By Chardonnae Parker / Managing Editor

with contributions from Jaylah Jackson / Special to the Delta

Bring out the chicken noodle soup, orange juice, cough drops and cozy blankets.

Many students are sick on campus this time of year. Medicines are the first line of defense that students seek out. Other options that most don’t think about is what certain food can help us when we are sick. Many colleges across the nation do many different things during the flu season around campuses for students to stay healthy. These things can be hand sanitizer in more places, tissues in different places, and some schools even offer the flu shots to students.

For many student athletes being sick can affect a lot of different things such as play, practice, and even for many preparations.

“When I’m sick, pretty much soup, I drink a lot of Gatorade, as well water, crackers sometimes if I’m a little bit hungry with appetite but yeah, water and soup to get better,” said student Isabel Garcia.

Most students would agree that the classic chicken noodle soup is a must, and it has been proven to sooth a congested and sore throat. But what about an upset stomach.

Missouri Valley College nurse Casey Vogelsmeier talked about the BRAT diet for upset stomachs.

“If somebody has an upset stomach, um vomiting, diarrhea, you’re going to want to stick to more soft bland foods that are going to be gentle and easy on the stomach,” Vogelsmeier said. “So we say like a BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Apple sauce, Toast, crackers. Again that’s just brcause these foods are binding foods that contain a lot of fiber and they’re real gentle and easy on the stomach.”

Here are some tips to stay healthy while sick. Good hand hygiene always helps, doesn’t eat or drink after one another, and rest 7-8 hours. Missouri is halfway through its flu season…and the state numbers from early January show fewer influenza cases than neighbors Kansas and Illinois.

The Center for Disease Control is reporting that it expects the number of flu cases to remain elevated through February.

Missouri Valley College has already had its share of students with the flu this season already, if students believe they have the flu they can go to the schools’ nurse to help fight the virus.