Flu shots are here, there is a nip of autumn crispness in the air, and a nasty cold is going around campus. Some people are calling it the “UF plague.” As someone who recently experienced the “UF plague,” or at least some awful germ that made me want to curl up in bed and never get up, I can definitely say that being sick in college is absolutely no fun.
Your mom isn’t around offering you hot tea, your class projects refuse to extend their deadlines, and the world demands that you continue on as if you don’t feel like you have an elephant sitting on your chest and Niagara Falls in your nose.
Food is hard to manage on your own in college, but sometimes people just forget about eating altogether when they feel ill. Here are a few tried and true favorite foods of mine to eat when I’m sick that are easy and beneficial.
Fruit Popsicles
Although not what immediately comes to mind when you think of foods to eat when you are sick, popsicles are actually one of my favorites. You need to stay hydrated when your body is using the reserves to fight off germs. Popsicles are a great way to stay hydrated and feel a little bit better about the world. Popsicles made with 100 percent fruit are your best option.
Bananas
Bananas are especially good for colds that include stomach pain and nausea. Easy in cereal, oatmeal or the peel, bananas are a generally common food anyway. But they make great sick food because they don’t require a lot of preparation that makes your already aching head hurt more.
Green Tea
Drinking any kind of tea when you have a cold is always a smart idea, but I find the taste and warmth of Green Tea specifically makes me feel a lot better. Also, it apparently helps your production of germ-fighting B cells! Try putting some honey in your tea for extra sweetness and a soft, soothing balm on a sore throat.
There are lots of other foods we all know about that are good for eating when you are sick like chicken-noodle soup for a cold and saltine crackers for an upset stomach. We shouldn’t forget about the classics, but the three I mentioned are perhaps a little less well-known and might help you perk up a little next time the “UF plague” makes you feel like skipping class.
Here’s to fighting our way determinedly through flu season! Good luck!
