Fellow Americans, when you in bed sick as a dog, what unique thing do you eat or drink (not ginger ale!)?

r/

I’ve been sick in bed with a stomach bug since Friday, and just like in childhood, an icee from the gas station is the only thing that I can seem to keep down.

Comments

  1. Existing_Charity_818 Avatar

    Sprite and saltine crackers. Always. Does the trick every time

  2. Far_Fun_55 Avatar

    My family never used ginger ale, only 7up!

  3. Kvandi Avatar

    Sprite with Campbells chicken noodle soup.

  4. Nuke_1568 Avatar

    Sprite and saltine crackers is my family’s go-to if we’re having trouble keeping stuff down.

  5. HoyAIAG Avatar

    Wonton soup

  6. Matchboxx Avatar

    My sick meal is always 2 McDoubles, a large fry, and a sweet tea. My wife will recoil at the idea of how greasy it is, but it works just right for me. 

  7. GeckoCowboy Avatar

    Shrimp flavor instant ramen. My grandmother used to make me it when i didn’t feel good as a kid.

  8. Pilgrim2223 Avatar

    Butterscotch Pudding.

    Only when I’m super sick, and no harsh GI stuff, I also don’t eat it pretty much any time, but whenever I’m sick it is a craving I gotta itch.

  9. DownVegasBlvd Avatar

    Saltine crackers are good when you need something in your belly but can’t eat much. Chicken broth or chicken noodle soup is easy on the belly, too.

  10. BionicGimpster Avatar

    Ginger snap > saltines.

  11. Euphemia-Alder Avatar

    Gatorade, chicken broth, and congee. That’s pretty much it tbh

  12. King-Muscle Avatar

    Ginger ale is a cure all lol but lemongrass tea

  13. PokeCaptain Avatar

    Gatorade tbh. 

  14. Feisty-Tooth-7397 Avatar

    When I had strep throat I would eat celery dipped in apple cider vinegar. (This just made me feel better lol)

    Yogurt is good for stomach bugs. I once had a stomach bug that I couldn’t move without yakking and yogurt actually helped. Looked it up online and they said yogurt so I tried it and after an hour I felt well enough I could sit up and move around.

    Flat coke is good for vomiting. One teaspoon every 15 minutes

  15. SteampunkRobin Avatar
  16. _LuxNova Avatar

    I usually do oatmeal with a bit of peanut butter mixed in if nothing else sounds good. Also sprite, ginger candies (if its a stomach issue), and soup.

  17. FancyPigeonIsFancy Avatar

    My Italian grandmother would always make me and my sister rice pudding whenever we were sick as kids. I still miss it (and miss her!) whenever I get sick now as an adult.

  18. ElderlyPleaseRespect Avatar

    My husband drinks beer and eats anchovy’s

  19. Ill-Vermicelli-1684 Avatar

    Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. The kind in a can. That and saltines with 7up or Sprite.

  20. Nellrose0505 Avatar

    Sorry, but Vernors ginger ale is my go-to. Aside from that, Lipton chicken noodle soup. And Bomb Pop popsicles

  21. Dismal-Detective-737 Avatar

    7 up or warm chicken stock.

  22. 3mptyspaces Avatar

    I make a “health soup” that’s usually chicken/wild rice/carrots/spinach. I’ll eat it for a couple days.

  23. dracarys289 Avatar

    Sprite. Crackers. Chicken noodle soup. As South park said this is the white mans cure to illness.

  24. Stunning-Track8454 Avatar

    Michiganders all about to come in with the Vernors recco.

  25. dkmcadow Avatar

    I always start to crave a ham and cheese sandwich on white bread (I usually only eat whole wheat) with lettuce and tomato, and a glass of orange juice.

  26. C5H2A7 Avatar

    Jello

    Chicken broth (I just mix caldo de pollo with hot water)

    Electrolytes/liquid IV

    Saltines and 7Up

    When I was a kid, we’d eat homemade warm tapioca pudding

  27. clothespinkingpin Avatar

    Not ginger ale??? But that’s my answer…

    Saltines too. 

    As a kid, Campbell’s chicken noodle.

    As an adult, Campbell’s vegetarian vegetable.

    Sometimes:

    Buttered toast

    Or

    Spaghetti with butter

  28. lawanddisorderr Avatar

    Hi-C but only in a juicebox

  29. Hayburner80107 Avatar

    Always Ginger Ale.

