Ick.. the Stomach Flu..

I caught the stomach flu that my dad has, and it has been so hard eating. I'm not hungry at all, but of course I'm still forcing food into me. I know that I need food but my stomach is yelling at me for it. What are some good foods to eat? Help please?

I'm going to quote you something I wrote in the "Weight Gainers: What did you eat..." post.

PEOPLE WITH STOMACH ACHE!

You need to push your calories NO MATTER WHAT. Even if it means you eat more oil in your food, even if it means you have a wierd day of eating lots of liquidy things. Make stews with oil in them, make creamy soups, make liquidy porridge. Eat ice cream, eat nuts, eat nut butters and avocados. Make smoothies, make milkshakes, find yourself Ensure-type formulas if it is a long bout of sickness.  Soften bread in your soups or make bread puddings, make croutons, make cheese on toast - my point? EAT.

It is possible to eat with a stomach ache. Do not use it as an excuse. I have seen waaaay too many people going "my stomach hurts so I'm not going to eat enough today". I had a kidney infection last year which was so bad I couldn't keep down solid food for weeks. I lived on nutrition drinks - admittedly, why I no longer like them - and lucozade, thick stews with pasta and/or grains in them and starchy veg, and ice cream. Yes, I admit, I lost weight but it was largely fluid based due to the amount I was being sick - and my point is I still ate. SERIOUSLY. Don't make excuses for yourself, just do!

She doesn't have a stomach ache because she's not used to eating - she has the stomach flu which is entirely different. There's no point eating anything greasy/heavy/oily if you're just going to sick it up again five minutes later because your poor stomach can't process it. Remember BRAT - bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Push the apple juice and chicken soup to keep yourself hydrated, and stick to easy-on-your-stomach foods until you feel better. Little and often too... Eat something every hour on the hour.

Ahh, I wasn't regarding not eating. The OP has posted before about eating too little, but the advice I had posted there was to those that regulared the thread at the top of the forum complaining of stomach bugs and using it as an excuse to eat way too little. On the hour every hour is a good idea, though.

Okay. And also, along with all the food, would it be a good idea to eat a few Luna Bars as well? Nutrition bars might be good in this kind of a situation, if I can handle it that is.. 

If you can stomach them, yes. They would be a good idea.

Sweet dry biscuits and sweet drinks like lemonade diluted 50:50 with water. You need to keep your sugars and fluids up to prevent dehydration and headaches. They are easy to keep down (or in, if the flu is heading the other way) but remember to drink in sips, not gulps - it's easier on your stomach. Stomach flu is always difficult, things either don't want to stay down or go down and through with frightening speed! A good perspective on your health is what you need to keep in view. There are times when the diet must go out the window, if you are unwell and can't eat you have to eat simple sugars and salts for your body to be able to function and fight bugs. If you have sworn off these things for your diet, allow yourself to be flexible. Some circumstances call for it and your general wellbeing is the most important thing. Use real sugar not sweeteners, it's easier for your body to metabolise and although it is generally good to limit it, when you are unwell like this you do need to assist your body by giving it simple foods.

On the upside it'll probably have a great effect on the scales when you're better!!

I hope you and your father get well soon. Alanna