I generally just eat a lot less.
Nut butters might work.
Ginger tea. I add lemon juice and raw honey to my teas when I have a sore throat.
Chicken soup is definitely easy. Blend it for the little ones.
Some well-cooked gluten-free grains might not be a bad addition for picky kids who want something like that.
Regarding ginger ale, a homemade version can be made with sparkling mineral water and something like this
ginger tonic.