  30. Sadimal Avatar

    I keep ginger chew candy on hand for nausea.

    My sick diet is usually chicken broth, Pedialyte, plain rice, mashed potatoes, bananas and toast.

  31. anosmia1974 Avatar

    Always ginger ale and saltines for me, but growing up we were given flat Coke, which worked great for nausea!

  32. Ayla1313 Avatar

    red powerade in a glass with a lot of ice and saltines

  33. SubnetHistorian Avatar

    Biscoff cookies. 

  34. Such-Mountain-6316 Avatar

    Tea (hot or cold), toast, crackers, and/or applesauce. Chicken noodle soup if I can take it. Mashed potatoes, for sure.

  35. janegrey1554 Avatar

    Pedialyte pops.

  36. HRSkull Avatar

    Chicken torrilla soup

  37. Bastyra2016 Avatar

    Saltines and chicken noodle soup

  38. flat_four_whore22 Avatar

    I have cyclic vomiting syndrome, and struggle with my appetite daily. When I’m super sick, I make a chicken congee with just rice, chicken bullion, and a dash of sesame oil. Crackers, bread, apple juice, bullion cubes, pedialyte, and the most important thing to me, is “hospital ice.” We keep a bag of Sonic ice in the freezer at all times.

  39. buddymoobs Avatar

    Bone broth.
    Pho

  40. fakesaucisse Avatar

    Congee made with Knorr chicken broth cubes for extra salt.

  41. ImColdandImTired Avatar

    Coca-cola, from a glass bottle.

  42. jrice138 Avatar

    Water is apparently unique. Never understood the thought process behind drinking soda when you’re sick.

  43. iforgotmycoat Avatar

    Gatorade and saltines

  44. natnat1919 Avatar

    Garlic cloves, turmeric, black pepper and elderberry

  45. kieka408 Avatar

    For a stomach bug I always eat watermelon. It’s hydrating, light and when I inevitably get “sick” it’s much easier on the way up than most other things.

  46. Sullygurl85 Avatar

    Saltine crackers though there is a very local fast food chain whose french fries always made me feel better. Especially if my stomach is upset. Unfortunately they just changed their fries so I don’t know if the new ones will work.

  47. Able-Breadfruit-2808 Avatar

    I go to a Vietnamese restaurant and some pho broth. Most places will sell just the broth by the quart or bowl. Always fixes my stomach/throat/lungs. That stuff is magic.

  48. YSoSkinny Avatar

    Broth and saltines

  49. Rogue_Apostle Avatar

    Popsicles at first. Eventually I move onto a baked potato.

  50. InnerRoll9882 Avatar

    Depending on the kind of sick either miso soup or cla chowder. No matter what kind of sick, ice water to drink.

  51. Accurate_Weather_211 Avatar

    Saltine crackers with a bit of butter on them and either Sprite or 7-Up. Sometimes I’ll also have Ramen noodles.

  52. yogafitter Avatar

    Pozole if I can get it.

  53. SirMellencamp Avatar

    Gatorade. Food depends on what sounds good

  54. readermom123 Avatar

    I can tell how bad my cold is by how good cambells chicken noodle soup sounds. I usually don’t like it much but when I’m sick it just hits the spot. With some saltine crackers. 

  55. Fleiger133 Avatar

    Sprite and Saltines, I’m from Kentucky.

  56. djninjacat11649 Avatar

    Well you are refusing the vernors, I have nothing I can offer you, you chose your fate

  57. Rob_LeMatic Avatar

    Pho will bring you back to life.

    Soup in general is the way to go, but hot, spicy pho is the best.

  58. Tinychair445 Avatar

    Spicy Korean tofu soup – for flu with fatigue, rigors, sore throat, congestion. I’m white and have been spoiled by amazing Korean restaurants nearby

  59. Granitest8hiker Avatar

    Whiskey, tie on a good one you’ll feel like ass the next day but they day after that I always tend to feel better, for head colds anyway.

  60. AUCE05 Avatar

    Activated charcoal

  61. DesignerStunning5800 Avatar

    Make sure your ginger ale still has ginger in it. Some don’t anymore. There’s also ginger tea which is good for the lungs in addition to the stomach. I’ve had good results with remedy teas in general.

  62. GoodQueenFluffenChop Avatar

    Sprite and toast with a bit of butter but that’s only for stomach bugs.

