Healthy alternatives to saltines and ginger ale when sick...
I was sick this weekend (vomiting, sorry if TMI :-[ ) and the only thing I wanted was saltines and ginger ale. Now, I really really hate processed food. I don't drink soda. I don't normally eat packaged crackers. But my tummy couldn't really think of anything else but these old standbys. I asked my sweet DH to please read the packages and pick the least-processed-sounding box of saltines and least disgusting bottle of soda. I was hoping there'd be some natural brands of both saltines and ginger ale, but he struck out - nevertheless, he was so sweet to try and also, I needed to eat and drink something, so I ate a sleeve of Saltines and pretended it wasn't filled with partially hydrogenated oil and HF corn syrup (same with the soda).
Does anybody know of any healthy brands that I could stock up on for the next time I am ill?? Thanks in advance ;)
My mother used to give us room-temperature 7up, or cold Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice--not cranapple or any other combo, the plain cranberry kind. If it's cold it is refreshing, if you think that would be too much try it room temp. We could only have the CJ if we were sick.
I don't know how healthy Triscuits are, you could try them. Or maybe something similar.
TJ's carries a ginseng gingerale... it's not TJ's brand... and I can't remember what the brand is... nor can I remember if it is remotely "healthier"
and don't they have whole wheat saltines? I'm sure it's enriched ww but better i guess...
That's about as good as I can go while remaining true to the saltine and gingerale idea :)
This is the ginger ale i was thinking of: http://www.popsoda.com/barginginale.html but it does have HFCS in it... :(
What if you mixed carbonated water with a sweetened ginger/green tea??
That sounds pretty good to me actually!
.... but maybe I'm not allowed to suggest new foods/drinks anymore becuz I have pregnant taste buds and can't tell if something actually sounds good or just sounds good to me and is gross to everyone else LOL
Okay this is a company that makes UNSWEETENED soda syrup (as well as sweetened and sugar free)
so you can add agave or something! and they have ginger ale flavor!
actually they have 50 flavors!
It totally makes me want to try it even though i don't drink soda anymore LOL
http://www.prairiemoon.biz/fulflavlissa.html
sorry i keep posting...
just wanted to mention that I don't know if the flavor concentrates are vegan or not
Honestly, if your sick w/ a stomach virus (I had one a few weeks ago, I feel your pain) eat whatever you can choke down..better that your getting what little nutrients you can manage than getting nothing at all.
I lived on toast and ginger-ale for a few days myself..
Thanks for your replies. I actually just googled and found what I was looking for - Santa Cruz organics and R.W. Knudsen both make ginger ales w/out HFCS.
http://www.scojuice.com/products/detail.aspx?categoryID=80&flavorID=310
http://www.knudsenjuices.com/products/detail.aspx?groupID=12&categoryID=58&flavorID=191&productID=261
Now I just need to go to WF and get some!
I go for gingerale and plain pasta with cinnamon and sugar, or plain vegetable broth. Although last weekend I was sick and once I thought I could eat something, I felt like I could stomach corn for some reason.
i think people drink ginger ale when they are sick because ginger is kind of a cure-all - it has an amazing taste and wonderful health benefits. but i kinda doubt that there is any real ginger in ginger ale - even if there is there is probably not much. why not try a ginger and mint teasan? fresh mint and ginger root with hot water and maybe some honey if you're up to it (if you eat honey, that is)
I go for gingerale and plain pasta with cinnamon and sugar, or plain vegetable broth. Although last weekend I was sick and once I thought I could eat something, I felt like I could stomach corn for some reason.
Actually, when I weaned myself off of saltines and ginger ale, the first thing I ate were some whole wheat elbows with just a smidgen of Smart Balance Light and some salt, along with some plain veggie broth. I guess you and I are on the same page!! I actually ended up having several bowls of veggie broth - I think it was a good choice.
My mom and Grandmom (who raised me from a baby to 5 years old ... long story) gave me flat Pepsi or ginger ale and homemade chicken soup. Worked everytime ... for me anyway. But since becoming vegan, I found that miso soup helps (just the broth at first, then add whatever you can stomache without puking). Miso gets vitamins and fluids into your system. Better than nothing at all. And it's comforting. I find that a hot bath or long hot shower helps as well when I'm sick.
The broth I use (as I mentioned in another thread) is water (about 4-6 cups), kombu (about two inches square) and dried shiitake mushrooms (about 4 to 6 medium size). Soak the kombu and mush over night in the water, then boil when you are ready to use it (let it come to a boil and shut it down). Then add Miso to your liking (I'm a miso freak, so I add two tbsp).
i dont think there is any real ginger in most ginger ales, which is why i like using ginger teas. i lived off of that and toast when i have a stomach bug or indegestion, which is too often. the idea of carbonated water with sweetened cooled ginger tea sounds great, but the popular homeopathic tea brand is yummy and soothing enough on its own. i just checked to see what the brand is, but im all out.
Ginger settles the stomach. You can make ginger water with crystallized ginger and I think I can find a recipe. It is crystallized ginger boiled in water and cooled.
As for crackers...try toast. For diarrhea and vomiting, doctors recommend a B.R.A.T. diet...bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
Hehe, my mom ("the nurse" :P) used to always put me on the B.R.A.T. diet when I was little and had "the runs." (Pleasant, right?) But she said it was bananas, apples, rice and tea. I guess it's still easily digestible carbs with some fiber, so it would have the same effect either way.
Try some ginger tea instead, maybe? You could always add plain sparkling water to it when it cools down. There's an iced version on here too. I've used them both and they're good.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=12283.0
My mom gave me 7-up, or Sprite, and Saltines, when I got sick. Winding roads make me barfy and her remedy still settles my stomach.
Try some ginger tea instead, maybe? You could always add plain sparkling water to it when it cools down. There's an iced version on here too. I've used them both and they're good.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=12283.0
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Yabbitgirl, I think your recipe for ginger tea sounds great. I will definitely try that next time!!
I use ginger for an upset stomach alot and in CHinese Medicine, there is a big difference in what type of ginger you use.If you have a nauseuos stomach you want to use whole, fresh ginger.
Slice it and lightly simmer in water for 10 minutes or so.
You can drink as is or I like to put in some honey. :)
I am happy to report that I have found BOTH items I am looking for!
Late July Organic Classic Saltine Crackers - saltines w/out pesticides, trans fats, corn syrup! Yay!!
Reed's Premium Ginger Brew Ginger Ale - made with sparking water, honey (oh well, when you're sick...), pineapple juice, fresh ginger root (YAY!!), lemon/lime juices, and spices. AWESOME!!! Bad part is - EXPENSIVE!! I bought a 4-pack of bottles that were ON SALE for $4. These are 12-oz bottles, like beer bottles. Anyway, it tastes delicious and most importantly, is HFCS-free! Yippee! I found both of these items at my local grocery store - not at a chain like Stop & Shop, where I had looked previously.
Hehe, my mom ("the nurse" :P) used to always put me on the B.R.A.T. diet when I was little and had "the runs." (Pleasant, right?) But she said it was bananas, apples, rice and tea. I guess it's still easily digestible carbs with some fiber, so it would have the same effect either way.
hehehe
my mom (also a nurse) always called the BRAT diet bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. She said that's what they tell folks with minor bugs who come into the ER.
That being said I have never once, while in the throws of a stomach bug ever been able to tolerate any of the above.
I like plain ol' soda water. The fizzy helps.