1. Stop the Irritation and Don't Fry
Most bland diets are recommended for folks that have ulcers, acid reflux, hiatal hernia or dyspepsia. These diets attempt to remove acid-producing foods and foods that upset the system. A bland diet is also useful when you're reintroducing food after a bout with stomach flu or after surgery. Make sure that you don't have any fat or fried foods in the diet. Fried foods are especially bad if you are on a bland diet.
2. Enjoy Milk Products
You can eat most milk products in a bland diet unless you're lactose intolerant or you've gotten stomach distress from it in the past. Mild cheeses, such as cream cheese, are ideal for the bland diet. Cottage cheese is a wonderful base ingredient for most people on bland diets because many lactose-intolerant people can even tolerate cottage cheese. Creamed soups and plain milk can be added to the diet, too. Don't forget, you can also have ice cream, so your bland diet may not be as bland as it sounds.
3. Choose Vegetables Carefully
Include mild steamed or boiled vegetables in your bland diet, which are easy for you to digest. Tomatoes, however, frequently cause digestive problems, so only introduce them into your bland diet later if you know they don't cause you problems. If you're not sure, stay away from them. Also avoid gassy vegetables like cabbage, cucumbers, green peppers, broccoli, onions and turnips, as well as any raw vegetables. Introduce vegetables slowly after clear soup. As you continue on the diet, you can add some lettuce and mild greens, but avoid the salad dressing; it's just waiting to set you back a few weeks.
4. Cook Your Fruit
Though bananas are a good food for your bland diet, most fresh fruit causes problems. Citrus fruit is quite acidic and can make your stomach burn. If you really want some orange juice or other citrus fruit drink, take it after a meal. You can, however, eat cooked and pureed fruit with no problem. Try putting a little applesauce on top of cottage cheese for a tasty dessert. Remove the skin and seeds and use only cooked or canned fruit. Puree the fruit to a smooth consistency. This keeps the digestive system from working too hard.
5. Get Some Carbs and Protein
Choose breads and crackers without seeds or whole grains, and settle your stomach with saltines. You can use other carbs like potatoes and rice, as long as you're not frying either. You can add any type of egg that isn't fried to your bland diet. Poached eggs are a good substitute for fried-egg lovers. Add lean meats to your diet, too. You can even have crisp bacon, as long as you first blot it with a paper towel to remove excess fat.
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