Over at Self Help Diva, I wrote about “Talk About Recovery” — things to help in getting better physically. In the post, I noticed I wrote about drinks and food a bit. And, it reminded me of how much such things bring comfort to an ailing self.
Some of my favourite “comfort foods” include: Chicken and Macaroni Soup (sopas), Chicken and Rice Porridge (arroz caldo), Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate Cake, and well… just chocolate anything. Right now, I’m also in to fruits — watermelon and strawberries, in particular. I do miss a lot of Filipino foods and fruits like pork barbecues, tinapa (smoked fish) with calamansi dip, all the grilled stuff (from prawns and squids to pork ribs, chops and tilapia), duhat, santol, green mangoes with bagoong, bopis, ripe mangoes, pastillas, kare kare… I’m also missing some of the food that I fell in love with during my days in Singapore — Grilled stingray with sambal, Chilli crabs with honey buns, the fresh juices from Alexandra Village, the pork katsudon from NUS, the fried chicken from Singapore Poly’s Malay stall, battered prawns, sweet and sour pork… Okay, I probably can go on and on, but I ought to stop. This is way too agonising.
Apart from favourite drinks and food, other things that bring comfort to me include: massages, messages from friends and family, favourite music, a nicely made bed and a comfortable blanket.
What about you? What are things that you crave for when you’re not feeling well? What brings comfort to you?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Heather 08.28.06 at 3:35 pm
Hi Shai,
It’s funny the different things that bring comfort. When I’m not feeling well I love getting into a messy bed. I don’t really understand it, but I hate to get into a made bed in the day time. It has to be unmade so it feels more inviting to climb back in. And yes, the chicken noodle soup works, but so does music. When I’m unwell I like soothing music playing just softly.
But I think I must be dreaming as this never happens to me when I’m feeling sick. I end up looking after everyone else, anyway. So, I refuse sickness as often as I can. I can’t recall the last time I actually got so sick I needed to stay in bed. Not counting having the baby, of course.
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Toni 08.29.06 at 11:29 am
I crave for Sinigang na Baboy when I’m feeling sick. The hot sour broth comforts me immensely.
Then there’s my blue flannel blanket with white stars. I wrap myself in it like a burrito and things turn out better.
There is of course TLC from my darling husband too!
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ruth 08.29.06 at 12:37 pm
like toni, the sour tang of sinigang activates my sick tastebuds
food aside, a feel-good movie when nobody else is there to commiserate can do wonders to my mood. depending the how sick i am, a walk and a breath of fresh air does wonders, too.
hope you’re feeling back to normal, shai!
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bea 08.30.06 at 5:22 am
am happy to read that youre all well
plus okra with bagoong or patis 
and my gosh, ang mga pinoy talaga… i ahve to say, my comfort food is also sinigang na baboy
i also like sleeping in my parents’ bed when am not feeling well.
update us naman on Cam and the new baby
- kahit na dun sa isang blog mo na may password 
*mwah*
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Reclusivegirl 08.30.06 at 8:38 pm
I always crave homemmade chicken noodle soup. I like mine with egg noodles though instead. That with saltine crackers is the best!
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Shai Coggins 01.14.07 at 3:09 pm
Heather, Toni, Ruth, bea, reclusivegirl: This is coming late, but I just want to say THANKS!
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