Can You Cook and Care for Family Safely When You Have COVID-19?

Can You Cook for Your Family if You Have COVID-19?

Getting diagnosed with COVID-19 can be scary and stressful. You likely have a lot of questions about how to prevent spreading the virus to your loved ones while still caring for them. One common concern is whether you can or should cook meals for your family if you test positive for COVID-19.

The short answer is yes, you can cook for your family if you take the proper precautions. However, it's understandable to have hesitations about doing so. This article will provide tips on safely preparing meals so you can avoid transmitting the virus through food while still feeding your family nutritious homemade meals.

How COVID-19 Spreads Through Food Preparation

Before deciding whether to cook for others, it helps to understand how COVID-19 spreads in general. According to the CDC, the primary transmission routes include:

• Breathing in respiratory droplets from an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks near you
• Touching a surface contaminated with the virus then touching your eyes, nose or mouth

When it comes to food preparation, the main risks come from breathing droplets onto food or touching contaminated surfaces then handling food without washing hands. Proper food safety practices eliminate most of these risks. So cooking for your family while you have COVID-19 comes down to being extra vigilant about cleanliness, hand washing, masks, distancing, and disinfecting surfaces.

Tips to Cook Safely for Family with COVID-19

If you want to cook for your COVID-positive household, here are some best practices to avoid spreading the virus:

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before cooking and after touching any potentially contaminated surfaces.
2. Wear a well-fitted mask while prepping ingredients and cooking. Avoid leaning over uncovered food.
3. Maintain 6 feet distance from other family members while cooking and eating. Eat in separate rooms if possible.
4. Use separate utensils, cutting boards, plates and cookware for infected individuals. Disinfect thoroughly between uses.
5. Order groceries for delivery rather than shopping in person when COVID-positive.
6. Disinfect all surfaces, appliances and touchpoints in the kitchen before and after cooking.
7. Let other family members serve themselves rather than handling shared serving utensils.
8. Clean all produce thoroughly before cooking.
9. Cook foods thoroughly, especially meat, fish, eggs and poultry.

Following these precautions requires some extra effort but allows you to safely prepare meals. However, if these steps sound too difficult, opt for simple foods that require minimal prep or order takeout instead.

Should You Avoid Any Foods When Sick with COVID-19?

No foods are completely off-limits if you have COVID-19. However, you may need to make adjustments depending on your symptoms.

For example, if you have a sore throat or loss of taste and smell, avoid irritating spices like chili peppers. Stick to bland, soothing foods. Broths, mashed potatoes, noodles, cooked cereals and diced soft fruits are good options.

If nausea, diarrhea or loss of appetite make eating a challenge, choose lighter nutritious foods that are easier to tolerate. Examples include toast, crackers, plain yogurt, apple sauce and bananas.

Stay hydrated by sipping water, herbal tea, clear broths and diluted juices throughout the day. Sports drinks with electrolytes can help replenish whats lost from fever, sweat and diarrhea.

Avoid excess salt, fat and sugar, which can make you feel worse. Steer clear of junk foods and rich, heavy meals. Focus on getting vitamins and minerals from whole foods to help your bodys defenses.

11 Soothing Foods and Drinks for COVID-19 Symptoms

Here are some of the top foods and beverages to help relieve COVID-19 symptoms:

1. Chicken soup - The classic home remedy, chicken soup provides fluid, electrolytes, protein and antioxidants for cold and flu symptoms.
2. Broths - Sipping on warm, soothing broths can ease sore throats and provide hydration when you have little appetite.
3. Honey - Honey is naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial. It can help coat and soothe sore throats.
4. Ginger - Ginger tea, ginger ale and ginger candies can help ease nausea and upset stomach.
5. Mint - Mint tea and mint candies can help reduce coughs and throat irritation.
6. Chamomile tea - Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that relax airways and help you sleep.
7. Turmeric - Curcumin in turmeric has antiviral and anti-inflammatory benefits. Add it to soups, smoothies or milk.
8. Yogurt - The probiotics in yogurt support gut and immune health. Opt for plain Greek yogurt.
9. Peppermint tea - Peppermint calms GI issues and also clears congestion and coughs.
10. Decaf coffee - Caffeine-free coffee offers antioxidants without dehydrating effects.
11. Avocados - These superfoods have healthy fats and nutrients to aid recovery. Use in smoothies or toast.