  63. Persis- Avatar

    Looks around in Michigander – what’s wrong with Vernor’s? It’s cured generations of children in this state.

  64. JimBones31 Avatar

    Ginger Tea and navy bean chicken soup.

  65. theatregirl1987 Avatar

    Ginger Ale (sorry!) And Campbell’s Chicken Noodle. None of that fancy homestyle stuff either, just the super salty kind from the can.

    Also, Trader Joe’s sells Ginger Mints. Like Altoids, but Ginger. They are perfect when nauseous, especially when you’re not at home.

  66. Ranbru76 Avatar

    Sweetened Earl Grey tea always makes me feel better.

  67. Boring_Concept_1765 Avatar

    Sick soup. Campbell tomato mixed with powdered Lipton chicken noodle.

  68. Art_Music306 Avatar

    Biolyte and chicken tenders

  69. _ML_78 Avatar

    Gatorade, sips of warm coke a cola, soda crackers, ginger tea at room temp. Usually I don’t eat but if I even get 2 crackers down a day I feel it helps.

  70. Quix66 Avatar

    Unique-r? Ginger tea. Usually the common chicken noodle soup, jello, saltines. Got sick a lot last fall. Had to take zofran for the nausea.

  71. Loud-Mans-Lover Avatar

    Saltines, but with butter on them. And chicken soup – I always have homemade bone broth on hand.

  72. Maltedmilksteak Avatar

    yellow gatorade and i always ask my mom to make borscht

  73. chumbucket77 Avatar

    Chicken noodle soup. Saltines. Gatorade. For stomach bug. If its not a stomach thing and a cold sweat fever headache type flu symptom. I try and sweat it out as soon as I can get on my feet. Go for a wildly half ass run. Or walk. Or just be outside and upright. My dad is convinced he can poison the flu with wild turkey whiskey. Im not convinced. Does knock you out though thats for sure

  74. Fit-Vanilla-3405 Avatar

    Spaghetti Os and – if not a stomach issue – warm milk with honey.

  75. AdhesivenessCold398 Avatar

    Liptons tea. That’s what my mom would always give us for a stomach bug. Feel better soon!

  76. AmalCyde Avatar

    Powerade and pretzels

  77. Curmudgy Avatar

    Chicken soup, preferably with matza balls.

    Though through a quirk of the English language, often pointlessly discussed in NSQ and elsewhere on Reddit, we generally don’t say we drink soup, even clear soups; we eat soup.

  78. keIIzzz Avatar

    Not unique but hot water with lemon and honey, or hot tea (and maybe some honey). I don’t know if you don’t like ginger in general, but tummy drops help me with my stomach issues. They’re ginger based but they have different flavors, and they’re similar to cough drops

    Soup broth without anything in it if you can’t handle much in solids. Could add rice if you can tolerate it

    Saltines or bread

  79. PartyLikeaPirate Avatar

    Chicken noodle soup or similar. Add in some pasta (like elbows) or crackers to make it a little more filling imo

  80. CommissionUnlucky525 Avatar

    Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. My Dad would bring this from the local Chicken Joint. They recently went out of business and at 50 it puts me in a tailspin. I can get them elsewhere but it won’t be the same.

  81. bloopidupe Avatar

    Lemon juice mixed with honey

  82. _WillCAD_ Avatar

    White toast. If I’m nauseated, I’ll eat it dry. If not, I’ll add a little butter.

    Also, plain, white rice with a little salt and pepper on it. Rice tends to be something that’s easy to keep down when you’re sick. Single-serving cups of Minute Rice are inexpensive and simple to make – just throw it in the microwave for one minute and it’s done.

  83. Dharmabud Avatar

    Coke or Pepsi with lemon. When I was in Thailand I had food poisoning and this was suggested. I tried it and it helped.

  84. Zestyclose-Phrase210 Avatar

    Brioschi has always helped me with nausea.

  85. Particular-Cloud6659 Avatar

    Just stay hydrated. If you can eat, juat have small sips of water or suck on an ice cube.

  86. esftz Avatar

    Baby pastina with butter

  87. TheFishyNinja Avatar

    Saltines and yellow Gatorade

  88. 308_shooter Avatar

    Tea, chicken broth, Pedialyte

  89. JesusStarbox Avatar

    Campbell’s chicken and stars.

