If you have an ulcer, suffer from heartburn or if you have had recent gastrointestinal surgery, your doctor may suggest you follow a bland diet to help you meet your nutritional needs without causing stomach upset. A bland diet consists of foods that are low in fiber, mildly seasoned and easy to digest.
Purpose
The purpose of the bland diet is to prevent further irritation of the lining of your gastrointestinal tract. You should only follow a bland diet under the direction of your physician. When following a bland diet, include a variety of the allowed foods to help you meet your nutrient needs.
Foods to Include
Foods on a bland diet should be soft to make it easier for you to chew and digest. Bland starch foods provide energy and include white rice, white bread, white flour pasta, mashed potatoes, refined-flour ready-to-eat cereals and soda crackers. Fruits and vegetables provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals. Fruit choices for a bland diet include cooked or canned fruits without skin or seeds, bananas and applesauce. Good vegetable choices include soft cooked green beans, squash and carrots. Meats, such as beef, poultry and fish, are good sources of protein and should be served soft and tender without any seasonings. Eggs and creamy peanut butter can also be served on a bland diet. Dairy foods provide calcium and vitamin D, and choices include low-fat milk, plain yogurt and mild cheeses such as Colby or muenster. Some added fat can be used to help meet your calorie needs, and good choices are margarine, mayonnaise and vegetable oils.
Foods to Avoid
You should avoid spicy, fried, high-fat and high-fiber foods on your bland diet. Spices to avoid include chili powder, cloves, mustard, pepper and nutmeg. You may also want to avoid foods seasoned with garlic. Fried foods, such as French fries and chicken wings, and foods high in fat, such as whole fat milk, delay stomach emptying and are not allowed on your bland diet. Foods that cause a lot of gas should also be eliminated, including broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and legumes. You should also avoid raw fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals and dried fruits. Caffeine and alcohol are also not allowed on a bland diet.
Diet Tips
To improve tolerance and help you meet your nutritional needs, try eating smaller meals more frequently when following a bland diet. You can also improve digestion by chewing your foods slowly and well. If you have reflux, wait two hours after eating before lying down. It is important to stay hydrated on a bland diet, but drink liquids slowly to improve tolerance.
Sample Meals
For breakfast, you can have two slices of white toast with margarine and one scrambled egg. A bland morning snack may consist of some applesauce and plain yogurt. For lunch, try a tuna sandwich made with mayonnaise and served on white bread with some canned fruit and a cup of nonfat milk. Your afternoon snack may include some saltine crackers with creamy peanut butter. For dinner, try a beef stew with soft cooked potatoes and carrots, served with a side of white rice.
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