Post-norovirus diet
February 2, 2013 2:08 PM Subscribe
A week ago, I enjoyed the typical 24 hours of norovirus symptoms, followed by another 24 hours of slightly less awful symptoms. Since then, I've been existing on crackers, toast, applesauce, soup, and other bland diet staples. I feel like not eating well is part of what's making me still feel gross. But I'm also getting heartburn now when I try including fruits and vegetables.
My appetite isn't quite back either, and smelling something can turn it right off. Is there something else I can eat that's healthier, but less likely to cause heartburn or stomach upset? Have you gone through this yourself and have some dishes that tempted you out of it? Are there some milder veggies and fruit I should get? I don't have have food allergies or restrictions, but I am a novice cook at best.
My appetite isn't quite back either, and smelling something can turn it right off. Is there something else I can eat that's healthier, but less likely to cause heartburn or stomach upset? Have you gone through this yourself and have some dishes that tempted you out of it? Are there some milder veggies and fruit I should get? I don't have have food allergies or restrictions, but I am a novice cook at best.
Best answer: Bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast, the BRAT diet, was standard as a kid. Now I've kind of gotten together my own thing since toast seems to bother me. I now make this pumpkin-rice congee which involves cooking rice in stock and then mixing in some canned pumpkin. If you add some salt it tastes pretty good, not great, but it's filling and gentle. I also have bought those baby food/kids go-packs of pureed apple with cinnamon and banana. They seem to calm my stomach but unfortunately don't have enough calories. Making some gentle smoothies might also help.
posted by melissam at 2:24 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by melissam at 2:24 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I agree on the bananas! I'd try carrots too. Not much of a smell and a different texture than you've been eating to change it up. And I don't think they're known to cause heartburn. Maybe sweet potatoes too.
posted by missriss89 at 2:25 PM on February 2, 2013
posted by missriss89 at 2:25 PM on February 2, 2013
Do you have a blender?
I'm a huge fan of green smoothies. Not sure if they would cause you heartburn or not, but I'm prone to acid reflux and have never had a problem with them.
My usual (approximate) recipe is as follows:
- a generous portion of raw kale, (enough to fill a blender about 1/2 to 2/3 full
- one or two ripe bananas (the sweeter they are, the more they cut the flavor of the kale, if you're not into that "green" taste)
- a tablespoon or so of flax oil or flax meal for some added protein (any kind of protein powder would work here)
- a little agave nectar if the bananas aren't super ripe
- about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of cold water or almond milk
Sometimes I'll also throw in a handful or two of frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Important:
The key is to THOROUGHLY blend the smoothie, so you don't have a thick, pulpy mess (ew!) but rather a smooth and silky refreshing drink.
The taste might take a little getting used to, but I quickly became addicted to having these in the mornings.
The vitamins in the kale will help you kick whatever residual bug you might be harboring and help you feel light and energized. Feel better!
posted by lettuce dance at 4:53 PM on February 2, 2013
I'm a huge fan of green smoothies. Not sure if they would cause you heartburn or not, but I'm prone to acid reflux and have never had a problem with them.
My usual (approximate) recipe is as follows:
- a generous portion of raw kale, (enough to fill a blender about 1/2 to 2/3 full
- one or two ripe bananas (the sweeter they are, the more they cut the flavor of the kale, if you're not into that "green" taste)
- a tablespoon or so of flax oil or flax meal for some added protein (any kind of protein powder would work here)
- a little agave nectar if the bananas aren't super ripe
- about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of cold water or almond milk
Sometimes I'll also throw in a handful or two of frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Important:
The key is to THOROUGHLY blend the smoothie, so you don't have a thick, pulpy mess (ew!) but rather a smooth and silky refreshing drink.
The taste might take a little getting used to, but I quickly became addicted to having these in the mornings.
