Remember that old wives tale, “Feed a cold, starve a fever.” Well, I am definitely feeding this cold. Here is a look at today’s eats in a “What I ate Wednesday” format.
Breakfast #1 was a Trader Joe’s gluten-free waffle with peanut butter, honey and sliced banana.
Breakfast #2 after subbing a hot yoga class (highlight of my day!!!) was a Cherry Pomegranate Fage and a grande bold coffee from Starbucks. Unfortunately, the coffee did not sit well with me and left me feeling lightheaded. I blame it on the combo of caffeine + cough medicine.
I am totally obsessed with this hummus that I bought at Whole Foods last week. It was on sale buy one/get one and I picked up plain and artichoke spinach. It actually tastes like artichoke spinach dip and has big pieces of spinach and artichoke in it. I put a hurting the hummus dipping tortilla chips in it while I was making lunch.
It’s been a while since I made a big lunch salad at home but I had all the right things on hand today for a good one. Mixed greens, leftover roasted brussels sprouts, butternut squash and mushrooms, pancetta, apples, walnuts, goat cheese, avocado and dried cranberries with a homemade balsamic honey dijon vinaigrette.
Afternoon snack on the way to work the evening shift at the desk at the new gym was another kombucha and a Chocolate Dipped Coconut Luna bar. I have been drinking kombucha every day in hopes that it will help with my cold (and it honestly just makes me feel better) but today two different friends suggested that I do some sort of saline sinus rinse. I’m a little scared but I have a girl’s weekend coming up and really want to feel better for it so I’m considering taking the plunge. Anyone have recommendations or suggestions on what I should do?
I made a last minute (bad) decision to take a hot yoga class after I finished work tonight and it left me feeling pretty ick. I came home and showered and was so ready to veg on the couch. I was really craving comfort food and discovered this in the freezer.
A big bag of homemade meatballs in marinara sauce. I forgot they were even buried in the depths of my freezer but it was exactly what I wanted tonight. I boiled some noodles, defrosted the meatballs and covered it all in cheese. It was perfection on a plate.
And the grand finale…vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate sauce and chocolate peanut butter.
With all that…I am off to bed! I may have a snotty nose but I have a happy belly!
I use a neti pot. I would recommend a ceramic one. You can get them online or at a pharmacy. I use it when I have congestion. Just make sure you heat the water and you can use non-iodine salt for the rinse. I use distilled water as opposed to the tap, which is also helpful. There have been a few horror stories regarding tap water/bacteria.
I second this comment, entirely. Love the neti pot, though it takes a minute to get used to. I have heard a couple stories about tap water, too, so unless I boil it first, I use distilled. It can work wonders! Hope you feel better soon!
thanks for the tips on distilled water. that sounds scary!
thanks for the info holly. definitely glad to hear the bit on using distilled water!
A kombucha every day for me no matter what 🙂
I regularly use a neti pot to rinse out my sinuses. I have chronic allergies and nasal polyps. But I find it is most effective as a preventive measure than it is as treatment for a cold/flu that’s already been underway for a couple days. If one or both nostrils is completely stuffed up so I can’t inhale or exhale through it, then I don’t rinse at all because the water won’t come back out the other side. I let the cold and nasal inflammation take it’s course. When I can more easily breathe through my nose a week or two later, then I go back to regular neti pot use (a couple times a week depending on how drippy my nose is).
Hope you feel better soon!
vanessa – thank you for sharing how you use neti pots. i have had a few friends share that they use it preventatively like you do so i will take that into consideration. i know that ultimately i just need to let this cold run its course.
I love that hummus! My other favorites are from Trader Joe’s- the three layer hummus and white bean basil. You should also try the greek yogurt kale and spinach dip from TJ’s, it reminds me a lot of spinach and artichoke dip! Feel better, Jen!
oh…i love the three layer hummus too. i will look out for the greek yogurt and kale dip. i am going to TJs tomorrow!
I read your blog every day, but rarely comment, but had to comment on this post…I don’t use a neti pot – heard great things about them…next time I have a cold/allergies, I may break down and try one. I was going to suggest, if your nasal passages are inflammed and stuffy that you try a spray called X-clear – it contains all natural stuff, but the big ingredient is xylitol – it has done wonders for easing congestion for me – though mine is mainly allergy related. Just thought I’d pass that along – myself and several friends swear by the stuff – to the extent that we don’t use any sort of steroid prescription nasal sprays at all anymore. Feel better soon!
jacki – thanks for reading my blog and for taking the time to comment today. i appreciate the recommendation for x-clear. i have never heard of it so i will look into it. really like that it isn’t a steroid spray.
People seem mixed on the neti pot- I tried one for the first time this summer and really liked it. If you’re doing it for the first time, I recommend using a little less of the nasal solution for the first run through your nose- makes it a little less intense. I think you’ll really like it, Jen! It’s very refreshing and helps make your head not feel like it weighs 3000 pounds- which is how I always feel when I have a cold!
clara – thanks for sharing your experience with the neti pot. i have also heard mixed reviews but i think i’ll give it a shot.
I highly recommend sinus rinses, but you don’t necessarily need a neti pot. Get one of those NeilMed sinus rinse squeeze bottles and you’re all set. They come with little packets of solution to mix with your distilled water. It makes a world of difference!
thanks so much for the suggestion christy! that sounds much simpler.
That’s not feeding a cold! See me in my office.
🙂
loved seeing you in class yesterday!
I hate that you’re still not feeling well! I usually get two really bad sinus infections each year and they’re rough to deal with. I feel for you! My go to meds are Nasonex spray and Mucinex DM. And if that doesn’t clear things up within 3-4 days, I head to my ENT. I’ve never used a sinus rinse but I swear by the Nasonex spray. It smells funny but it’s worth it.
Get some rest and feel better soon!
i am taking mucinex dm. thanks for the nasonex spray recommendation!
It looks like you’re eating a lot of sugar, and maybe not drinking enough water? I know you don’t document your water intake (and who does really?) but especially if you’re drinking Kombucha then you need to drink more h20.
I would also focus on incorporating ginger and garlic into your meals and perhaps pick up some Naked Green Machine juices!
oh…definitely don’t document my water intake! drink it all day, every day! 🙂 i love ginger. one of the reasons i love the gingerade kombucha so much but there’s nothing like fresh ginger in food. yum!
I also use the NeilMed sinus rinse squeeze bottles and find them really helpful! The neti pots freak me out a little bit and the squeeze bottle is much more manageable. definitely use distilled water! Hope the spaghetti and meatballs helped too 😉 Feel better soon!
Sorry to hear that you’re still not feeling well – get better soon! If you do try out a Neti Pot at some point, I’d be curious to hear about your experience. Really I just had to shout out Chocolate Dipped Coconut Luna Bar love – my favorite!! 🙂
Hope you start feeling better soon!
I definitely recommend a saltine rinse, if it is indeed a sinus thing. It seems to help quite a bit.
Even getting a nasal spray helps.
All your food looks perfect for overcoming the icky feelings though!
I recommended the netipot in my post when I was sick!! It is pretty cheap and drug free which is awesome! If you have the one nostril at a time breathing thing you should try it!