Frugal sickie tips

[NaturallyCheap]

Originally Posted by jkuo13

Umm... I don't know if fasting is the best solution. If you're not hungry, you shouldn't eat while you're sick. But if you've got any sort of appetite, you should still be putting down some sustenance in the form of simple, healthy foods (fruit, oatmeal, soup, etc.). Not feeding yourself while you're sick is a way to make yourself even more miserable and slow down your recovery. You need at least SOME energy and nutrients to recover.

Well digestion of food is the second most demanding task for the body after sex! Animal in the wild drink water and fast when they are sick!

So are you saying your body don't have enough energy to go without food for 4-5 days? The world record for not eating by a fat guy is 365 days

[jkuo13]

Originally Posted by CheapKunt

Well digestion of food is the second most demanding task for the body after sex! Animal in the wild drink water and fast when they are sick!

So are you saying your body don't have enough energy to go without food for 4-5 days? The world record for not eating by a fat guy is 365 days

Some illnesses will benefit from fasting, but not all. You body needs more than just calories to thrive. Food provides other nutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, micronutrients, etc). The food you eat while you're sick should be nutrient dense (not calorie dense) and easily digestible. If your body is well enough to tell you its hungry, there's no reason to deprive it of food.

The year-long world record for fasting is afaik not by a fat guy, but by a Jain practitioner. It was done for spiritual purposes, and I wouldn't exactly call it a healthy thing for the body.

[layla17]

I've always liked the idea of trying to sweat out a cold. Bundling up and either working out or just letting your fever break. I know it's not the safest method, but it definitely works.

[purplefdu]

We normally bring out the Vicks Vaporub or Sudacare Shower soothers (coupon this weekish at coupons.com/smartsource) of which we have two big boxes we got on clearance. Lots of tea as well, but we buy in bulk and have plenty of locally produced honey as well (the splurge). We normally eat chicken based foods for a bit, sometimes in soups.

My husband grew up drinking bouillon and hot jello when he was sick. I'm not so fond of either, but they seem to make him feel better

[NaturallyCheap]

Originally Posted by jkuo13

The food you eat while you're sick should be nutrient dense (not calorie dense) and easily digestible.

Green leafy veggie only mean that description bit per calories.

Originally Posted by jkuo13

If your body is well enough to tell you its hungry, there's no reason to deprive it of food.

I doubt you ever experience true hunger. Most of want you feel is stomach reducing in size. How many time have you been without food to know what hungry feels like?

[rolltimer]

If you're hungry but don't feel up to slaving over a stove while you are sick, you can make a quick version of Chicken & Dumplings.

1. Boil or pressure cook 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts in 3 cups of water
2. Open can of cream of chicken soup and stir into the cooked chicken
3. Open 10 count package of flour tortillias and cut into 1 inch strips
4. Remove cooked chicken from the broth and cut into bite sized pieces
5. Bring broth back to a boil and drop in the tortillia strips
6. Stir in the pieces of chicken
7. Simmer for 20 minutes; Add salt and pepper to taste

If you're more than just a little hungry, heat a can of mixed vegetables to go with your chicken and dumplings and you've got a complete meal.

[boba1212]

Originally Posted by NaturallyCheap

The most frugal is just to fast. Stop eating and just drink lots of water and sleep alot!

Isn't there some old wives' tale to "starve a cold, feed the flu" or something (I am probably messing it all up).

I haven't been sick yet this winter (knock on wood) but whenever my throat starts feeling a bit scratchy, I bundle up in a scarf, even indoors, and drink lots of hot water or tea. Something my parents told me, and which I still believe, is to sweat out the sickness so I bundle up in double layers to sleep. Seems to be working!

[NaturallyCheap]

I haven't been sick for past 5 years. Well ever since eating fruit and veggie to the exclusion to everything else!

[jdp]

Originally Posted by rolltimer

If you're hungry but don't feel up to slaving over a stove while you are sick, you can make a quick version of Chicken & Dumplings.

1. Boil or pressure cook 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts in 3 cups of water
2. Open can of cream of chicken soup and stir into the cooked chicken
3. Open 10 count package of flour tortillias and cut into 1 inch strips
4. Remove cooked chicken from the broth and cut into bite sized pieces
5. Bring broth back to a boil and drop in the tortillia strips
6. Stir in the pieces of chicken
7. Simmer for 20 minutes; Add salt and pepper to taste

If you're more than just a little hungry, heat a can of mixed vegetables to go with your chicken and dumplings and you've got a complete meal.

Oh man, I've got to try that tonight I even have all of it on hand.

[lilac]

Do any you have any frugal mucus ridding tips? I am pretty much over this cold but the mucus is sticking around and is making me feel a lot worse than I would without it!