Food suggestions for when you're ill.

Jezebel_Barbie

I have been ill for the past week with a gum infection. It's been pretty miserable, and in addition to the pain and swelling I've got absolutely NO appetite. Which I wouldn't mind except I'm also pretty starving! I've managed to make myself eat some scrambled eggs, soup, super noodles, yogurt, angel delight and a potato mash bake thing in the last week but that's about it.

Because it's a mouth issue rather than 'being sick' I need suggestions for softer foods rather than traditional comfort foods. Toast etc is unfortunately a no-go (as I painfully discovered). Calorie content/healthy vs unhealthy is unimportant right now, I'll get back to tracking when I'm feeling better, I just want something I can stomach eating right now. The thought of most food is making me feel ill, but not eating anything is making it worse! Suggestions?

kingofcrunk

I had tonsillitus earlier this week which made eating and drinking really hard. I felt pretty sorry for myself!
I basically survived on chicken soup / tomato soup and cups of tea. I also had a couple of the Options hot chocolate things which are only 40 calories a sachet.
My mum said orange juice is good for ill people too.

You can get fresh soups too which make you feel like you're having something a bit more special than a boring canned soup. I'm sure they're exactly the same but when you're feeling rough you need all the little nice things you can get.

Jezebel_Barbie

If I could find a soup I could stomach eating I'd go nuts eating that! I had some soup earlier this week and it took me about 2 hours to eat just one bowlful I might try some different flavours of the chilled ones and see if I fancy any of the others more though, thanks.

kingofcrunk

Could you try milkshakes? Do they hurt your mouth too?
I have lots of sympathy for you - I've had mouth problems before and its so depressing being in that much pain!

xdoublerainbow

Hmm, here's just a few ideas even though some of them are the same as what you've listed

- yogurts
- soups
- mashed / pureed fruits
- smoothies
- porridges
- jelly
- noodles
- ice-cream/ice-blocks
- juices

I have braces so whenever I have them tightened that's basically what I eat for four days!

LorinaLynn

When I had a jaw problem and couldn't chew, I lived on mashed potatoes with cheese melted in it.

I also had a lot of slimfast shakes, figuring if one was a meal replacement for someone trying to lose weight, then two should be good if I wasn't trying to lose. But I still lost weight, and they're not very nutritionally balanced. I wish I knew now what I knew then about protein powders, but I was young and foolish then, and if protein powders had crossed my mind, I would have just thought they were for bodybuilders.

Chicken cooked in the crock pot until it falls apart is amazing. Add some frozen vegetables until they turn to mush. Add some buffalo sauce and cream cheese or greek yogurt, stir it up, and you have a delicious bowl of yum that's also a balanced meal. (Personally, I like to have it over oven baked waffle fries, but your mileage may vary.)

Jezebel_Barbie

Everything hurts so I'm willing to give anything a go! It's mostly the lack of appetite, everything seems revolting right now!

arieleisner

do you have a food processor? i was on a full liquid diet for a few months prior to bowel surgery and i just blended whatever i felt like eating regularly (mainly chicken, roasted vegetables, smoothies, fish, etc). it's like baby food! i also discovered that most things taste like barbecue if you just add barbecue sauce haha

chosengiver

I've had gum issues this week & luckily, I have a variety of protein shakes and drinkable soups.
Here's some links I use

Butternut Squash Soup
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/10/butternut-squash-soup-with-sage-1-ww-pt.html

Creamy Broccoli Soup
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/04/cream-of-broccoli-soup-25-ww-pts.html
*I substituted Almond Milk for skim & melted 2 oz of Velveeta Cheese in the soup instead of using shredded

Protein Shakes
Classic Green Monster
http://greenmonstermovement.com/?cat=3

Double Dense Green Monster
http://k9owner.blogspot.com/2012/01/double-dense-now-green-monster.html

Dashing Dish Protein Shakes
http://dashingdish.com/recipe/dashing-dish-official-protein-shake/


Other Food
Oatmeal Smoothie (add more milk to make it a shake)
http://www.chiquitabananas.com/Banana-Recipes/Banana-Oatmeal-Smoothie-recipe.aspx

Dashing Dish Mousse
http://dashingdish.com/recipe/peanut-butter-protein-cheesecake-mousse-for-one/

Jezebel_Barbie

Oh thank you guys! I can meal plan with the best of them but I struggle to think outside the box when it comes to things like this.

nxd10

Traditional:

Chicken broth with rice - and you can add a lot of rice if you feel bad and need calories. Salt, which I never used, can make you feel more like eating it

Custard - 4 cups of milk, 4-6 eggs, 1/2 cup of sugar baked in the oven for 45 minutes. It is delicious and easy to eat.

Rice pudding

Bread pudding

I hope you feel better.

nxd10

If I could find a soup I could stomach eating I'd go nuts eating that! I had some soup earlier this week and it took me about 2 hours to eat just one bowlful I might try some different flavours of the chilled ones and see if I fancy any of the others more though, thanks.

The canned progresso soups come in tons of flavors. When my kids feel really crummy I have them eat two tablespoons every half hour. Just keep eating slowly to keep your strength up. It's not 'food'. It really is fuel you need to keep going.

peace_pigeon

Try a protein shake with frozen berries, kale/spinach, peanut butter and almond milk/milk. If you add lots of ice, it might make your gums feel better and it will give you plenty of calories and nutrition :flowerforyou: Hope you feel better soon!