what he says. \* I go for grilled cheese, Kraft Mac & Cheese, and especially chicken soup. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/36 "2010-03-06T03:36:46Z")
In my drinking days, a Subway sub with the works and lots of hot peppers - or anything hot and spicy - seemed to soothe the hangover… When I was miserable with the flu, or a bad cold, couldn’t smell anything, not very hungry, I drank lots of liquids. Orange juice, tea, water. And a can of Campbell’s Alphabet Soup. It tasted (even though I couldn’t taste anything) absolutely foul, as did everything, but it looked good. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/37 "2010-03-06T03:46:08Z")
Vernor’s Ice cream. Hot’n’sour soup.(Works like nasal Drano) Cup’o’soup Cinamon toast. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/38 "2010-03-06T04:43:35Z")
For a few meals, instead of my usual food, I have chicken soup (Progresso Classic chicken noodle or Campbell’s Chunky Chicken Noodle). I also get a craving for Hostess cupcakes. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/39 "2010-03-06T05:16:42Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Hot and sour soup. Mmmmmm. This. Unless I’m REALLY ill, in which case it’s egg drop soup. And I pour sriracha in it until it’s red. 😉 I like making my own soup, but when I’m sick, the appliance I’m standing over isn’t likely to be the stove. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413/40 "2010-03-06T05:48:26Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > If you’re sick, you’re likely to be dehydrated. [Link](http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/dehydration/treatment) to why the list with the salt and the sweet drinks is the right thing. I would hate to be in a position where my fear of salt (no doubt you have reasons, not dismissing genuine medical issues that I can’t know about) didn’t even allow me to rehydrate myself when I was ill. Man, that’s great news, because when I’m sick I’m all about salty snacks and fruit juice. My sick comfort food is goldfish crackers. They’re good enough on their own but I start craving them like mad when I’m sick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-eat-when-youre-sick/531413.md?page=3)