Your throat aches whenever you swallow, making it hard to talk, eat or focus, but you don't have time for a doctor's appointment. Luckily, certain foods can soothe your throat and provide the nourishment that your body needs to fight off the infection.

To start, try gargling with salt water. Salt can relieve soreness and inflammation and reduce bacteria levels. Afterward, fuel your body with these soft, easy-to-swallow foods that you can easily bring to work.

Soup and Oatmeal

Soup is warm and comforting and slides right down your throat to ease the dry scratchiness. The broth and vegetables are rich in nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, and iron. Chicken soup adds extra protein. If you don't feel up to eating solid food, drink the broth by itself so that you still get the vitamins.

Cooked oatmeal provides fiber, magnesium, antioxidants, and other nutrients that boost your immune system. The soft texture makes oatmeal easy to swallow. You can eat bland oatmeal or spruce up your dish with fruit, cream, or spices when you're feeling better.

Fruit and Dairy

Bananas are loaded with nutrients, such as potassium, magnesium, and vitamin A. You can mash bananas if you have trouble swallowing solid food or blend them in a smoothie. Pomegranates offer antioxidants that help you recover quickly. You can eat the seeds or drink pomegranate juice.

Yogurt's cool, soft texture relieves soreness as the probiotics eliminate unhealthy bacteria. Commercial yogurt comes in hundreds of varieties--just check the label before you buy yogurt to avoid excess sugar. If you buy plain yogurt, you can enhance the taste with fruit, honey, and spices.

Make these snacks part of your daily lifestyle to build your immune system and ward off future infections.