Even if you do your best to fight off the flu and the winter blues, it's almost inevitable that you'll get at least a mild sniffle at some point this season. When you're sick, your body needs more calories to function normally. That's because it has to work harder than normal to fight infection, especially when it's also battling a higher body temperature from a fever. To do this effectively, it needs extra fuel.
It's important to stick to your regular eating schedule when you're sick. Why? Consuming fewer calories than normal can restrict your body's ability to heal. In fact, studies suggest that reducing your calorie intake when you're sick worsens symptoms and extends recovery time.