Kitchen Medicine: What I Cook When Everyone’s Getting Sick...

Old-School Comfort Foods That Still Work

It’s that time of year again.
Someone’s coughing. Someone’s “fighting something.” And if you’re anything like me, you’re doing everything you can not to catch it—or at least shorten the ride if you do.

As a private chef, I’ve learned that food isn’t just fuel. It’s information. And when the body is under stress, sick, or run down, it doesn’t want complicated—it wants comforting, warm, and familiar.

There’s a reason our grandmothers swore by homemade chicken soup long before bone broth became a wellness buzzword. They didn’t have the science language for it, but they had the results. Warm, mineral-rich broth supports the immune system, soothes a sore throat, and lets the body focus on healing instead of digestion.

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Bone Broth: Yes, It’s Everywhere—And There’s a Reason

I know bone broth can feel overdone. It’s been talked about, packaged, marketed, and hashtagged to death. If you’re someone who doesn’t usually buy into food trends, I get it. And if you’re someone who used to make it years ago and haven’t pulled the pot out in a while, you’re not alone.

But here’s the honest truth: bone broth didn’t become popular because it sounds good on a label. It became the “craze” because it actually works.

Long before it was bottled and sold at premium prices, it was just something people made at home when someone wasn’t feeling well. Slow-simmered bones. Simple vegetables. Time. No gimmicks.

Two things I always lean on during sick season—whether I’m trying to stay well or already feeling off—are bone broth and immune tea. I call them kitchen medicine.

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Bone Broth: The Original Healing Food

I love making a big pot of bone broth and sipping on it throughout the day. I use my Instant Pot because it’s efficient and low effort, which matters when you’re tired or under the weather.

Some of my clients don’t love drinking it straight—and that’s totally fine. I’ll use it as the base for soups, stews, or to braise meats and vegetables. You still get all the benefits without having to sip a mug of broth if that’s not your thing.

My go-to bone broth recipe:

• Grass-fed beef bone marrow bones (1-2)

• Organic chicken feet (a handful or so, sounds gross I know, but trust me the collagen it provides is real!)

• Onion (skin on, washed well, quartered)

• Carrot (skin on, washed well, roughly cut)

• Celery (1-2 roughly cut)

• Garlic (2-3 clove)

• Fresh ginger (1-2” piece)

• Fresh turmeric (1-2)

• Dandelion greens (1 bunch)

• A little sea salt

• A splash of apple cider vinegar

• Water to cover

For the Instant Pot, I cook it for 120 minutes. If you are simmering on the stove go up to 24 hours on super low heat.

That’s it.
Strain it, store it, sip it—or cook with it.

You end up with a deeply nourishing broth that feels grounding in a way supplements never quite do. Don’t overthink this recipe. I don’t always have all these ingredients and just make with what I have.

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Immune Tea: A Pot of Warm Support

My other kitchen staple when sickness is in the air is a simple immune-supporting tea. Everything in this pot has a purpose, but nothing about it feels clinical. It’s comforting, aromatic, and easy to drink all day.

My immune tea recipe:

• Orange peels (1-2 oranges, eat the actual orange throughout the day for more Vitamin C)

• Red onion (skin on, washed well, quartered)

• Fresh ginger (2-3” piece)

• Fresh turmeric (2-3 pieces)

• Cinnamon stick (1-2)

• A sprig of rosemary

• A sprig of oregano

• A few whole cloves

• Water to cover

Lightly simmer, covered, for 20–30 minutes.

Strain and sip throughout the day.

This is the kind of tea that makes your kitchen smell like someone is taking care of you—even if that someone is you. And again, don’t overthink the recipe. Each time I make it - it changes.

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Why I Always Choose Warm Foods When I’m Sick

I’m a big believer in warm foods and warm drinks when the body is fighting something. Cold, raw foods can be harder to digest when your system is already working overtime. Warmth is soothing. It’s gentle. It signals safety.

Sometimes healing isn’t about doing more.
It’s about slowing down and letting simple things do their job.

Putting a little love into the kitchen—especially when you’re not feeling your best—can be just as important as rest.

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I’d love to hear from you:
What do you like to cook or eat when you’re sick?
Drop a comment and share your kitchen medicine.