Feed him lightly

Why light is right

A heavy meal is hard work when you feel rotten. Small, simple food is easier to eat and easier to keep down.

He does not have to eat much. Fluids matter more than food in the first couple of days.

Foods that work

• Tinned or home-made soup, in a mug if he is feeling feeble.
• Toast, crackers or plain biscuits.
• A banana, a yoghurt or stewed apple.
• Porridge, rice or plain pasta.
• Scrambled egg when he starts to improve.

A day on a plate

• Breakfast: toast or porridge, and tea.
• Mid-morning: a banana or a yoghurt.
• Lunch: a mug of soup and a slice of bread.
• Afternoon: a biscuit and a hot drink.
• Tea: rice, pasta or scrambled egg.
• Bedtime: warm milk, or honey and lemon.

No appetite at all

It is normal not to want food for a day or two. Keep offering small things and plenty to drink, and do not force it.

If he has not eaten or drunk anything for a long time, or is getting weaker, ring NHS 111 for advice.

What to avoid

• Rich, greasy or spicy food while his stomach is unsettled.
• Alcohol, which dehydrates and does not mix with some medicines.
• Anything that needs a knife, fork and a conversation.
• Cooking something elaborate and expecting thanks.

Feed yourself too

It is easy to live on his leftovers and biscuits. Eat a proper meal yourself at least once a day, ideally sitting down, away from the sickroom.

Batch-cook a pot of soup on day one and you have lunch for the week.

Common questions

Should I feed a cold and starve a fever?

That is an old saying, not medical advice. Eat what you can and keep drinking.

What if he only wants toast?

Toast is fine for a day or two. Add a banana or soup when he can manage it.

Is soup really helpful?

It is warm, easy to eat and contains fluid. Whether chicken soup has extra powers is debated, but it does no harm.

A quick recap

• Small, simple meals.
• Plenty of fluids alongside.
• No heavy, greasy or spicy food.
• No alcohol.
• Eat properly yourself too.