Fatty Foods

According to Ilyse Schapiro, a registered dietitian based in Greenwich, Connecticut, fatty foods are harder for your body to digest and can suppress your immune system, which can make it harder for your body to get over a sore throat. Fatty foods tend to be those that are high in saturated fat, which include red meat, baked goods, full-fat dairy products, and deep-fried or fast foods, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Instead of fatty foods, choose lean meats like fish or chicken and low-fat milk and cheese options while you’re healing a sore throat.

Citrus and Acidic Foods

Acidic and citrus foods like tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit, limes, and lemons can also worsen a sore throat, according to Emergency Hospital Systems. That’s because the acids in these foods can further irritate your throat, making symptoms like dryness and coughing worse. If you want to eat fruit while your throat is healing, consider more soothing options like bananas, melons, or peaches.

Spicy Foods

ENT and Allergy Associates explains that a common myth when you’re sick is to eat spicy foods, since people assume doing so can help clear out the sinuses when you have a cold. But when you have a sore throat, eating spicy foods can actually irritate your throat even more, which can trigger coughing, burning, or itchiness. So if you’re a fan of adding spice to your meals, it’s best to hold off until you’re all better.

Coarse and Crunchy Foods

Foods that are rough-textured, such as uncooked vegetables, granola, and dry toast, can scratch and worsen a sore throat. Instead of coarse foods, choose foods that are easy to swallow, soft, and semisolid, such as cheese, broth and cream-based soups, yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, ice cream, cooked cereals, smoothies, and casseroles, according to ENT and Allergy Specialists. You can also moisten dry foods with broth or gravy and boil or steam vegetables so that they are softer and easier to swallow.