Focus on proper nutrition and hydration to help your body fight COVID-19. Avoid spicy, fatty and sugary foods that can worsen symptoms. With some adjustments, you can safely cook nutritious homemade meals for your household.

Precautions for Household Members When a Family Member Has COVID-19

When someone in your household has COVID-19, the entire family needs to take steps to avoid getting infected or spreading the virus. Here are some key precautions for protecting family members when one person has COVID-19.

Quarantine Recommendations

The CDC provides the following quarantine guidelines when a member of your household tests positive for COVID-19:

• Stay home for at least 5 days from the onset of symptoms or positive test.
• End isolation after 5 full days if fever-free for 24 hours (without medication) and symptoms are resolving.
• Wear a high-quality mask for 10 full days when around others at home and in public.
• Do not travel during the 10 day isolation period.
• Get tested again on day 6 after exposure or if new symptoms develop.

Even if you test negative or feel healthy, stay home for the full quarantine period to prevent spreading the virus to others who may be at higher risk.

Separate From Infected Family Member

As much as possible, the infected person should stay in a separate room and use a different bathroom. Have them wear a mask when interacting closely with others in the home.

Eat meals separately, at least 6 feet apart from each other. Avoid sharing towels, bedding, electronics, dishes or eating utensils with the sick person.

Reduce your time together in shared spaces like the kitchen and living room. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, toilets, counters, remotes, phones and keyboards regularly.

Practice Good Hygiene Habits

The rest of the household should be meticulous about hand washing with soap and water frequently throughout the day. Avoid touching your face and wear a mask at home.

Clean high touch surfaces like counters, doorknobs, toilets and light switches daily with EPA-approved disinfectants. Wash laundry thoroughly with hot water and high heat drying.

Open windows regularly to improve ventilation and air circulation throughout your home when someone has COVID-19.

Stock Up on Supplies

Have at least a two week supply of grocery essentials on hand so infected family members do not have to go to stores. Set up grocery delivery if possible.

Make sure all household members have access to masks, tissues, hand soap, hand sanitizer, thermometers, fever reducers and other necessities.

Watch for Symptoms

Family members should closely monitor daily for potential COVID-19 symptoms like fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, body aches, loss of taste or smell, etc. Isolate from others immediately if symptoms develop and get tested right away.

Returning to Normal Activities After COVID-19

Recovering from COVID-19 and getting a negative test result is a huge relief. However, questions may remain about when it is safe to stop isolation and resume normal activities. Here are some CDC guidelines on ending quarantine and returning to a regular routine.

Criteria for Ending Isolation

You can end isolation after 5 full days if you meet these criteria:

• It's been at least 5 days since symptoms started, or 5 days after testing positive if no symptoms.
• You've been fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducers.
• Your symptoms are resolving or gone completely.

If you had moderate illness (difficulty breathing) or severe illness (hospitalization) due to COVID, extend your isolation for a full 10 days. Consult your doctor before ending isolation if you are immunocompromised.

Continue Precautions After Isolation

After ending isolation, continue taking precautions through day 10, such as:

• Wearing a high-quality mask when around others at home and in public.
• Avoiding travel and situations where you can't properly mask.
• Avoiding being around immunocompromised people unless masking.
• Watching for COVID-19 symptoms to return or worsen.

Take extra care around high risk individuals like the elderly and immunocompromised. It's possible to test positive again on antigen tests for weeks after, but this does not mean you're contagious.

Returning to Work and School

Most people can return to work or school after ending 5 days of isolation as long as symptoms are resolving. Wear a high-quality mask until 10 days after your positive test.

Some employers or schools may require a negative test result before returning. Follow your workplace or school guidelines.

