According to Healthy Children, the flu is caused by a virus that is easily spread among children who attend school, daycare or other activities where many children are present. Your child catches the flu from the sneezes or coughs of those who already have the flu, which can cause fever, body aches, vomiting, chills and a sore throat. The foods you feed your child when she gets over the flu can help her body adjust back to normal and keep her tummy feeling better as she completely recovers.
Yogurt
Eileen Behan, author of "Meals that Heal for Babies, Toddlers and Children," recommends yogurt as a good food for children just getting over the flu. Yogurt is bland enough that it will not upset your child's tummy as he heals. An added benefit of yogurt is that it contains good bacteria, called probiotics, that can help replenish the bacteria in your child's tummy responsible for keeping him healthy so he is able to make a full recovery. Plain yogurt is the most bland choice, but flavored yogurts have just as many probiotics.
White Rice
Behan notes that bland foods, such as white rice, will keep your child from getting hungry but will not make her recovering tummy ache. White rice can be served with a small amount of butter to make it more appetizing to your child. Do not add dairy foods, such as cheese or milk, to the rice because dairy foods can upset your child's tummy while she is recovering. Other bland foods, such as toast, mashed potatoes or plain noodles, with have a similar effect.
Fruits and Vegetables
Whole foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, can help your child recover and will also help prevent her from getting sick again, notes Eileen Behan, author of "Fit Kids: Raising Physically and Emotionally Strong Kids with Real Food." Fresh produce can be served in small portions while your child's digestive system returns to normal. Slice or chop them and serve them as a small salad. You can offer plain yogurt for dipping, but do not serve salad dressing because foods high in fat can upset your child's stomach while she is healing from a bout of the flu, remarks Behan.
Fluids
One danger of having the flu is dehydration, reports Kids Health. Offering your child plenty of fluids even after the flu has passed will help her replenish her fluids so she is able to make a full recovery as well as help prevent future illness. Oral rehydration therapies will help your child's body rebalance electrolytes. Plain water and chicken soup are other fluids that can help your child feel better more quickly.
References
- Healthy Children: Flu
- "Meals that Heal for Babies, Toddlers and Children"; Eileen Behan; 1996
- "Fit Kids: Raising Physically and Emotionally Strong Kids with Real Food"; Eileen Behan; 2001
- KidsHealth: Influenza
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