What Is a Bland Diet?
A bland diet consists of foods that are least likely to irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
Why Should I Follow a Bland Diet?
This diet may be recommended if you are suffering from:
While this diet can’t cure these conditions, it can help manage their symptoms. In general, high-fat, spicy, fried, and acidic foods, and caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are the most likely to cause distress.
Food Choices on a Bland Diet
*These are foods, beverages, spices, and condiments that commonly irritate the stomach. However, there may be foods on this list that don’t bother you. Likewise, there may be foods not on this list that do bother you. (For example, some individuals with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) complain that high-acid fruits, such as oranges and tomatoes bother them). Therefore, it’s important to monitor the foods you consume and how well you tolerate them.
- Eat small, frequent meals (eg, 6 small meals instead of 3 large meals).
- Eat slowly; try putting utensils down between bites.
- Avoid lying down for 3-4 hours after eating.
- Keep a food log to try and pinpoint the foods that bother you.
- Talk a registered dietitian about an individualized meal plan.
- Reviewer: Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof MS, RD, LDN
- Review Date: 09/2015 -
- Update Date: 09/30/2013 -