  90. casapantalones Avatar

    Pho, just broth and noodles

    The good all-fruit popsicles

    Diet cokes

    Electrolyte tabs in water

  91. Job_Shopper_TN Avatar

    Chinese hot and sour soup is great for a cold.

  92. js_eyesofblue Avatar

    Flat Coke (stir regular Coke with a spoon to get the bubbles out) and Saltines. Once you can keep stuff down, full sugar Gatorade and chicken noodle soup.

  93. sxhnunkpunktuation Avatar

    Very often just kefir all day long.

  94. LeviathanTDS Avatar

    Used to be Dr. Pepper

  95. AMD915 Avatar

    Homemade turkey bone broth from Thanksgiving, boiled for 10 minutes with hunks of ginger to reheat. Works every time and gets me in some protein.

  96. KiraiEclipse Avatar

    This is something my mom’s mom made for her and my mom made for me. I still make it for myself when I’m sick, even though my husband thinks it’s odd.

    Boil water. Pour it in a mug with one bouillon cube (or one teaspoon of the paste). Add garlic powder, black pepper, and parsley. Stir and enjoy.

  97. redheadsuperpowers Avatar

    Coca-Cola, chicken and stars, Gatorade, applesauce

  98. trekbette Avatar

    Hot & soup soup and simply strawberry lemonade

  99. Secret-Weakness-8262 Avatar

    Idk how unique it is but after turning 40 I find no elixer quite as healing as a strong hot toddy.

  100. crispyrhetoric1 Avatar
  101. Number-2-Sis Avatar

    Not unique but bigelow constant comment hot tea is my go to comfort drink when I’m either sick or stressed.

  102. MrMonkeyMN Avatar

    If I have a sore throat, I drink pickle brine.

  103. randomwords83 Avatar

    Saltines, mashed potatoes, applesauce, watermelon, sprite.

  104. windowschick Avatar

    7Up makes me puke ever since a bout of the flu around age 10 or so.

    Sprite, or, last time I was dog sick, I could manage Lemon-lime Gatorade. A few days later, could add the red.

    I keep a six pack of each in the house, along with the mini 8 or 10oz or whatever they are, cans of Sprite. And oyster crackers or saltines.

  105. OliphauntHerder Avatar

    Regular, full calorie Coca-Cola. It’s the least unpleasant thing to throw back up, for me.

  106. Jaci_D Avatar

    Chinese wonton soup broth

  107. NinjaBilly55 Avatar

    I guzzle a nice tall refreshing glass of bacon grease.. (please don’t)

  108. GByteKnight Avatar

    Hot honey lemonade. It’s about one part lemon juice fresh squeezed with pulp, one part honey and four parts hot water.

  109. MamaLlama629 Avatar

    Flat coke. Cola syrup is an anti emetic.

  110. Mad-Hettie Avatar

    Yes to Sprite and saltines but also flat Coke and saltines

  111. DoAsISayNotAsIReddit Avatar

    Water, Gatorade, and chamomile tea. For food, toast & butter, saltine crackers, chicken noodle soup

  112. Matrimcauthon7833 Avatar

    Shot Jameson, shot of nyquil. This is horrifically bad for you don’t do it.

  113. jugoflove Avatar

    Drink warm jello. Coats the stomach so you can digest something even if you throw it up!

  114. 11hammer Avatar

    Plain cheese nachos.

  115. unluckie-13 Avatar

    Ginger ale and chicken noodle soup. As an adult ginger and tumeric tea and either beef or chicken sippin broth and chicken noodle soup

  116. wpotman Avatar

    I never really understood the logic. “If I eat something mild and can keep it down, then I’ll be ready to eat something else.”

    OK….but I don’t want to eat these gross Chex my mother keeps giving me. Why don’t I just eat the ‘something else’ right away and see if that stays down directly? How is the middle step helping anything? 🙂

  117. Zetin24-55 Avatar

    Nothing for a stomach bug, I’ve tried pretty much every suggestion over the years and had the displeasure of throwing them back up. I take the tiniest sips of water until my stomach has settled.

    Lemonade for a sore or scratchy throat.

    Buttered Toast when I have a fever.

    Pho or Spicy ramen for a head cold.

  118. hypnoticbacon28 Avatar

    I found a few foods useful with that situation. Chicken noodle soup is a go to for a lot of people, but chicken pot pie soup works so much better in my experience. Progresso makes a good one. I rely on it with all stomach problems.

