10 comforting, gluten-free recipes to make when you are sick, plus 5 of my best tips for staying well this cold and flu season!
Whelp, it’s officially that time of year following the most wonderful time of the year – sick season.
As I mentioned last week, Lincoln came down with croup on Christmas day, Ben’s currently nursing a sore throat, both his parent’s were recovering from colds when they came into town, and one of his brothers left our house sick after new years. It’s a jungle out there, people!
All that to say, I’ve gotten a lot of practice making meals to soothe sore throats, coughs, and upset stomachs over the past two weeks, and want to pass along 10 of my best recipes that do just that to comfort your family over the next couple of months of the season that shall not be named.
But first I’m sharing 5 of my best tips for staying well in the first place because guess who the only person is to avoid getting sick despite being around a ton of it in the past month?
THIS GAL!
I’ll probably come down with ebola simply for typing that. Anyway, without further ado, here are some of my best tips for staying well this cold and flu season:
- STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE. Guess what sick people do? Cough into their hands. Guess what they touch afterwards? Everything. You will inevitably come into contact with germs over the next few months, but keeping your fingers away from your mouth and nose will lessen your chances of them sneaking inside. This should also help clear up chin acne. You’re welcome!
- Reduce stress. Study after study has shown that stressed out people get sick more often. Why? Because chronic stress causes an overproduction of the hormone cortisol, which suppresses the immune system. Find a way to cope with daily stress like reading or meditating, go for a walk, or listen to music.
- Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. I’m not totally on board with the idea that eating 100 oranges when I have a cold will cure me faster, but eating the rainbow, specifically dark leafy greens, nuts, and berries, can help your immune system stay in tip-top shape so you don’t get sick in the first place. Still stop touching your face.
- Nix sugar and high fat foods. Let’s say that, despite your best efforts, you do come down with the cold or flu. Resist the urge to eat pints of ice cream and greasy burgers. Sugar can suppress the immune system and cause inflammation, which can exaggerate cold and flu symptoms, while heavy, greasy food can upset an already sensitive stomach.
- Wash your hands. Like crazy. So simple, but works so well. Since getting Celiac Disease I wash my hands constantly to prevent cross contamination (we don’t keep gluten in the house, but I’ve gotten sick from second hand gluten in public) and so far I haven’t gotten sick this season. I keep a bottle of Honest Hand Sanitizer in my purse and in the car if I can’t get to a sink after being out and about.
No method is 100% perfect, of course, so in case you or someone you love comes down with the crud, here are 10 of my most soothing and comforting, get-well-soon, gluten-free recipes to make when you are sick!
Gluten Free Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Gluten Free Homestyle Chicken and Noodles
Easy Turkey Chili
Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Blueberry Banana-Nut Oatmeal
Gluten-free Copycat Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal
Easiest Fruit Salad
Green Detox Smoothie
Cozy Bacon and Mushroom Risotto
Crispy Bacon Kale and Shrimp with Lemon Butter Pan Sauce
This is amazing I Loved It!!
Ive heard that going off gluten for normal people can be damaging. So my wheat allergy son and Me the Celiac eat glutwn free but my wife and 4 other kids eat regular. Its risky and always an adventure to be sure. Any thoughts? Also thankyou for the tips and recipes. Ive noticed when I get sick its so much worse between the autoimmune issues and stress.
I usually just cook gluten free dinners fir everyone and let them eat lots of bread for lunch. They get plenty of gluten and I don’t have to cook two types of dinner.