What Can You Eat on a Bland Diet?

When you're dealing with a gastrointestinal disorder, have digestive symptoms or are recovering from GI surgery, your doctor may recommend you eat bland diet foods to help your body recover.

To help, here's a list of bland foods to eat (and which to avoid) while you heal, plus a sample bland diet menu.

A bland diet is a lot like it sounds: It's a diet that emphasizes cooked, soft, easily digestible foods that are low-fiber, non-spicy and gentle on the gastrointestinal tract, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Your doctor may recommend you stick to a bland diet if you have persistent gastrointestinal issues, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcers. You may also need to eat bland diet foods for a short period of time after surgery on your digestive tract or if you experience a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea (which is sometimes due to norovirus, a highly contagious infection spread through contaminated food or water, per the Mayo Clinic).

A bland diet goes easy on your digestive tract and eliminates foods that can irritate your gut. According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), this can help relieve or prevent digestive symptoms such as:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Acid reflux

So, what is considered bland food? It's food that's easily digestible and doesn't upset your gastrointestinal tract, according to the NLM. Here's a list of bland foods to include in your diet:

Low-fat or fat-free sources of dairy can provide you with protein and calories while you follow a bland diet. Per the MSKCC, here are some examples:

• Skim milk
• Low-fat yogurt
• Low-fat cottage cheese

If you're lactose intolerant or otherwise sensitive to dairy, opt for a milk alternative instead, like soy or rice milk, according to the MSKCC.

Refined grains and starches can help limit your fiber intake and ease digestion. Per the NLM, here are some foods to include on your bland diet list:

• Potatoes
• White bread
• Pasta that's not whole-wheat
• Crackers that aren't whole-wheat
• Rice
• Plain cereals like cream of wheat

You can also incorporate certain types of vegetables into your bland diet meals. Stick to canned vegetables or vegetables that are cooked until they're very soft, according to the MSKCC — this ensures you don't eat too much fiber, which can irritate your gut.

The same goes for fruit, according to the NLM. Here are the fruits you can include in your bland diet menu:

• Canned fruit
• Applesauce
• Bananas
• Melon

You'll want to make sure to get enough protein to keep your energy levels up while you're on a bland diet. Per the NLM, stick to lean animal proteins or other good sources of the nutrient, such as:

• Poultry
• Whitefish
• Eggs
• Tofu
• Creamy peanut butter

Drinks are another great source of nutrients and calories while you're on a bland diet (not to mention adequate hydration). According to the NLM, here are some fluids to sip on:

• Water
• Broth
• Weak tea
• Fruit and vegetable juice (though it's best to limit or avoid citrus or tomato juices if you have acid reflux)

If you're following a bland diet meal plan, there are some foods that are best to skip to avoid upsetting your digestive tract. Per the NLM, these include:

• Fatty dairy products like whipped cream or high-fat ice cream
• Strong cheeses like bleu or Roquefort cheese
• Raw vegetables
• Vegetables that cause gas, like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, green peppers and corn
• Dried fruit
• Acidic foods like citrus fruit
• Whole-grain or bran cereals
• Whole-grain breads, crackers and pasta
• Fermented foods like pickles and sauerkraut
• Spices and strong seasonings like hot pepper
• Sugary foods like candy and baked goods
• Seeds and nuts
• Highly seasoned, cured or smoked meats and fish
• Fried foods
• Alcoholic beverages
• Caffeinated drinks

If you're looking for menu inspiration, here are some bland diet ideas to get you started.

Kick off your day with one of these bland diet food breakfast recipes:

• Banana Nut Bread from the Recipe Rebel
• Scrambled Eggs with Cottage Cheese from Little Sunny Kitchen
• Three-Ingredient Pancakes from Feel Good Foodie
  

Prepare a midday meal with one of these lunches (just make sure to use canned veggies or cook fresh produce until it's soft):

• Easy Chicken Vegetable Soup from Real Food Whole Life
• Lemon Baked Cod from Little Sunny Kitchen
• Greek Yogurt Oatmeal from Eating Bird Food
  

Round out the day with these bland diet recipe examples (though again, make sure the veggies are canned or thoroughly cooked):

• Easy Vegan Vegetable Soup from Veggies Save the Day
• Air Fryer Turkey Burgers from the Recipe Rebel
• Easy Baked Chicken Thighs from Love and Zest