Coronavirus and diet

There is no diet that prevents Coronavirus warns The British Dietetic Association! Covid 19 is the condition caused by the Coronavirus. But you can aim to maximise things like health and enjoyment with what you eat.

If you are following a special diet or on medications do check with your dietitian or health professional if you have any queries.

If you have the symptoms of Coronavirus you are likely to not feel like eating as you may have a sore throat or cough and generally feel unwell not to mention fatigued, here are some ideas

Fluid 

Take enough fluid, a minimum of 2 litres per day for most adults (unless you have been told to restrict fluid for a medical reason).

 Lack of fluid can make you feel irritable and fatigued which is not what you want to feel at present. Water is ideal for hydration but most other beverages also contribute except for strong coffees and alcoholic drinks. Often it is better to sip fluids through the day and often a sports bottle is ideal for this. You can also get motivational bottles with marks on them.

If it is difficult to keep making drinks make a flask up and keep that near you. Drinks can be hot or cold whichever you prefer. Sometimes trying different flavours tempts drinking so some ideas-

·       Fruit juices, squash or fruit teas all made up with warm water can be soothing

·       Warm milky drinks like Cappuccinos you make up with hot water, hot chocolate, malted milks and milkshakes may appeal and are easy to drink. You can also obviously let any of these cool and add ice for variation

·       Ordinary milk can be enriched by adding 4 tablespoons of milk powder to 600ml of milk. You can buy milk powder at supermarkets. This milk can be used in making all drinks like tea or coffee as well as on cereals

·       It is useful to have one of the vitamin-enriched milkshake powders in the cupboard to make up a milkshake once or twice a day

·       Savoury hot drinks like ones made up with meat or yeast extract can add variety

·       Many people find energy drinks helpful and while many contain a lot of sugar making them unsuitable for those with diabetes there are sugar-free varieties

Simple meals

·       Soups ( you can add milk powder to these) can be helpful to eat and are easy to make and items like lentils add extra protein

·       Eggs scrambled, omelettes, in pancakes, eggy bread as well as boiled are easy to eat

·       Casseroles and stews can be made in slow cookers or pans and it is useful to make extra portions to freeze

·       Fish dishes are often easy to eat especially in  white sauce

·       Cauliflower or macaroni cheese

Puddings and sweet snacks

·       Whippy puddings made up with fortified milk

·       Jelly of all types which you can set fruit in or make up with milk and serve with evaporated milk, ice cream, fruit, cream or yoghurt

·       Sponges and custards

·       Stewed fruit and custard

If you are not going out into the sunshine it is worth looking at taking a vitamin D supplement. It is also worth considering a multivitamin and mineral preparation