Get flu ready: 8 things to stock up on in case the kids get sick

Gatorade!

Ginger Ale has no ginger in it.

carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, NATURAL FLAVORS, sodium benzoate, caramal color.

mrscolbert 27 -- the reason i go with sugar free is because normal jello has a pretty high sugar content. in a kid with the flu, it could cause (or increase) diarrhea. it's more about hydration (at least that's what my doc said!)

Ginger Ale I keep at home is Blue Sky. It doesn't have HFCS.
Reed's Premium Brew doesn't either, but it is stronger in flavor
Knudsens doesn't have it either.

Sugar-free Jello for a kid with stomach flu? Maybe if the kid is diabetic, I guess. But the point of giving a kid Jello after they've been sick is to restore a few easy-to-eat calories to their systems so they don't get too weak or dizzy. Or at least that's what I thought... I'm no medical professional.

Orange jello and gatorade work miracles. There's something about the orange. Ginger ale too. I can only ever stand to drink that stuff when I'm sick.

Just went through this myself a week ago. Not pleasant.

GuS Grown-Up Soda, Extra Dry Ginger Ale

Lightly sweetened ginger ale with real ginger extract. 100% Natural. Not too sweet. GuS Extra Dry Ginger Ale is a crisp, refreshing soft drink made with natural gingerroot extracts. Known as Spring Ginger or Young Ginger, gingerroot is primarily grown in India, North Africa and China. No caffeine. No preservatives.
Ingredients:

Purified Sparkling Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Gingerroot Extract and Other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caramelized Sugar (for Color).

$1.79 for a 12 Oz.bottle.

I love the Vicks VapoRub. I had read on a medical website that you should put it on the bottoms of your feet and then carefully put on thick socks, and it will fix congestion. HA!! All it did was make my son mad!! So, we are back to a little on the nose and chest. LOL!!

for an upset tummy sprite and fresh lime I have had 2 cases of the stomach flu this year and it works!

Plain, steamed white rice is easy to eat and settles solidly in the tummy. I like to mix fizzy drinking water like Pelligrino or Perrier and Gatorade for a soda-like drink.

We have already been through that with both kids (14 & 6) and with my hubby and myself. I always have soup, crackers, ginger ale, 7 up, tylenol, and kleenex. Gingersnaps worked good with my kids when they had nausea. I try to find anything with ginger in it, as it is supposed to help with upset tummies.

Will have to try orange gatorade. I know my oldest would love that!!

You are so right about your comfort food being influenced by what your mother gave you.

My husband and I laugh about this all the time. His mom gave him fruit cocktail, my mom gave me dry toast. Everytime he is sick I try to make toast for him and he tries to give me fruit cocktail. Grossing each other out. Its taken us some time to adjust! =)

I am from Deroit and we use to heat up gingerale once we were sick. lol.

I do make my own ginger ale but kids wouldn't care for it. It has raw ginger in it. I drink it everyday.

6 of the above suggestions is a major reason why kids are so sickly these days.

Vick Vaporub contains turpentine and can be very dangerous for small children.

.26% Camphor
2.82% Menthol
0.09% Thymol
1.33% Oils of Eucalyptus
0.69% Nutmeg
0.44% Cedar Leaf
4.68% Turpentine
100% Petrolatum q.s.

And GARLIC! Lot's of it!

Charlene: I went out to the market and read the label and found only one that didn't contain HFCS. I should try Trader Joes. LOVE ginger ale, but limit it to 2 X a year during the holidays.

Yeah, finding ginger ale with real ginger in it is a hard find. The health food store I bought it from closed and have not found any since. But, my kids like the taste of ginger ale better than 7up or Sprite.

We are a big tea drinking family. My kids like the ginger tea I make with some honey in it. I always have ginger ale,frozen fruit bars, saltines, and lemon- lime gatorade on hand as well. My kids always want my homemade bread with butter and creamy tomato bisque when they feel bad. I keep natural ginger and peppermint candy around too.

I love you guys for caring so much about the ingedients and sharing recipes!

Okay, Habanero, I am on a mission. This weekend I am checking out brands and will report back. But I do admit that I get the brand TJ's sells. I'm addicted to it.