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It's called the BRAT diet - a handy acronym. Here's what it stands for:

1. Bananas - Bananas, whether they are under-ripe or brown, like the ones we talked about earlier today, are easy on the stomach.

2. Rice - White rice is easy on the stomach and lets your innards rest.

3. Apple Juice/Applesauce - Same with apple juice and applesauce; they have minimal amounts of fiber but are still full of good sugars and calories.

4. Toast - White toast with little or no butter is also easy on the stomach.

This is the diet historically prescribed for gastrointestinal distress, and whether it's you, a friend, or a child, this is a good list of basics to stick to when you're not feeling so hot. It's not a diet to stick to long-term; it's definitely lacking in many basic nutrients. But it will give you stomach a rest if it's not feeling great.

Our other flu-season standby is this Flu Season Ginger Honey Lemon Tonic.

Also try these sick-day standbys:
• Jane's Curative White Bean Soup
• Miso Soup
• Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrot Soup
• Easy Green Minestrone
• Blood Orange Jelly Smiles

(Image credits: Toast from Tuvie.com; apple juice from SOCI; bananas from StLucia.gov; rice from Gulf Business)