Home Cooking While Sick: TJ’s Quick Prep Favorites

updated May 3, 2019
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Of all the things we love about fall, one thing we’re not so crazy about is the beginning of cold and flu season. Some of us have already been suffering through an early bug.

We’re nearly useless in the kitchen when we’re not feeling well, but keeping a few heat-and-serve items in our pantry keeps us from constantly reaching for the takeout soup menus.

Here are five of our favorites from Trader Joe’s…

  • Pouches of TJ’s Indian Fare like Palak Paneer or Madras Lentils can be heated in minutes and served with a piece of frozen Garlic Naan or perhaps some frozen Organic Brown Rice. Comfort food goodness with a little bit of spice to clear the sinuses.
  • Sure, we pride ourselves on making a mean batch of rich and creamy homemade mac and cheese, but on a sick day, we’re perfectly happy with a box of TJ’s Organic Shells & White Cheddar. That’s right, mac and cheese from a box. Save the rich stuff for when your tastebuds are back to full strength.
  • We’ve long been fans of TJ’s cartons of soup and use it occasionally to round out our meals. But when we’re under the weather, it’s great as a main dish, particularly a bowl of the Carrot Ginger variety.
  • Speaking of soup, another standby is TJ’s Instant Miso Soup.
  • For a healing hot drink, our first choice is Sara Kate’s recipe for Flu Season Ginger Honey Lemon Tonic, but on those rare days when we can’t muster the strength to peel and chop our own ginger, we reach for a bottle of TJ’s Lemon Ginger Echinacea Juice.

Hopefully, you won’t need to take any of these suggestions this fall and winter. Be healthy!

Related:

Cocktails and the Common Cold: Vodka, Honey, and Ginger

(Image: Joanna Miller)