My dd (12) is very sluggish....probably a bad cold or mild flu....she's not much of a soup eater or tea drinker. What do you give your kids when they're sick?
I got her to eat some yogurt and hot chocolate but that's about it
Push the fluids and let her eat whatever she says "feels good." Let her body tell her what she wants.
When I have the flu, I usually prefer crackers, pretzels, apples, Sprite, crackers & peanut butter, toast. But really, ask her what she would LIKE to eat.
My kids get whatever food and drink they want when sick.
Updated
My kids get whatever food and drink they want when sick.
Dairy when sick sounds awful.
I wouldn't want someone forcing me to eat if I didn't feel well, and I treat my kids the same way.
Let her eat what she wants, when she wants. Offer/encourage fluids and rest.
I wouldn't do yogurt. we kind of avoid milk or dairy when we have colds.
I also wouldn't do sugar (like hot chocolate).
Crackers and toast for upset tummies, soup, applesauce ...
we just focus more on staying hydrated. If mine have bad colds or flu, they don't feel like eating.
I don't force my kids to eat when they are sick. I was sick a couple of weeks ago and eating was the last thing I thought about. I do push fluids though so no dehydration--try nothing with caffeine and no hi sugar like soda, except maybe 7 up or ginger ale. You might encourage her to eat something light, maybe j-ello or similar.
I think fluids are more important than food.
If she has a lot of mucus from a cold, watch the yogurt - sometimes the dairy products cause more mucus production. If the hot chocolate is mostly water, that's one thing, but if it's dairy based or full of additives (like the instant stuff), you might want to avoid it.
Strive for smaller and more frequent meals, with a mix of the usual proteins, healthy fats and carbs that everyone eats. Proteins: peanut butter or almond butter on celery or apple slices, hummus with veggies, a handful of almonds or walnuts, maybe a little chicken or tuna. Healthy fats: same nuts and peanut butter, maybe a little salad with olive oil/vinegar dressing, olives if she likes those. Fluids - water, popsicles, watery fruits like watermelon and berries (put on oatmeal for good carbs and protein too), or unsweetened applesauce (add real cinnamon for sweetening and health benefits). Celery, cucumbers and peppers are pretty liquid-y.
Oranges or clementines are better than OJ - the kids get the fiber too. Clementines are easy to peel and feel like a snack.
Water water water unless you have a good sports drink with no additives and dyes. I use one with less salt/sugar than Gatorade and with beta carotene vs. artificial dyes.
If this turns into a lower intestinal thing with diarrhea, then you want the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, toast.
Unless there's a gastrointestinal issue like vomiting or diarrhea, give her whatever she feels like eating.
Try to keep her hydrated.
Skip the sugary foods and drinks (no more hot chocolate).
When I was a kid, when I was sick - I didn't get to specify whether I liked something or not.
My Mom would put it in front of me and I ate it - or went without.
Yeah, I ate a lot of soup when I didn't feel like it.
(Funny thing is - as a kid I wasn't crazy about soup - but NOW I AM!)
If she's really sick, send her to bed - no tv, computer or anything else.
Sleeping is the best thing for her.
Comfort food was something we called milk toast - an egg poached in milk, poured over a lightly buttered piece of bread with just a little salt and pepper on top of it.
I still have it if I'm feeling poorly.
Ice Pops
Ice Cream
Pudding
Yogurt
Jello
Lunchables
We always avoid sugar and dairy with ANY cold. My daughter doesn't like tea either, but loves chicken soup (or broth), she will also drink green smoothies when she is not feeling well.
We usually eat stuff that will help strengthen the immune system, no junk foods.
When my daughter (now 21) went through being sick...
Jello... Let them drink it
Popsicles
Water with fruit infused
Saltines
Pudding pops ( depending on reaction to dairy)
Slowly introduce new foods such as toast, etc.
I hope your kiddo is better soon.
I give veggie and fruit smoothie, they are powerful.
My kids tend toward scrambled eggs, crackers, and bananas when sick.
lots of fluids and whatever she wants to eat.....
try to go easy on dairy which creates more mucus ...
hope she feels better
Whatever they feel like having and are willing to eat. No point in trying to push foods they don't want.