Avoid high risk settings like nursing homes or around immunocompromised people until after the full 10 day period.

Resuming Exercise and Social Activities

Light exercise at home can generally be resumed once fever is gone and symptoms improving, but avoid strenuous workouts until completely better. Build back up slowly.

For social gatherings, outdoor interactions are safer than indoor ones in the period right after isolation. Avoid large crowds or close contact settings where you can't wear a mask.

Use your best judgement based on your symptoms and who you're interacting with. The elderly, pregnant and immunocompromised have higher risks.

Traveling After COVID-19

The CDC recommends delaying travel until 10 days after your symptoms started or the date of your positive test. Take a viral test 3-5 days before any essential trips.

Wear a high-quality mask when using public transportation. If you had severe COVID illness, you may need to delay travel even longer to fully recover.

Always check current federal, state and local travel requirements, which may include testing or quarantine rules.

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Home

If someone in your household gets COVID-19, take swift action to protect other family members and prevent the virus spreading further at home. Here are tips to contain the outbreak.

Isolate the Infected Person

Designate a separate room and bathroom for the sick person if possible. Have them wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance when interacting with others.

Deliver food and necessities outside their room and avoid face-to-face contact. Reduce shared spaces and disinfect thoroughly after use.

Quarantine Exposed Household Members

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated family members who had close contact with the infected person should quarantine for 5 days, monitor closely for symptoms and get tested on day 5.

Improve Ventilation

Open windows regularly to maximize airflow and ventilation, weather permitting. Consider running an air purifier in shared rooms.

Practice Good Hygiene

Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Cough and sneeze into elbows. Avoid touching the face and sharing personal items.

Clean and Disinfect

Clean high touch surfaces like light switches, counters, remotes, phones and doorknobs daily. Use EPA-approved disinfectants effective against the virus.

Wear Masks

Everyone in the household should wear well-fitted masks when interacting with each other indoors during the isolation period.

Limit Visitors

Avoid inviting guests over or allowing non-essential visitors while quarantining. Only those necessary for medical visits or household needs should enter.

Get Vaccinated

Make sure everyone in the household is up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster shots. Vaccination provides strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization.

Containing household outbreaks requires diligence, but taking proper precautions can effectively prevent COVID-19 from spreading further at home.

Caring for Family with COVID-19 While Protecting Yourself

When a loved one gets sick with COVID-19, your instinct is to comfort and care for them up close. However, you also need to avoid getting infected yourself. Here are tips for caring for family with COVID while protecting your own health.

Provide Care Remotely When Possible

To limit exposure, have the sick family member isolate themselves in a separate room and bathroom if feasible. Provide care from a distance by virtually checking in on them, bringing food to their door, refilling medications, etc.

Mask Up, Distance and Wash Hands

If you must enter the sick person's room, wear a well-fitted mask over your nose and mouth. Try to maintain 6 feet distance and avoid prolonged close contact when possible.

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after providing any care. Avoid touching your face while in their room.

Provide Essential Support

While minimizing direct contact, do provide essential physical and emotional care for sick family members. Help them stay hydrated, nourished and comfortable.

Monitor their symptoms and watch for any worsening that requires medical attention. Offer reassurance and keep their spirits up.

Clean Surfaces and Ventilate Room

Disinfect any surfaces in the sick person's room frequently, including door knobs, light switches, remotes and bathroom surfaces. Wear gloves while cleaning and wash hands after.

Open windows regularly to maximize airflow and ventilation if weather allows. Consider using fans and air purifiers as well.

Take Immunity Supporting Supplements

Protect yourself by taking daily vitamins C, D and zinc which support immune function. Get adequate sleep, nutrition and physical activity.

Monitor Your Health Closely

Watch very closely for any COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after caring for your sick family member. Get tested and isolate immediately if you start feeling ill.

Avoid High Risk Individuals

Be extra cautious around elderly, pregnant or immunocompromised family and avoid contact with them until your quarantine period passes.

Using common sense precautions allows you to compassionately care for sick loved ones while protecting your own health and preventing

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.