Getting sick can make you feel nauseous and it can make you lose your appetite. But it’s very important to nourish your body with nutrient-dense foods when you’re sick.

There are some foods that not only provide you the energy that you need when you’re not feeling the best, but they also keep you hydrated, and help you get a speedy recovery.

There isn’t any food that can truly cure a cold, or cure a sickness, but eating the right foods can help relieve the symptoms and make you feel better sooner.

So, I’m making a roundup post of the best foods to eat when you are feeling under the weather.

Best Foods To Eat When You Are Sick

Fresh Fruit

Fresh fruit is one of the most obvious foods to eat when you have cold and flu symptoms. They are full of vitamins, nutrients, and all of the things you need for your immune system.

You should definitely eat a variety of fruit when you are sick, but citrus fruit would definitely be the best choice – lemon, oranges, grapefruit, etc. They are full of vitamin C, which is super important for colds and flu since it strengthens your immune system and makes you get better a lot sooner.

You can eat them as they are, or turn them into juices.

Herbal Teas

Hot tea is something you should drink even when you’re not sick. It’s great for your body, and it has many benefits. But if you do have cold or flu symptoms, hot herbal teas are a must!

They will help with a sore throat, they will keep you hydrated, and can even help you if you have an upset stomach.

Mint tea and chamomile tea are great to soothe an upset stomach, and green tea and ginger tea have anti-inflammatory effects.

If you can’t drink unsweetened tea, put honey in it instead of sugar. Honey is so much better for you than processed sugars, and it’s actually good to have some honey when you have a cold!

Soup

There’s nothing like warm homemade soup when you’re sick! There’s just something about it that is so comforting.

Hot soup is great for sore throat, and any kind of cold and flu. It’s also easy on the stomach, so it’s great even if you have an upset stomach.

No matter what cold or flu you’re dealing with, a warm bowl of soup a day is definitely recommended. Whether it’s chicken soup, vegetable soup, or a different type, it will definitely be good for you!

It’s also a good choice when you don’t feel like eating any actual solid food (because we all know our appetite isn’t the best when we have colds and flu), but you still need to get something nourishing and comforting into your sick body.

Here are some soup recipes you’ll find super comforting when you’re not feeling great:

Easy Italian Wedding Soup

510 calories

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
2 cups Broth, chicken or beef – 70 calories
½ Carrots, whole, medium – 12.5 calories
½ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half – 8 calories
1 cup Leafy greens, kale, raw – 15 calories
4 oz Ground beef, 90% lean, raw – 185 calories
1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash – 0 calories
1 Basil, dash – 0 calories
1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories
½ cup Pasta, cooked – 100 calories

Instructions:

Cook pasta as instructed on package.
Dice carrots and celery.
Add oil to pot. Stir fry beef, carrots, and celery, until beef is no longer pink, ~8 minutes, on medium heat.
Add in broth, kale, pasta, and seasonings. Set heat to low. Simmer at least 5 minutes.
No beef? Use chicken, fish, tofu, or beans.

Loaded Veggie Soup

374 calories

Ingredients:

5 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
1 Zucchini, medium – 33 calories
½ Onion, yellow – 27.5 calories
1 Carrots, whole, medium – 25 calories
½ cup Celery stalks, chopped in half – 8 calories
½ cup Canned, diced tomatoes – 25 calories
1 cup Broth, vegetable – 15 calories
2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) – 50 calories
1 Basil, dash – 0 calories
1 Oregano, dash – 0 calories
1 tsp Red pepper flakes, dash – 0 calories

Instructions:

This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings at once.
Cut chicken breast into bite-size pieces. Dice celery, carrots, and onion. Chop zucchini into small pieces.
Spray the bottom of a pot with an oil spray, cook chicken for ~5 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.
Add in celery, carrot, onion, and spices for another ~8 minutes, until fragrant (you’ll know!).
Add in broth, diced tomatoes, and zucchini.
Simmer for ~10 minutes on low heat, or until desired temperature.
Pour into a bowl, top with seasoning and Parmesan.
No dairy? Use oil instead of the oil spray. No chicken? Use tofu or beans.

Vegetables

Just like fruit, veggies are a must when you’re sick. They will give you all the nutrients and vitamins you need, and they’re great for all co
mmon colds and flu.

Fresh salads and leafy greens are especially great when you’re not feeling great. They definitely have the most vitamins and nutrients – spinach, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, etc.

However, other veggies that aren’t just for salads are great as well – broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, asparagus, and the list goes on and on.

Veggies are so much better for you than processed foods, always, but especially when you’re sick. You can’t get your immune system up by eating pizza!