Running to the bathroom in between meetings? Wishing away your upset stomach during a movie date? Wincing with every curve and swerve of your subway ride? We hear you. Tummy troubles are hard to ignore. Whether you suffer from occasional indigestion, constipation, or diarrhea, or other gut health and digestive issues like constant bloat or chronic abdominal pain, a sensitive stomach is challenging.
For a simple upset stomach, some easy remedies include drinking plenty of water, avoiding fatty, fried, spicy, and other hard-to-digest foods, and eating a BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). It’s important to know the cause of your upset stomach, particularly if it happens frequently or is particularly painful. So reach out to your medical provider if you notice it happens frequently or if you’re in severe pain.
While you’ll want to adjust your food choices during a bout of stomach issues, there are some tasty foods you can prepare that are gentle on the tummy. We've hand-selected healthy meals that are not only easy to make and delicious, but will also help ease your tummy troubles. If you're looking for meals that don't lead to bloating and belly discomfort, we've got nine superstar recipes you'll want to try.
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Berry-Kefir Smoothie
This berry-kefir-banana smoothie is an easy-to-make breakfast or midday snack — all you’ll need to do is add all the ingredients to a blender. The addition of kefir, a fermented milk product, enriches the smoothie with nutrients and probiotics which are great for digestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and overall gut health.
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Hot Ginger Tea
Ginger tea couldn't be simpler to make, Start by peeling and slicing fresh ginger root to the boiling it in water. After it has cooked, strain the ginger from the tea and add lemon or honey to taste. This aromatic tea can be stored for up to a week in the fridge, or frozen.
Ginger is an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory and can be used to treat nausea and settle an upset stomach.
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Classic Baked Chicken
Nothing soothes an upset stomach and aids in the healing process like simple baked chicken. To keep it simple (and easier on your tummy), remove the skin before baking. Add a touch of salt and pepper for flavor but leave it plain otherwise.
If you're recovering from an upset stomach, your body can benefit from the dose of protein.
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Baked Sweet Potatoes
Bake a whole, cooked sweet potato the next time you have an upset stomach or are feeling bloated. This simple recipe calls for washing the potato, poking it a few times with a fork or knife, and baking it in a hot oven for 45 minutes to an hour.
These potassium-rich vegetables naturally reduce water retention and ease gas and bloat.
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Chicken Noodle Soup
This classic cure-all for colds and flu is also a great tummy tamer. Chicken noodle soup has everything you need when you have an upset stomach — warm broth, comforting noodles, and rich protein,
Start with a store-bought broth or make your own. Then add skinless chicken breasts, pre-cooked whole-wheat egg noodles, celery, carrots, and peas. The chicken will slow-cook in less than an hour, and you'll have a hearty soup for several days.
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Oatmeal
Rich in whole grains and soluble fiber, oatmeal is a comfort food that also helps maintain healthy intestines. Oatmeal is also an easy food to prepare. You can slow-cook your oats on the stove or in the microwave. If your stomach is upset or on the mend, substitute water for milk in your oatmeal.
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Roasted Carrots
This delicious recipe for roasted carrots calls for briefly sautéeing them on the stove before popping them in the oven for a final crisp. The dietary fiber in carrots helps soothe an upset stomach caused by constipation or diarrhea.
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Congee
A simple and soothing rice porridge, congee is easy to digest and is a warm comforting food. Make the plain recipe using just long-grain rice and water for an upset stomach. If you're feeling better, add a bit of ginger for added flavor and antioxidants.
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Scrambled Eggs
You can't go wrong with simple scrambled eggs. They're a warm and protein-rich comfort food that can settle an upset stomach. You can whip up a batch of scrambled eggs in five minutes. While this recipe calls for a bit of whole milk, you can leave that out or replace it with water or almond milk if you're currently experiencing tummy issues.
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