1. Take in Clear Fluids
Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea and vomiting, and the biggest concern with those symptoms is dehydration. Drink water or suck on ice chips if you are having trouble swallowing. You should take the liquid in very small amounts, but as frequently as possible. If you can manage it, you should also swallow sports drinks such as Gatorade. They contain electrolytes, which replace the fluids lost to vomiting and diarrhea. Flat ginger ale may work as well.
2. Eat Bland Foods That Are Easy to Digest
When you feel ready to start taking nourishment again, stick with foods that are soft, bland and easy for your stomach to handle. Look for white bread and soda crackers, bananas, applesauce, rice and bouillon cubes. Stay away from high fiber foods--they're tough to digest. You should also avoid milk and dairy products, fatty foods, caffeinated beverages and anything spicy. Start eating slowly to make sure the nourishment stays down, and then gradually increase the portions as you feel up to it. You should wait until several days after the symptoms of food poisoning have subsided before resuming your normal diet.
3. Stay Out of the Sun
Warm temperatures will dehydrate you further and increase the damage caused by vomiting and diarrhea. Stay indoors and keep cool in hot weather. Avoid driving or operating machinery until the symptoms have subsided and monitor your temperature to make sure you don't develop a fever.
4. Monitor Your Condition
You can treat mild cases of food poisoning yourself, but if the symptoms persist or you don't seem to be improving, don't hesitate to go to the doctor. If vomiting persists for longer than 12 hours or diarrhea persists for more than a day, contact a physician. You should also seek help if you run a fever, if you don't urinate (or your urine is unusually dark), if blood persists in your diarrhea or if you are consistently unable to keep fluids down. Children or infants who show signs of food poisoning should be taken to a doctor immediately.
