This is a sponsored post.

The importance of self care during cold and flu season

The cold and flu season is the worst. In an immunosuppressed household, we have to be ready for it, because it’s not a matter of if it will strike but when.

Heading into the cold and flu season and sick day tips

Self care tips during cold and flu season

Our bodies need sleep. It’s important to stay well rested all the of the time, but sleep during cold and flu season is that much more important.

Wash your hands often. If you sneeze, wash your hands, if you shake someone’s hand, wash yours as soon as possible. Wash your hands before and after you eat. You get the idea.

If you share a phone at the office, consider wiping your phone down with a bleach wipe. Don’t forget the door knobs. If someone is sick at home, definitely wipe down door knobs, remotes, phones etc.

Be prepared for cold and flu season before you or someone in your home gets sick. Stocking up on tissues, disinfecting wipes, our favorite cold and flu products, among other things at our local Fred Meyer is essential.

If you have a favorite magazine or book, add it to your sick day stash, or make sure it’s downloaded ahead of time to your e-reader. I also like easy to prepare foods while I’m sick. Who wants to cook. A nice treat is my Raisin Tea Bread, not only is it simple to make, but I can bake it, and then freeze individual slices, kept fresh in vacuum sealed bags, for popping in the toaster when i need them. (See recipe below)

What to stock up on during cold and flu season

Keep all of your cold and flu season products all together, so they are within reach when you need them.

Abreva® Pump Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment
If you battle cold sores, nothing heals your cold sore faster than Abreva. Abreva is proven to heal cold sores & shorten the duration of pain, itching, burning, tingling.

Lipton Wellness Range
I love tea anytime, but the Lipton Wellness Range is a favorite during cold and flu season.These teas are made with carefully selected botanicals and blended with essential oils, helps make wellbeing a part of your everyday routine. My favorite is Bedtime Bliss to wind down for the evening, but there are several blends worth checking out, depending on your needs.

Soothe Your Tummy: An herbal infusion for those times your tummy feels less than its best.* Carefully selected botanicals like ginger and peppermint are blended with natural essential oils that make every cup delicious.

Bedtime Bliss: An herbal infusion that sings you to sleep, like a lullaby in a cup.* Carefully selected botanicals are blended with natural essential oils that make every cup delicious

Daily Support: An excellent source of Vitamin C, this herbal infusion helps support your body's natural defenses.* Carefully selected botanicals are blended with green tea and natural essential oils that make every cup delicious

(Remember, Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold and Children’s Robitussin® Honey Cough & Chest Congestion DM< should not be used at the same time./em>

Robitussin
Children’s Robitussin® Honey Cough & Chest Congestion DM

If you have children, include Children’s Robitussin Honey with your cold and flu season products. It helps your child feel better with effective cough relief plus real honey! Relieves chest congestion, mucus and quiets cough. Plus, it’s non-Drowsy. A favorite stuffy to snuggle with helps too!

Also available in adult products, Robitussin® you can fight your cough and help kick your symptoms to the curb. The liquid-strength of Robitussin® soothes on contact and provides cough relief for hours.

Theraflu
Compatible with most single-serve coffee makers, Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold and Theraflu Power Pods Nighttime Severe Cold work on even your most severe symptoms.

The Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold fits right in your routine, and help you keep going, and Theraflu Power Pods Nighttime Severe Cold provides the temporary relief you need.

Temporarily relieves these symptoms due to a cold:

minor aches and pains
headache
nasal and sinus congestion
cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation
minor sore throat pain
Temporarily reduces fever

Find Your Cold and Flu products at your local Kroger banner store

You can find your cold and flu products in the pharmacy or health care aisles. Sometimes Abreva is in the beauty aisle, depending on your store. You can find your tea with your favorite teas and coffees.

Before cold and flu season hits your house, be sure to stock up on your favorites and make this raisin bread. Be sure to pre-slice and freeze some!

Raisin Tea Bread Recipe

Make this raisin tea bread recipe to have on hand during cold and flu season, for an easy comforting treat while you are seeking relief. It makes a delicious, dense bread that is perfect for toasting.

Ingredients
1 cup raisins
2 cups strong steeped orange pekoe tea
1 cup white sugar
½ cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon nutmeg

Directions
Directions
1. Pour 2 cups boiling water over two orange pekoe bags and 1 cup raisins. Allow to cool to room temperature before using in the batter for the cake.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Use your hand or stand mixer to cream together the butter and sugar well.
4. Add in egg and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy.
5. Lightly grease a standard loaf pan and line with parchment paper.
6. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
7. Beginning with your dry ingredient mixture, Alternate the dry ingredients and tea mixture to the creamed mixture, adding the dry ingredients in three portions and the tea and raisins in 2 portions.
8. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 60-70 minutes, until a wooden toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning the loaf onto a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Cool completely before slicing.

Important disclosures:
Theraflu-(c) 2019 the GSK group of companies or its licensor. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older.

Use all products only as directed. Read label and follow directions. Abreva, Emergen-C, Robitussin - Use only as directed. Read label and follow directions.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.