You may have heard the adage, "Feed a cold, starve a fever," or perhaps you remember it as, "Starve a cold, feed a fever." The fact is that neither of these old folk sayings is correct. If you or your child have a fever, you should follow your normal healthy diet as much as possible in most cases.
Don't Cut Calories
According to Mark Fellows at Michigan State University, cutting calories before or during a bout of influenza, which characteristically includes a fever, can reduce your body's ability to fight off the infection. During the winter, maintain your normal diet and don't try to lose weight or cut calories to avoid developing a fever related to influenza. If you do end up with a fever, try to keep your caloric intake as close to normal as possible to provide your body with the strength necessary to get better.
Preventing Dehydration
Even if you don't feel like eating much due to your fever, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to reduce your risk of becoming dehydrated. This is especially important if you also have diarrhea or vomiting along with your fever, as any of these can make dehydration more likely. Drink water, sports drinks or an oral rehydration solution. For added nutrition, try sipping chicken broth, smoothies and fruit juices. You can also eat foods that contain a lot of water, such as melon and other juicy fruits, ice pops and soups.
Especially for Children
Very young children often lose their appetites with a fever. Continue to offer your baby breast milk or baby formula as usual if he has a fever. Ask your pediatrician about medicating your child with over-the-counter fever reducers to make him more comfortable and more likely to eat. Toddlers and young children may be willing to eat flavored gelatin, pudding, yogurt and other soft foods when they are not feeling well. Medline Plus recommends offering your child bland foods, such as crackers, pasta and hot cereal, as these are generally well-tolerated even by a cranky, feverish child.
Eating for Additional Symptoms
Your fever may be accompanied by other symptoms that require you to eat differently than you normally do. For example, if you have a fever along with diarrhea, stick to the BRAT diet, or bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, for a day or so. If your fever is due to a throat or tooth infection, eating or drinking cold, soft foods and beverages may be soothing. If you feel as though you can't eat anything, or if your fever is accompanied by worrisome symptoms, call your doctor for an evaluation.