    Bananas are a good choice, too. They’re actually soothing on the stomach and may help if you have diarrhea as part of your stomach bug.

    If you’re of legal age and think you can handle it, a shot of Jägermeister can also do wonders. My roommate is German, and she says that in Germany it’s often used as a remedy for stomach issues and served as a dessert drink to aid in digestion. She falls back on it for her stomach problems. After trying it myself, it cleared up the chronic diarrhea I’ve been putting up with for 9 years.

  119. blipsman Avatar

    While Jewish, when sick I don’t crave the traditional Jewish chicken soup with noodles or matzo balls. I crave various ethnic soups like ramen, pho, pozole.

  120. brianrn1327 Avatar

    Stomach bug I go with liquid iv and or unwell. If it’s a flu I drink a half gallon of oj.

  121. snakeravencat Avatar

    For me it’s always been fresh fruit, but especially cherries. Along with some form of citrus soda. Prefer Squirt, but 7-up/sprite/etc will do in a pinch.

  122. mountainlamb Avatar

    Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, the condensed kind, and tea with extra sugar for a cold. Gatorade and saltines for nausea. Gatorade for a migraine.

  123. cottoncandymandy Avatar

    Bananas and sprite or 7up. 🤷‍♀️

  124. Reader124-Logan Avatar

    Gatorade- only the original flavor- watered down 50%

  125. kgcatlin Avatar

    Campbell’s chicken noodle soup and ginger ale.

  126. The_Bjorn_Ultimatum Avatar

    Spicy broth foods. Like good ramen. And some dayquil to wash it down.

  127. MrLongWalk Avatar

    Those butter club crackers and good Irish cheddar, strong black tea with tons of sugar

  128. Designer-Pound6459 Avatar

    Mustard on toast and tonic water.

  129. Ok-Masterpiece-4716 Avatar

    Gatorade and toast with red bean paste.

  130. TiggySkibbles23 Avatar

    Sprite mixed with orange juice, Gatorade, Parmesan gold fish

  131. Bernkov Avatar

    Green Curry

  132. Decent-Bear334 Avatar

    Jello and apple sauce.

  133. Unhappy_Chef_4143 Avatar

    Saltines and blue gatorade

  134. pgcooldad Avatar

    (not ginger ale!) – everyone from Michigan is out 😂

  135. Zorgsmom Avatar

    I drink piping hot peppermint tea. I used to get the tea from Alterra (a local coffee shop) but they sold out & it tastes like crap now.

  136. dee_007 Avatar
  137. close_my_eyes Avatar

    Nothing. I’m rarely sick, but when it happens, I can’t eat or drink anything. 

  138. i_have_boobies Avatar

    Zofran and soup. Usually miso.

  139. BrainDad-208 Avatar

    I like Constant Comment tea with extra sugar. Otherwise almost never drink any hot tea

  140. bootyprincess666 Avatar

    Liquid IV get those electrolytes my friend.

  141. lavasca Avatar

    Hot water.
    Put an ice pack in a pillowcase and put it near my tailbone.

  142. off_and_on_again Avatar

    If I’m truly sick as a dog then it’s

    Toast or Apple Sauce

    Toast with butter or Toast with peanut butter as I get better

    Once I’m just feeling a normal amount of terrible it’s Fideo (Mexican pasta soup)

  143. Mental_Freedom_1648 Avatar

    I’m sick now and made hot lemonade with honey and a bit of whisky. My grandmother would always make this. Once you were about 5, this was flu and cold medicine lol.

  144. Bearbearblues Avatar

    Grape Gatorade. Diluted with water and ice.

  145. I_Ace_English Avatar

    I strongly recommend ginger tea and chicken broth warmed up, maybe with a bit of heavy cream in it if you’re not lactose intolerant. If I have a cold, I love adding pepper to the ginger tea.

    I’m on a ketogenic medical diet so I can’t do the usual Sprite and saltines. Have to get creative.

  146. Appropriate-Food1757 Avatar

    Bomb pops and cannabis

  147. RevDknitsinMD Avatar

    Tea, or flat ginger ale, and saltines or dry toast.

  148. Dalton387 Avatar

    I tend to want egg drop soup. It’s easy to eat, but had some nutrients and things in it. Clear onion soup as well.