Yesterday, I woke up with a nasty stomach bug.
Walking Bailey in the morning, I thought I’d have to throw up in a trash can. I got to work, and let’s just say things did not get any prettier. I think we all know what a stomach bug does to you, so I’ll just leave it at that, yes?
I made it through the first half of the day, but by lunchtime, I felt pretty much like death warmed over, and with my tail between my legs, emailed my boss and told her I needed to work from home for the rest of the day. I went home and spent the rest of the day in bed.
I know everyone has their own ways of dealing with sickness, but I wanted to share my own, courtesy of my Italian-American mom. By last night, I still wasn’t really hungry but was feeling pretty weak and knew I needed a little something to eat.
This probably looks like quinoa to you, but it’s pastina–Italian for “little pasta.” The little star-shaped pasta makes me smile.
Growing up, this is what my mom always made me when I was too sick to eat anything else. Just cook it like any other pasta, drain and add butter and a little salt. Yeah, it’s not particularly healthy, but it’s easy to digest, and that was all I could handle last night.
What do you eat when you have a stomach bug?
I want french fries – just salty goodness.
P.S I found you on tumblr! Keep going!!
My mom used to make me that when I was sick – she would add lots of broth and make it a pastina soup
Homegirl is sick too. I seriously don’t understand. Working from home for the rest of the day = going to happen.
@Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn: feel better!!
That sounds yummy. I like soup – and anything bland, like crackers.
Ugh, that’s no fun! Hope you feel better soon. I like Blue Gatorade (glacier frost freeze, something like that) and saltine crackers when I’ve got stomach problems. Also lived on the blue gatorade when I had my tonsils out (and septum repaired) a couple years ago, it was more gentle on my poor throat than plain water.
I grew up on this too!!! Maybe I always knew I would be Italian someday! I love baby pastina : )
I always eat strega nona! That’s what we call it… pasta & butter. Did you ever read that book? I loved it… a village eating only pasta. nom.
@Victoria: NO! I need to!
bananas, apple sauce, saltines and warm ginger ale. all really easy on the stomach, yet surprisingly delicious.
I love pastina. Those little stars are great. Feel better.
chicken soup. or an everything bagel if I’m stuffy-you can still taste it. But it has to be a whole wheat everything bagel from Bagel Market in Park Slope or Ess A Bagel.
STOP IT! Maybe it’s my Italian-American family, or the fact they they’re from the East Coast too, but my mom ALWAYS made me Pastina when I was sick, and I loved it! I still make it whenever my stomach is bothering me. Thanks for that little blast from the past, and I hope you feel better!
Similar in thought to your Italian family, my Irish gram swore by baked potato! Same premise.
My Chinese mum makes me congee – a rice gruel type thing. Similar to the pastina theory though but with only soy sauce for flavour. But my brother swears by toast with a little bit of Vegemite. Ugh. Growing up in Australia converted him that stuff.
I tend to eat ginger snaps and pasta every time. Sometimes tapioca pudding too if I am feeling brave enough to go to the grocery store. haha.
So sorry you are sick! That stinks, especially mid-week.
When I am sick, I absolutely have to have ginger ale or Sprite. My mom always made me Mrs. Grass chicken soup with little noodles. Oh, and saltines!
First Saltines and Ginger Ale. If that’s good I do the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, apples, tea. Things that settle well and come up easy if that happens…. And electrolytes which are much more readily available now a days
One is definitely salty french fries – they’ve cured me in the past, I swear! The best one though is tomato soup with cooked macaroni in it, sprinkled with a few shreds of cheese.
In fact, I’m feeling the blahs and a little under the winter weather today, plus everyone around me seems to be sick, so I will be eating my sick treat tonight! (Soup, not fries, though!)
So sorry to hear you’re sick. Hope you feel better soon! I usually love Beef Pho or Ramen.
I always crave potatoes-fries, mashed, any way really! That or chicken soup-matzo ball is preferred!
That’s exactly what i eat too
I know you will feel better soon and just eat healthy and drink a lot of water…
OMG this takes me back, I loved stars in broth when I was a kid. I hope you feel better soon!
I eat instant noodles and sometimes con-gee..I like some salty food also..
I love pastina! Feel better!
Chicken noodle soup, Ritz crackers and ginger ale
Ahhh yes. Pastina with butter. My grandma used to cook it with a little chicken broth. Very yummy.
Pastina is the best! I had that whenever I was sick, too. There is nothing like it. We always called it baby pastina. 🙂
I almost do the same too when i get sick…
My mom used to make me a really similar food when I was sick except it was egg noodles with butter and garlic salt. For some reason, I feel like it makes me better!
Tomato soup with grilled cheese or pasta with butter and a sprinkle of parm cheese were my childhood sick staples 🙂
When I am sich I just rest and drink a lot of water and eat heathy foods…
I typically eat ramen which isn’t good for you either but it’s a comfort thing. Oh, and mac and cheese. 🙂
This pasta looks amazing though. I might have to try this next time I’m under the weather.