Although I hate to admit it, there have been times following a night of drinking when I wake up to an irritating headache and a queasy stomach, a.k.a the dreaded hangover. I'm always responsible when I go to bars or drink with friends by always making sure to drink water and eat some food during the night, and never even consider getting behind the wheel of a car following a night of drinking. However, everyone experiences times every so often where we simply just drink too much. It's nothing to be ashamed of as long as you're making smart decisions and not getting blackout drunk all the time, but we can all agree that hangovers are never positive experiences in our young lives.
Attribution: Paste Magazine
Attribution link: https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2015/03/...
Making your hangover feel better the "morning after" can be a challenge if you don't know what to do. Drinking lots of water, resting, getting fresh air, and taking vitamins are all good starting points, but the body needs good food to function as well. Often times, a good meal or even just a snack can make the symptoms of your hangover a little more tolerable. Besides, what can be better than an excuse to eat something good? Based on my experiences, here are five foods that I've found very helpful in dealing with hangovers.
1. Fruit Smoothies
Attribution: Allrecipes.com
Attribution link: http://allrecipes.com/recipes/138/drinks/smoothies...
As I type this, it's a cold December night with temperatures plummeting close to zero degrees Fahrenheit, so the idea of drinking an ice cold fruit smoothie doesn't sound like the most appealing thing to do right now. Nonetheless, a fruit smoothie is a very good thing to have on a hungover morning. Fruit is packed with vitamins to restore the nutrients your body lost during the previous night's fun, and their natural sugars are a great way to nutritiously re-energize your system. The best part? You can jam as many fruits, vegetables, juices and yogurts into a smoothie as you want, so just about everyone has a specific kind they like. A smoothie can either be made at home in a blender or bought at a coffee shop or other place that sells breakfast drink. Just be sure it doesn't contain too much sweeteners or artificial flavors.
2. Pho
Attribution: Delivery.com
Attribution link: https://blog.delivery.com/2014/10/22/top-5-pho-spo...
I first tried of Pho about a year and a half ago at an Asian-American fusion cafe near my old university. The menu described Pho as being the perfect remedy to a hangover. Pho is a Vietnamese soup that consists of a light broth, noodles, and scallions. You can also add meat, vegetables, and sauces to it in addition. After eating Pho, I immediately realized why the menu described it as helping hangovers. Hot soup is always good in helping nausea, but what makes Pho so good is how flavorful it is despite being so simple. If you're university or place of residents is close to a place a serves Pho, I'd highly recommend giving it a try, even if you're not hungover. Currently, my apartment at Temple is located just a short walk from a place with Pho available.
3. Waffles (not the frozen kind)
Attribution: Brown Eyed Baker
Attribution link: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/buttermilk-waffles-r...
When I say "not the frozen kind," I'm referring to waffles made with an old fashioned waffle iron. If your stomach is feeling up to it, topping it with berries and powdered sugar is also a good idea. I've always found waffles help my hangovers because they have enough substance to them yet are light and flakey. If you have a waffle iron, definitely take advantage of it. If not, you can always go to the nearest breakfast place or even some college dining halls. Frozen waffles are great when you're in a rush and only have two minutes to make something, but for nursing and (hopefully) resting hangovers, take the time for the real kind.
4. Pasta with a simple Red Sauce
Attribution link: http://steamykitchen.com/6986-scarpettas-spaghetti...
Pasta is truly a wonderful thing, it's light, inexpensive, easy to make multiple portions at a time, and comes in many different kinds. If you're a working out person (2017 New Year's resolutions anyone?) then you probably eat pasta for energy all of the time. Pasta's lightness and ability to energize you makes it a great go-to hangover food. It'll even be OK for your stomach if you eat in in a red sauce with mild spices. However, your stomach probably won't be OK if you eat a more heavier sauce like a beefy meat sauce or creamy and cheesy Alfredo sauce.
5. Vanilla Ice Cream
Attribution link: http://www.recipeshubs.com/vanilla-ice-cream/23410
It's obviously not the healthiest thing in the world, but sometimes, any sickness can be made a little more comfortable with the help of a treat that's sweet, simple, and filling. Vanilla Ice Cream is good because it's the simplest flavor, but any mint flavor is also a good choice since mint can help soothe the stomach.
The reason why I can't really come up with any more good foods for hangovers is being I've only really been hungover a handful of times. I tend to know when to cut myself off at the bar or party. In those rare situations, however, I never panic, and just prepare to much on one of these foods. As young and hungry college students, we're always worshipping food because of how many great things it does for us, and hangovers are just another one of those things. Party hard and party smart, everyone.
