Prepare for Cold and Flu Season Like a Pro, and Nurse Yourself Back to Health

It’s November which means the holidays are around the corner and, unfortunately, so is a possible cold or the flu. When illness symptoms strike you need to be ready, as you know you will not have the will or the energy to do much of anything but make yourself the center of a blanket burrito and sleep. Here is the ultimate guide to prep for your next sick day, so you can get through it like a champ!

Stockpile sick day supplies: 

• Make sure you have a pain reliever/fever reducer on hand and that it’s not expired. 
• Lip balm for your chapped lips and emollient for your runny, red nose will be helpful too. Make sure you have both ready to go. When you’re sick, keep them on or near your nightstand.
• Don’t forget to stock up on cough drops.
• Check your tissue supply and keep a box next to your bed. Positioning a small trash can next to your bed will also come in handy when the sneezing starts.
• Do you have a thermometer at home? If it operates by battery, did you install any? How about a heating pad for muscle aches and pains? Be sure you know where it is and that it works.

Tackle the tea situation: Peppermint, lemon and ginger teas are great when you’re under the weather. Be sure you have honey in the house as well. It’s very soothing for sore throats.

Midnight sweat prep: Have an extra set of sheets, pjs and a bath towel on hand for those nights when you know you’ll wake up feverish and sweaty and need to make a quick change. Keep the clothes and linens by your bed when you’re ill so that if you do wake in the middle of the night, you don’t have to scrounge around in the dark looking for them. That is the worst! The quicker you can get back into bed, the better.

Hydration station: Be sure to keep water by your nightstand, especially when you have a fever and are likely to wake up with a dry mouth. 

Don’t chicken out on making your own chicken soup:  DO NOT buy canned soup! It’s nowhere near as nutritious or tasty as homemade soup. Here’s an easy way to prepare and cook chicken soup at home. It’s delicious and will make you feel 1,000 times better! You can make a pot when you’re well and freeze it or you can chop up the dill, freeze it in batches, and have it on hand for your next sick day. If you buy a cooked rotisserie chicken you’ll cut your prep time down to a few minutes, as all you’ll have left to do is chop the veggies. Either way, you’ll have a pot of delicious, nutritious soup ready to eat in no time!

Easy-Peasy, Just-Like-Grandma’s Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

• 3-4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3-4 carrots sliced into ¼ inch pieces
• 3-4 celery sticks sliced into ¼ inch pieces
• 1 onion, peeled and cut in half
• 3-4 Tablespoons fresh dill (finely chopped)
• 1 whole chicken cooked and pulled into pieces
• 8 cups of chicken broth
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Add the olive oil, carrots and celery into a large pot and sauté for about 5 minutes. 
2. Add 8 cups of chicken broth and onion halves and bring to a boil.
3. Immediately lower to a simmer and add the pulled chicken, salt and pepper to the pot. Simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Add dill and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
5. Remove the onion halves before serving.

If you follow these simple steps and take the time to prepare while you are well, you can serve as your own nurse (with minimal effort) if you do get sick, and you’ll be feeling better in no time. In the meantime, wash those hands often and keep sanitizer spray and wipes with you to use when needed. Hopefully, you’ll get through the season illness-free.

Stay well!