When you find that you partied a little too hard and wake up with a nasty hangover, the last thing you probably want to do is eat. And yet, it's one of the best ways to recover and restore all those nutrients you lost last night.
From simple protein-filled breakfasts to reliable hangover foods, there are many great recipes for you to try. If you're not in the mood for actual food, there are a few healthy drink options that might be a better fit this morning.
Virgin Mary
The Spruce Eats
Forget those "hair of the dog" hangover cures because you're only prolonging the misery. Instead, mix up a Virgin Mary. The recipe spices up tomato juice with hot sauce and other guaranteed pick-me-ups that will help you get back to normal.
Tropical Detox Tonic
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For a quick detox, try a tropical tonic. Good-for-you ingredients like citrus juice to clean out your liver and enzymes to put your stomach at ease fill this simple drink. The combination of coconut water, apple, pineapple, and mint is tasty, too, so this can become a regular cure.
Ginger Tea
The Spruce Eats
No tomato juice or fruit in the fridge? Try a warm cup of ginger tea. The spicy root will ease a queasy stomach and invigorate your entire body so you can get moving. All you need is fresh ginger, honey, water, and lime juice.
Blueberry and Spinach Smoothie
The Spruce Eats
Freshly blended smoothies filled with wholesome ingredients are a perfect way to recover from a hangover. A recipe like this blueberry and spinach smoothie is ideal because it's filled with antioxidants and protein. It's also pretty delicious.
Continue to 5 of 17 belowGreen Pear Smoothie
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The green pear smoothie has all sorts of good stuff to restore your health. Fresh banana, ginger, and pear blended with cinnamon, almond milk, honey, and vanilla provide a flavorful backdrop for this green smoothie. You might not even taste the kale!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Shake
The Spruce Eats
Looking for a restorative and semi-indulgent smoothie? This peanut butter chocolate protein shake is the recipe you need. It's absolutely delicious and incredibly easy to make: Blend milk, chocolate and peanut butter powders, and old-fashioned oats.
Swedish Hash
Gustaf Brundin / Getty Images Called pytt i panna in Swedish, this breakfast hash is something anyone can toss together. Potatoes add to the hearty breakfast, and the eggs provide extra protein. Best of all, it uses any leftover meat you can scrounge up in the refrigerator.
Avocado and Egg Toast
Grilled Cheese Social
Take your avocado toast to a new level with this simple and healthy recipe. The avocado and egg toast includes radish, scallions, and a soft-boiled egg served with avocado on slices of sourdough. To give it a nice kick, use a spicy Sriracha mayo.
Continue to 9 of 17 belowBacon, Egg, and Cheese Muffin
The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Rather than run to the fast-food joint down the street, make a bacon, egg, and cheese muffin at home. It will have far less grease—the last thing your stomach needs right now—and you still get to enjoy this favorite hangover food.
Bacon and Egg Breakfast Casserole
The Spruce Eats
If you're someone who likes to plan ahead, this bacon and egg breakfast casserole recipe is for you. Prepare it before you head out for the night, then toss it in the oven when you wake up in the morning. It's the easiest way to have a healthy breakfast ready in half an hour.
Caribbean Oats Porridge
Getty Quick and straightforward, Caribbean oats porridge is an excellent choice for fast nourishment. Make this recipe with rolled or quick oats. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins give it an appealing flavor, and you can add any fruit, yogurt, or other toppings you happen to have around.
Maple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa
The Spruce Eats / Emily Hawkes
You'll love the warm, inviting flavor of this maple cinnamon breakfast quinoa recipe. To make it even easier, use pre-cooked or quick-cooking quinoa. This "super grain" is filled with all sorts of nutrients that are sure to help your recovery.
Continue to 13 of 17 belowApple Bacon Muffins
The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray
Another great option is to have homemade muffins ready for the morning. With a recipe like these apple bacon muffins, you get fruit, meat, and grain in a single bite. They're delicious and simple.
Bran Muffins
The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
There is something to be said about an old-fashioned bran muffin. This recipe has no fancy tricks; it's merely a bran muffin just like Grandma used to make. The cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses give it a great flavor, and the wheat bran is a wholesome source of vital nutrients.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
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Spinach is one of the best greens to eat when you're not feeling your best. It's easy to get down and packed with vitamins. A simple strawberry spinach salad is rather appetizing, even when other foods have you thinking twice about eating. To give this salad an extra dose of vitamin C, cut up an orange to go with the berries.
Polish Zapiekanka
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It's no secret that Eastern European culture is fond of liquor. You shouldn't be too surprised that many effective hangover foods come from the region. Zapiekanka is favorite street food from the vodka-loving country of Poland. It's easy to make at home because it's simply a toasted open-faced sandwich loaded with ham, mushrooms, veggies, and cheese. Ketchup and beer complete the authentic Polish experience.
Continue to 17 of 17 belowCzech Garlic Soup
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Another classic hangover food is Czech garlic soup, called česnečka. This hearty recipe is quick to whip up and it's long been a reliable after-party food. The broth is filled with potatoes and the garlic and onions offer an instant revival for all your senses.