August 28th, 2007
Question of the month: what’s your favorite comfort food when you’re sick?
That’s easy! All the same comfort food I craved as a little girl. Cinnamon toast, cream of wheat with brown sugar, rice pudding, tapioca and, when I’m feeling a little better, grilled cheese. Mmm! Why, I think I feel a cold coming on right now!
Diane Carlin
Green Bay, WI
When I’m sick, I love to curl up in my PJs with a cup of hot lemonade with honey. My mother always made this for us when we were little; it brings back memories of Morn taking care of me. It has a magical way of soothing a sore throat and opening the airways. I now add a little cinnamon and cloves to spice it up a bit.
Sharon Bartlett
Port Orchard, WA
When I was young and didn’t feel well, Mom always made me macaroni with butter and salt–not really the most nutritious meal, but comforting for sure. Today, I crave the same thing when I have the sniffles, but now I use whole wheat pasta, olive oil and just a touch of salt–a little improvement at least!
Kimberly Blackburn
Greensboro, NC
Veggie pot pie. I make it with a store-bought whole wheat crust, then cook potatoes, peas, cauliflower and carrots in a bit of vegetable stock, and whisk in some cream of broccoli or asparagus soup and soymilk. Bake for 45 minutes, and I’m back on the road to health!
Sarah Collins
San Francisco, CA
Mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy. Nothing comforts me like this.
Charlene Poling
Haines City, FL
A big steaming bowl of creamy tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. My tastes have gotten a bit more sophisticated since childhood, but I still can’t resist opening a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup the second the sniffles start.
Samantha V.
Cleveland, OH
Amy’s No Chicken Noodle soup and–I know this is terrible–french fries. I swear, there’s something about oily foods that makes you feel better when ill. Either that, or it’s the remnants of my morn buying me Happy Meals when I was sick as a kid.
Lorena S.
Columbus, OH
SOUP, SOUP, SOUP
Nothing motivates healing like a soup full of healthy root vegetables and spices. I keep some containers in the freezer just in case. I also like lemon-water. I boil water and add the juice of half a lemon, then sip it.
Tamara Hitson
Via email
I love nice, warm potato soup. It makes me feel as if my room were there, holding me and rubbing my back.
Karen A. Mahoney
Via email
Matzoh ball soup. Sadly, I am presently sick and without a frozen stash of the soup. All of the commercial mixes contain MSG. Plus, they’re not all vegetarian, and if you’re working on going vegan, none will do.
Stacey Grimm
Via email
Soup, soup, soup! I make it with my favorite veggies … kale, carrots and Brussels sprouts. I also load it with lentils, onions and lots of garlic. A slice of crusty bread and it’s almost worth getting sick for!
Sharon Roy
Shabbona, IL
Amy’s No Chicken Noodle soup, and for an upset tummy, Mi-Del gingersnaps.
Nick Shepherd
Via email
I love a steaming bowl of homemade Thai coconut soup. The combined benefits of coconut milk, ginger, garlic, fresh basil, veggies, chili and lime soothe inflamed sinuses, muscle aches and fatigue. Also, the aroma is naturally energizing, and the soup feels like a comforting treat.
Betsy Faber
Bellingham, WA
Hot-and-sour soup from Harmony, the best vegetarian Chinese restaurant in Atlanta. When I have a cold, it really opens up my sinuses!
Elise Ray
Chamblee, GA
The Vegan Wanton Soup from Natural Village Chinese in Huntington Valley, PA, or Brown Rice and Braised Tofu. Weird choices, I know, but I always feel better when I eat these!
Shannon Ward
Hatfield, PA
HOT & SPICY
Strong ginger tea made with about four inches of sliced ginger, 1/3 cup of brown sugar and 2 cups of water. I simmer it for 1/2 hour and remove the ginger pieces before drinking. But if you have a sore throat, of course you have to eat a lot of ice cream!
Heidi Marquardt
Via email
Hearty vegetable stew with lots of spices–they start clearing out my sinuses almost immediately, and the warmth gives me an energy lift.
Lori Scott-Sheldon
Manchester, CT
Homemade mushroom and smoked Gouda tamales with roasted tomatillo salsa and Spanish rice on the side. It takes a while, but it’s worth it! Not only is the cooking a soothing and healing ritual, but stick-to-your-ribs nutrients are so important when you are sick!
Alice Schucard
Carlsbad, CA
UNIQUE TREATS
Miso soup and a clementine. The soup is a tasty, warm delight, and the citrus fruit is refreshing and cleansing. This is a healing food pair!
Nicole Haas
West Milwaukee, WI
Orange sherbet. I’m certain it kept me from succumbing to pneumonia last year!
Margaret O’Connor
St. Louis, MO
Pop-Tarts taste good no matter how sick you are and remind me of being a kid!
Brenda Caron
Via email
Any extremely chocolatey cake is enough to make me feel a thousand times better.
Jackie Martinez
Via email
Editors’ Note: For a healing warm-you-up drink, check out the recipe on p. 96.
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READER Recipe
HERB-CRUSTED TOFU
WITH MUSHROOM
GRAVY
Serves 4 * Vegan
30 minutes or fewer
Suchitra Swift created this savory
dish while playing around with
ways to make crispy tofu.
A lifelong vegetarian, she teaches
first grade in Harlem, NY.
1 16-oz. pkg. extra-firm tofu
Herb Crust
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried Italian herbs
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Mushroom Gravy
1 small onion, minced
2 Tbs, olive oil
2 tsp. dried rosemary
5 white mushrooms,
chopped
1/2 cup low-sodium
vegetable broth
2 tsp. cornstarch