Bland Diet Food List Pdf

A bland diet is an eating plan emphasizing soft, low-fiber foods cooked before eating raw or raw produce (1). It may be recommended as an effective short-term solution for conditions affecting the GI tract, such as GERD or gastritis (1).

However, overeating bland diets may cause nutritional deficiencies; consult your physician about safe reintegration practices.

Proteins

A bland diet can help ease complications associated with GERD, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting by restricting foods that irritate your digestive tract. Food should generally be soft, low-fiber cooked food that doesn’t contain spicy seasonings – this diet may also be recommended after stomach or intestinal surgery as a temporary measure. Alternatively, this diet could also ease symptoms related to infections, food poisoning, or excess flatulence.

Bland proteins typically consist of lean meats like chicken, fish, and tofu that can be easily prepared through grilling, roasting, or boiling. Eggs are another excellent source of protein; however, dairy foods should be avoided if they cause digestive discomfort.

Low-fat milk, ice cream, and yogurt are generally allowed; however, added sugar products should be avoided. Fat-free cottage cheese and tofu may also be suitable options. You can add flavor to your meals with herbs and spices like cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and star anise; you may even incorporate asafetida (hing) from South Asia into soups and stews in small amounts for more dramatic effects.

Dairy

A bland diet refers to easily digestible food that does not cause discomfort to the GI tract, such as soft, low-fiber meals prepared using minimum spices and oil. Such an approach may help alleviate symptoms associated with ulcers, acid reflux, nausea, and diarrhea.

Dairy products are integral to a balanced diet, from milk and cottage cheese to low-fat yogurt and other dairy options. If specific dairy items trigger heartburn for you, however, then it is wise to avoid eating them altogether.

Eggs, broth, and pudding are good protein sources in a bland diet. Cooked meats should also be included; however, it would be wise to avoid fried or fatty cuts of meat and marinate it instead in fruit juices for added flavor. Remember to eat small meals daily to improve digestion and decrease heartburn symptoms.

Vegetables

A bland diet includes easily digested foods, low in fiber and typically non-spicy – perfect for people recovering from medical conditions or surgeries involving the digestive tract or with digestive inflammatory issues like ulcers, GERD, or excess flatulence (1).

Vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets are essential to the bland diet. Packed with essential nutrients, these vegetables can be prepared in ways that won’t aggravate digestive conditions – including steaming, boiling, or baking them. Frozen fruit and veggies are another handy choice as they cook quickly while staying fresh in your refrigerator until hunger strikes.

Lean meats are another staple in a bland diet and should always be prepared in such a way as to be free of fat and to be cooked, grilled, roasted, or baked before being consumed. Eggs provide another protein source but should always be cooked, boiled, or poached instead of deep fried.

Fruits

Bland foods benefit digestive health and ease irritation symptoms in the gut. A bland diet typically consists of low-fat dairy foods, skinless roasted or baked meats (poultry, fish, tofu), soft fruits and vegetables, as well as eggs; in addition, various beverages, including low-sugar juices and water, should be included to ensure adequate fluid intake to avoid constipation.

A bland diet can help those experiencing stomach and intestine irritation or sensitivity, those preparing to undergo procedures like colonoscopy, or those experiencing loss of appetite. For optimal results, it should be undertaken under medical supervision to ensure adequate nutrition is received; typically, this type of diet should only be implemented temporarily and until symptoms of irritation subside or you are ready to add other foods back in. Some everyday food items that should be avoided include garlic, onions, fried foods, chocolate, caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea, acidic fruits/juices (oranges/pineapple/tomato), and strong cheeses.

Spices

A bland diet is designed to soothe digestive irritation and encourage digestive tract healing. This diet consists of soft, cooked, low-fiber foods; spicy food, alcohol, and acidic fruits and vegetables should all be avoided for maximum efficacy. A bland diet may prove especially useful for individuals suffering from ulcers, nausea, and diarrhea.

A bland diet typically consists of low-fat dairy foods like milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt; limited eggs and lean meats like chicken, turkey, and fish; fruit juices and stewed vegetables are vital. Fries, foods, nuts, seeds, and spices should all be excluded.

As well as cutting out caffeine-rich drinks such as coffee and tea, herbal teas or decaffeinated beverages should be preferred. Nutmeg should be substituted with cinnamon, as both can be found in various dessert recipes.

Caffeine

On a bland diet, foods containing caffeine should be limited or avoided altogether, including coffee (even decaffeinated varieties), tea, cocoa and chocolate milk, chocolate bars, and cookies. Alcoholic beverages and anything spicy, fried, or raw should also be limited or avoided altogether; nuts and seeds can cause severe GI irritation. Instead, try adding zest without nuts with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg!

A bland diet should only be consumed temporarily to ease digestive irritation and discomfort, such as ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), excess flatulence, food poisoning, or traveler’s diarrhea. A bland diet does not provide all the necessary nutrients and should only be seen as a temporary measure until other food sources can be eaten again.