What are some good comfort foods for people with a cold or the flu?

When I am sick I always make a bowl of potato soup. Not the creamy canned kind. My own recipe you can alter this recipe for however many servings you want...just keep the ratio the same.

POTATO SOUP

Slice a medium size potato in 1/4" slices. Cover with water in a saucepan and boil for about 10 minutes. Drain the water off. Add:

1 cup milk

2 Tbs. butter

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. dried parsley

salt to taste

Heat until milk is eating temperature. Serve with saltine crackers.

For breakfast I always like a hot cooked cereal with toast and hot tea sweetened with honey. Oatmeal and cream of wheat are my favorites.

A "make ahead" idea. Make up some different kinds of biscotti...they go great with hot tea and hot chocolate which always make you feel better when you are sick. Put some ginger in, that helps settle the stomach. Add raisins, and other dried fruits.

Plain foods for anyone woth a tummy ache. Also stay away forma cidic stuff, but a little OJ is great if your household doesn;t have upset stomachs.

Use this time to eat other stuff that is normally a treat, getting special snacks and so on is a way to help feel better.

Popsicles-for sore throat

7-up or ginger ale-to calm and upset tummy

If you can find honey sticks or enjoy a spoonfull of honey every so often-sore throat

CN soup as you said

Broths of any kind

Gatorade

Warm jello

Hot cider

Hot chocolate

Tea

Homemade lemon ade-fresh squeezed lemon juice with water, and sugar or splenda over

For others with tummy troubles:

BRAT diet

Bananas

Rice

Applesauce

Toast

Of course chicken noodle is a commonly known staple, but perhaps other chicken noodle variations would make it more interesting. Being asian, a rice porridge made with more than the usual amount of water is common. Add to that a pickled plum called umeboshi is used. Perhaps you might search for other porridges more to your liking would be good. As with soup, it's the warmth and easy digestion that makes it comforting.

As a thought, I searched for asian porridges, sometimes called congee, for other ideas. Perhaps these might interest you.

http://www.homemade-chinese-soups.com/chicken-porr...

If you're more adventurous, perhaps you might handle fish versions.

http://www.homemade-chinese-soups.com/fish-porridg...

As a whole, perhaps search for other porridge variants you might be interested in. Good luck and get well soon. Like oatmeal, other porridges make interesting meals even when you're not sick. It's also easy on digestion as one ages, too.

Hmm, how about:

Chicken Noodle Soup

Mashed Potatoes with Butter

Grits

Italian Wedding Soup

^^^Try those things,

the main idea is to not eat too heavy/greasy foods which

can make you feel worse.

Get things that are warm and light on your stomach.(:

Chicken soup actually helps to get better faster...try making it homemade for the best benefits. Why not a beef soup also...or stew? My kids always seem to gravitate to saltier things like even Chinese Food just because while one is sick the taste buds seem to be not working well. Nothing greasy,cheesy or creamy because if they have coughs it will make them worse.

Light soups are great. You can use a variety of combinations of ingredients. Like lemon chicken soup, fresh grated ginger and a little garlic, add diced tomatoes and green peppers. If you finely chop your veggies or even grate them, it seems easier and more likely that they can eat them. Just depends on how sick they are. Imagine brand has a great variety of healthy broths to use as a base for your soups. I would use very lean meat like skinless chicken pieces or very lean beef so their isn't too much fat in the soup. I would cut back on stronger ingredients like garlic, etc. Not sure of your family's tastes so here is a variety. Hope this helps.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Ingredients

1 (46 ounce) can chicken broth

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup (optional)

1 cup uncooked rice

2 cups diced cooked chicken

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon rind (optional)

Directions

1In a 5-quart Dutch oven, combine chicken broth and cream of chicken soup, mixing until well blended.

2Stir in rice, chicken, lemon juice and rind.

3Bring mixture to a boil.

4Reduce heat.

5Cover; simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

http://www.recipezaar.com/Greek-Lemon-Chicken-Soup...

Ginger Chicken Soup

http://www.lanierbb.com/recipes/data/ck22.html

Light Vegetable

http://www.cooksrecipes.com/soup/light_vegetable_s...

Bacon Leek and Tomato

http://www.molliestones.com/food/recipeView.php?re...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/speedy-soup-rec...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Beefy-Lentil-Vegetabl...

Balsamic chicken and Dumplings

Diets rich in alpha- and beta-carotenes have been linked with lower risks of certain cancers and a lower risk of heart disease. These antioxidants are also key players in the health of the immune system, eyes, skin and bones. Moreover, they may help slow the aging process, therefore slowing or stopping the development of age-related diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

1 16.9-oz. pkg. frozen potato-and-onion-filled pierogi (potato dumplings)

12 oz. green and/or wax beans, trimmed (3 cups)

1 1 ½ lb. chicken tenders

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions

Cook pierogi and beans in boiling water according to package directions. Drain pierogi and beans; divide among serving plates.

Meanwhile, slice chicken into 1/2-inch thick medallions. Gently flatten chicken slices by hand to 1/4-inch thickness; lightly sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken. Cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until no pink remains. Transfer to serving plates with pierogi and beans.

Drain fat from skillet. Add balsamic vinegar to hot skillet. Cook, uncovered, 1 minute or until reduced by half. Drizzle over chicken, pierogi, and beans. Sprinkle with chopped rosemary.

4 servings

Serving Suggestions

Pineapple mango salad

home made beef stew