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With all that fall has to offer, it also has its downsides. There’s the return of cold weather, for starters. And there are gloomy days filled with rain, the stress of getting ready for the holidays, and the inevitable seasonal ailments of a cold or sore throat.
If your coworkers, family, or friends start getting a sore throat, it just seems to spiral. When it’s your turn to feel sick, take care of yourself (or others in your house!) by eating nourishing foods that will soothe your throat, like a bowl of creamy mashed potatoes, egg drop soup, or baked pumpkin oatmeal.
I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, but I feel like I can safely say there are just things that will make your throat feel better when you’re sick. You want to avoid anything scratchy or food with a lot of acid, and I know people also tend to avoid things with a lot of dairy to avoid building up mucus.
Drinks
Soothing teas spiked with ginger and cooling slushies are ideal things to sip when you’re just not feeling that great. A hot toddy always does the trick, too (if you’re 21 or older!).
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Iced Green Tea with Ginger, Mint and Honey As summer slowly winds down and with only a handful of grilling weekends left, it’s time to savor some hot-weather favorites — like this twist on the classic iced tea. Kick off your Labor Day weekend with a simple and refreshing glass of iced green tea flavored with ginger, mint, and honey.
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Flu Season Ginger Honey Lemon TonicEven if you aren’t as down and out as I was during that round of flu, it’s good to have a recipe for such a soothing elixir, perfect for chilly winter days, no matter the state of your tummy or your throat. And when you’re all wound up and know that relaxation would be salubrious, add a shot of whiskey — it’s very healing.
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Lemon Balm TeaIt’s made with a blend of herbs including oatstraw, rose hips, lavender, orange peel, and lemon balm, a cheery plant with a long history of raising our spirits. Sipping this tea will surely brighten those dreary days.
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Turmeric-Ginger TeaGinger is my old standby, which I usually mix with honey for a warm, soothing drink. This time I added another ingredient: turmeric.
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Rye and Ginger Hot ToddyThis hot toddy isn’t an apple cider base so don’t expect it to be viscous and sweet. It’s a cocktail, that when done correctly is ideal served alongside a plate of holiday cookies or cakes and when sipped on its own as a nightcap will make for a deep comfy night’s sleep.
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Blueberry Pie SmoothieSpring is also a great time of year to start eating lighter and healthier meals to fuel our bodies for long days ahead. This blueberry pie smoothie is a perfect example of how my husband and I begin our day before we head out into the fields.
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Fruit Slushies How about we make some slushies? They're easy to whip up in a blender, made with real fruit, and best of all, ice cold.
Go to Recipe Warm Foods
It’s hard to deny the magic of chicken soup when your throat is scratchy and you’re feeling under the weather. Soft foods like mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs also work wonders.
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Real Chicken Soup with a Whole ChickenThis is a soup you can be proud of. No matter how many times you’ve made it before, a pot of this soup on your stove should (and will) result in a self-congratulatory fist pump. And if you’ve somehow made it this far in life without making chicken soup from scratch using a whole chicken, then prepare yourself for something truly special. Dinner is going to be amazing.
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Moroccan-Spiced Carrot and Sorghum SoupIt’s not one of the quicker-cooking grains (it takes about 45 to 60 minutes to fully cook), but it does reheat beautifully, so we’ve been making a pot at the beginning of the week and tossing it into salads … and soups as you can tell from this new favorite fall recipe.
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Egg Drop SoupYou might recognize egg drop soup from the bowl you get with the lunch plates at Chinese-American restaurants, with swirling strands of eggs floating in a light, savory broth.
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Slow-Cooked Scrambled EggsThese are not just any soft and creamy scrambled eggs; these are the softest and the creamiest scrambled eggs of all time. These are the scrambled eggs that seal the deal on marriage proposals and earn you special brownie points every Mother’s Day brunch. These scrambled eggs put all others to shame.
Cooling Foods
If dairy doesn’t bother you when you’re sick, then go ahead and enjoy that ice cream because its cool creaminess will definitely make you feel better. So will things like ice pops, pudding, and applesauce.
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Honey and Cashew Butter Yogurt Ice PopsLoaded with yogurt, creamy cashew butter, milk, vanilla, and honey, these cold treats take only seconds to throw together. Once they’re frozen, you can grab one anytime — even if you’re rushing out the door.
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Chocolate Pudding from ScratchPudding is simply milk and cream, sweetened and thickened by a brief bout of cooking on the stovetop or in the oven. Knowing how to make pudding from scratch is like having the golden key to winning dessert.
