COVID-19 – Nutrition for Recovery — After Being in the Hospital

COVID-19 - Nutrition for Recovery_ What Can You Eat at Home After Being in the Hospital with COVID-19 - Sharp Muscle
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Updated: April 1, 2023

COVID-19 – Nutrition for recovery; What can you eat at home after being hospitalized with COVID-19? For COVID-19, nutrition plays an important role for both patients and those on the path to recovery.

During COVID-19, the body becomes weak and even after recovering from symptoms it remains for several days. In this way, it is necessary to eat the right type of nutrition for your body to be healthy quickly and completely.

What happened when you were in the hospital with the COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new infection that affects your lungs and can make you sick. Some patients, such as you or your loved ones, may have been in the hospital to manage symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, pain, nausea, and loss of appetite. The health care team, which included physicians, nurses, respiratory therapy dietitians, and other professionals, worked together to provide care for you or your loved one.1

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How were you fed while you were in the hospital?

To fight this infection, you can eat the food provided, which can be fortified with extra calories and protein. You may have been fed in the stomach with a tube inserted into the nose or mouth, or you have received nutrition through a vein.

What should you eat when you get home?

At home, you may feel too weak or tired to eat, and notice that you have lost weight. You will be eating less than you were before you got sick. This is completely normal; However, you need to stop further weight loss to rebuild your strength.

Here are some tips to regain your strength, develop your muscles and get you back to your normal daily activities:2

What if you are having trouble eating at home?

  1. Loss of appetite, fatigue, or feeling full quickly:1
    • Eat small meals repeatedly 4 to 6 times a day or eat every two hours
    • Eat protein rich foods first at meals
    • Eat high-calorie and protein foods such as cheese, high-fat and Greek yogurt, peanut butter, or cream soup with whole milk
    • Add gravy and sauce to meat, poultry, and side dishes
    • Drink a milkshake or meal replacement/protein drink between meals
    • If you are not eating enough (50% or less) then consider a multivitamin supplement
  2. Changes in taste:1
    • Eat foods that are bland to start and then add flavor
    • Try colder foods to begin since hot foods can have a strong taste
    • Add sugar, salt, spice to the taste of the food
    • If your mouth is dry, use sour candy, mint or gum before and after eating
    • Brush your teeth regularly
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Nutritional Guidelines for COVID-19 Patients

  • Leftover food should be treated as medical waste.
  • According to tolerance, regular physical activity and breathing exercises should be advised.
  • Taking a balanced diet with moderate carbs and fats, and high biological value protein.
  • Provide oral nutritional supplements and antioxidants to meet patients’ demands.
  • Intake of antioxidant vitamins and minerals especially vitamin C and vitamin D should be encouraged.3

COVID-19 – Nutrition: Do’s and Don’ts

  • Nutrition is a very important part of recovery from COVID-19. Some people with COVID-19 lose weight and muscle, making it difficult for them to be healthy and able to perform their regular activities. If you cannot maintain your weight by eating food; You may need a nutritional supplement drink or pudding. When you cannot meet your needs with food they can add calories, protein and vitamins and minerals.
  • The main nutrition focus for COVID-19 patients is to consume foods that will help rebuild muscle, immunity, and energy levels. Whole grains such as ragi, oats or amaranth are rich sources of complex carbohydrates. Chicken, eggs, fish, cheese, soy, nuts and seeds are some good sources of protein. These days healthy fats like walnuts, almonds, olive oil, mustard oil are recommended. To increase immunity, turmeric milk should be drunk once a day.3
  • When you are COVID-19 positive, it is necessary to do five servings of all colored fruits and vegetables to get enough vitamins and minerals. You can have a small amount of dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa which can heal your mood, relieve anxiety and will also boost your immunity.
  • Most COVID-19 patients experience loss of smell and taste or difficulty swallowing. Eating soft food at small intervals and putting mango powder in the food is necessary.
  • Take some complementary drinks as breakfast or at the end of the meal so that they do not reduce the amount of food you eat in the meal. Or take small amounts (1/4 cup or 60 ml) 3 to 5 times per day. Take it after your each meal or with medication/between meals. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily.
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Sample COVID-19 – Nutrition Plan for Recovery

1. Monday + Thursday: COVID-19 – Nutrition for Recovery

Meal timeMeals
Upon wake up:Milk or Tea
Breakfast:Whole wheat bread (1 slice);
Boild egg (1 whole);
Peanut butter (1 spoon)
Snack:Mixed fruits (1 bowl)
Lunch:Rice + Beans
or
Rice + Chicken
Snack:Milk + Almonds
Dinner:Eggs bhurji or Dal roti;
Cucumber (1/2)

2. Tuesday + Friday Sunday: COVID-19 – Nutrition for Recovery

Meal timeMeals
Upon wake up:Fruit juice
Breakfast:Whole grain cereals + milk
Snack:Raita or Yogurt
Lunch:Roti;
Channe
Snack:Milk (warm) + ProtineX/Bornvita/Boost
or
Smoothie
Dinner:Paneer bhurji;
Roti;
Carrot

3. Wednesday + Saturday: COVID-19 – Nutrition for Recovery

Meal timeMeals
Upon wake up:Lemon water
Breakfast:Milk shake:
Milk + Peanut butter + Banana
Snack:Walnuts + Peanuts + Raisins
(mix)
Lunch:Roti + Sabji
Sabji:
Okra or Cabbage or Cauliflower or Green beans or Green paper or Spinach
Snack:Orage or Pear or Apple (1 whole)
Boild eggs (2 whole)
Dinner:Soup:
Vegetable soup or Chicken soup or Tomato soup
Veggie sandwich:
Brown bread + Paneer + Cabbage + Onion + Tomato + Ketchup
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Sources

  1. https://nutritioncareincanada.ca/sites/default/uploads/files/COVID-19/Food_is_Medicine_2_Covid-19_and_Hospitalization_English.pdf[][][]
  2. https://aviasway.com/what-to-eat-after-covid19-illness/[]
  3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/diet-plan-and-food-dos-and-donts-for-covid-19-patients/articleshow/82213682.cms[][]

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