Best food to eat when sick
“What do you eat when you're sick?”
30 answers from 29 people · Updated Oct 12, 2026
3 recs
There's something nasty going around. I got it and it sucks. Title inspired by Google's shitty AI Overview.
Feel-Better Chicken and Rice Soup
my go-to sick day soup. the broth makes itself and it's so easy to make when you're not feeling well. I usually leave the rice out.
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Nigella does everything right. Someone in the comments called this soup "a magic potion" and they're right. This is my go to chicken broth.
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a four ingredient recipe passed down by my nonna from her nonna and her nonna’s nonna, there is literally nothing this soup can’t cure
945
Alison Roman’s chicken soup for summer colds
I make this every time I’m sick and it never misses (I like to double up on herbs and greens and throw in some jalapeños too). The tomatillos are truly magic
492
It has an “official” name, but I can never remember it! It’s a mix of yea, lemonade & honey and they are my lifesaver every time I have a cold.
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SAMAHAN Ayurvedic Herbal Tea - Ceylon Blend
My favorite comfort tea when I have a cold. It’s comforting and a little spicy so it feels great for a sore throat. Add a little honey and you’re in business.
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Put two slices of fresh ginger root, one lemon wedge and a generous spoonful of honey into a mug. Pour boiling water over top. I often make this tea in a thermos so I can take it with me from room to room!
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Good for when your tummy hurts.
Must be the mini can because you won’t be able to finish even that. Anything bigger will overwhelm you and make you feel worse
112
Blandy’s is a fictional restaurant I eat at whenever my stomach is messed up, invented by author and illustrator Lisa Hanawalt. Because when your stomach is messed up, the more bland, the better. At Blandy’s, they only serve dishes like white rice with chicken broth, banana oatmeal, or poached chicken with steamed squash. Every meal comes with a cup of ginger or mint tea. Sometimes is just a few meals there, sometimes it’s a whole week I eat at Blandy’s until my stomach feels like a neutral space again. I do season everything, so the meals aren’t actually bland, but I keep everything very mild with minimal spicy while my stomach is healing. It makes me more intentional about what I eat, and is easy to communicate my situation to my boyfriend by saying “im eating at Blandy’s this week.” It’s silly, but giving a name to it helps me stay consistent and makes me feel less isolated. I got Blandy on my side! And Blandy knows how to heal me!
121
Whenever I’m feeling sick I’ll have two of these guys toasted and slathered with butter to pair with all of my beverages (green tea, green juice, ginger shot, water). It’s called balance. These are so nostalgic for me and something about this combo makes me feel so much better.
101
No joke, a friend came up with this recipe 15 years ago and we have made it 100+ times since then. Spicy Lentil & Kale Soup 2 tablespoons butter, ghee, or extra virgin olive oil 2 shallots, sliced finely 1 tablespoon minced garlic or 4 fresh cloves, chopped 1 bunch lacinato/dinosaur kale, leaves torn off of the stem 2 cups lentils (I used the pre-packaged Trader Joes lentils) 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth + 2 cups water 1/2 jalapeno pepper, finely sliced 2 chicken sausages, cut up into bite-size pieces (I used Trader Joes garlic-chicken sausages) 3 tablespoons tomato paste 2 teaspoons basil (I used dried, but you can use fresh leaves) 1 tablespoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 cheese rind, optional (I used Pecorino) Sea salt & black pepper, generously, to taste 1. In a large soup pan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic, cooking for 5 minutes or so, til they begin to brown and the shallots nearly caramelize. 2. Add all the rest of the ingredients, except the salt and pepper. Stir everything all together. Place a lid on top of the soup pan and bring to a boil. Once the soup comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 20 minutes. 3. Once the soup is done simmering, turn the heat off. Carefully taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve and enjoy.
192
Such a BANGER. Loaded with lime juice, plus fish sauce, garlic and ginger, it cuts through your worst winter colds. You can make it veg with the Better Than Bouillon Not Chicken base. Seriously, it's so good.
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Instant Pot Chicken Juk With Scallion Sauce
Instant cold buster
a big thermos of lemon, ginger & honey tea
this does have actual health benefits when you’re sick, but i also just like the comfort of holding a big warm jug of tea squeeze and slice a lemon, slice up some ginger and pop it in the biggest vessel you have and then add a ton of honey. sip on it throughout the day and add more water and honey as needed
31
Boil water with lemon juice, ginger, garlic, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Drink at least a mug-full. Rest. Repeat.
111
The perfect digestif after a meal or for upset stomach or sinus support. This unique pellet tea dissolves quickly and contains 20 different herbs: Peppermint, Chamomile, Fennel, Thyme, Iceland Moss, Licorice Root, Lungwort Herb, Star Anise, Marigold, Yarrow Root, Elder Flowers, Lime Flowers, Blackberry Leaves, Sage, Eucalyptus Leaves, Plantain Leaves, Cyani Flowers, Cowslip, Mullein Flowers, Malva Flowers, Menthol, Peppermint Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil
Extremely hearty, ginger-forward and perfectly garlicky (which I’m told are anti-inflammatory, even if I don’t know what they un-inflame). A Filipino panacea.
61
A staple of the northern islands in the Philippines, where I’m from. Clear, ginger soup base, lots of ginger, usually the whole thing. Chicken, enough moringa leaves to make it seem like the broth is green. We throw in a bunch of chili leaves for some slight heat also and finish with some fish sauce. I eat it when I feel bad either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Eat with rice!!
2
nongshim instant tonkotsu ramen
my absolute favorite instant ramen, wonderful quality, chewy noodles, and dehydrated garlic slices i’m sick currently and this is a godsend
Pasta with butter/olive oil and Parmesan
This is what my mom used to make me when I was sad. And also sometimes what she would make me when my stomach was upset. Basically, if you see me eating this I am NOT okay. Ultimate comfort food (no protein, no vegetables, no problem) :)
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i had a friend in college that swore by eating raw, diced garlic mixed with honey on a ritz cracker. (She said the ritz cracker was the only way she could get it down). you’ll keep vampires away, too, which is a bonus. but you’ll also scare away friends and lovers. so… the choice is yours. https://www.healthline.com/health/garlic-and-honey
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