The vitamins in the kale will help you kick whatever residual bug you might be harboring and help you feel light and energized. Feel better!
posted by lettuce dance at 4:53 PM on February 2, 2013
Best answer: Argh, I've had something that sounds similar a couple times and it sucks - the rest of me is always ready to return to vegetables before my stomach is. If you cook vegetables in broth until they are completely falling apart they will be much easier to digest (carrots, celery, etc), which should help a lot with heartburn flare-ups. You might want to risk a few shreds of parsley (or another fresh herb) on top, too, which might give you the sense of eating something fresh-tasting without subjecting yourself to a ton of fiber, since the last thing you want now is slower digestion -- basically you want to maximize the flavor:fiber ratio. Good luck and get well soon.
posted by en forme de poire at 5:13 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by en forme de poire at 5:13 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Are you able to get a stomach acid reducer in the mean time? It helped me a lot when I had my bout of just god awful all day pukefest. I was able to eat a little more normally after a day, though my appetite didn't come back fully until 5 days later...
posted by astapasta24 at 5:26 PM on February 2, 2013
posted by astapasta24 at 5:26 PM on February 2, 2013
I had an awful tummy bug last winter and I think it took almost a full month for my appetite and tummy function to be back to normal. It's a terrible cliche, but I seriously relied on canned soups--the Chunky chicken or beef with veg kind. They're cooked to death and pretty bland, so they shouldn't mess with your digestion at all. Not too much fiber, either, and they've got lots of liquid, which doesn't hurt. I found that my stomach felt full much sooner than it should have, so I had a few spoonfuls of soup, waited a while, and had a bit more.
If you're wanting a bit more veg and fiber, I would microwave some frozen veg in your bowl until done, then add the soup and microwave briefly to heat it.
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 6:24 PM on February 2, 2013
If you're wanting a bit more veg and fiber, I would microwave some frozen veg in your bowl until done, then add the soup and microwave briefly to heat it.
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 6:24 PM on February 2, 2013
Best answer: After BRAT come the three P's, as I recall: pears, pasta and hmm. Something, I forget. (Personally, I go straight from BRAT to Wheat Thins, which always make me feel better.)
Vegetables are high in fiber. Fiber is hard to get back on after that kind of experience. The third "p" is definitely not for "porridge," which would destroy you.
But *really* I came here to say that you are probably not taking enough Pepto or Maalox or Gas-X or Tums or Zantac—or, my favorite, the quintuple cocktail of all five of those. Go nuts on over the counter stomach stuff! That is my advice. (I am not a doctor, this is probably terrible advice, it is just how I roll, and it is really working for me right this moment.)
posted by RJ Reynolds at 8:55 PM on February 2, 2013
Vegetables are high in fiber. Fiber is hard to get back on after that kind of experience. The third "p" is definitely not for "porridge," which would destroy you.
But *really* I came here to say that you are probably not taking enough Pepto or Maalox or Gas-X or Tums or Zantac—or, my favorite, the quintuple cocktail of all five of those. Go nuts on over the counter stomach stuff! That is my advice. (I am not a doctor, this is probably terrible advice, it is just how I roll, and it is really working for me right this moment.)
posted by RJ Reynolds at 8:55 PM on February 2, 2013
Best answer: Actually, I'm going to recommend you try some yogurt or probiotic supplements - when I've been sick in the past, that's what gets me back on track. I think the probiotics help repair damage done by the virus. Stick to natural, low-sugar yogurt if you go that route (add your own fruit to plain yogurt, for example).
Ditto on taking more drugs, too - try taking Maalox for a few days on a regular basis (whatever the recommended dosing is, at least 2x day). It'll help coat your stomach and give it the opportunity to heal.
posted by hms71 at 9:22 PM on February 2, 2013
Ditto on taking more drugs, too - try taking Maalox for a few days on a regular basis (whatever the recommended dosing is, at least 2x day). It'll help coat your stomach and give it the opportunity to heal.
posted by hms71 at 9:22 PM on February 2, 2013
« Older Gossip: Collateral damage - do I speak up or only... | Whats it really like, an adult relationship...... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Avoid milk and dairy like the plague for the time being.
posted by cacofonie at 2:12 PM on February 2, 2013 [1 favorite]