Are you dealing with vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea? It's time for you to switch to bland diet foods. A bland diet can help you with any digestive system distress quickly. Do you want to know more about these bland foods and how to prepare them? Keep reading!
Bland foods are recommended for people dealing with gastrointestinal issues or inflammation. The main aim of having a bland diet is to give some rest to your digestive system. It's usually advised to be eaten for a short period until your health gets better.
Foods in a bland diet are easy to digest and don't cause additional health problems. As a result, they're recommended for people with health conditions. Let's dive further and learn all about bland foods!
What are Bland Diet Foods?
Bland diet foods are low-fiber foods that are soft and gentle on the digestive system. Doctors also call bland diets soft diets and recommend such diets to people with gastrointestinal issues and chronic diseases like ulcerative colitis or acid reflux.
People eating bland foods are also advised to eat small portions frequently. No one should lie down instantly after eating. Bland foods don't usually consist of many spices or seasonings. People with digestive issues eat bland food because foods rich in fiber take longer to break down.
What are the Bland Foods to Eat When Sick?
Since each of us has different dietary needs, it's best to take recommendations from a dietician about which bland foods you must eat. However, if you generally don't have food allergies, here are some bland diet foods you can consume:
Vegetables
Certain vegetables are easy on the stomach and can be eaten as a bland diet. These include peas, spinach, beetroot, sweet potatoes, and carrots. But you mustn't eat them raw and need to either steam or boil them. Just try to avoid eating vegetables that can cause gas.
Processed Grains
Refined wheat products like white bread or rye are good choices. However, if you are allergic to gluten, you can try gluten-free options such as soft white pasta, plain crackers, or cold cereals with low sugar content.
Low Fat Dairy Products
Fat-free milk, yogurt, or mild cheese like cottage cheese work well as bland diet foods. But some people are lactose intolerant and must avoid having milk products.
Poultry, Fish, and Eggs
Lean protein sources are suitable for bland food recipes. You could use skinless chicken, salmon, shellfish, or eggs. They can be prepared with mild seasoning and very low-fat content.
Low Fiber Fruits
The best fruits that work as bland food are fruits with no seeds. They could be fruits like melons or bananas or even avocados.
Some Bland Diet Foods
Broths and cream-based soups also make for good bland recipes. You can also take some chamomile tea with honey or plain cookies. Jam without seeds or peanut butter jelly also seems like a good option.
You can also try brat diet meals, which treat nausea or vomiting. Brat is a diet containing bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
What are Some Quick Bland Dinner Ideas?
Finding a quick and easy recipe can seem like a task when people are on a bland diet. However, there are some bland diet meals that you can prepare:
Poached Eggs on Toast
This is a quick and easy dinner recipe where the trick is to prepare the poached egg right. You can follow any recipe for a simple poached egg and then place it on toast, and your meal is ready.
Miso Soup
Many pre-made pastes are available in the market for miso soup. You can prepare the soup by adding the ingredients together and enjoy your meal in no time.
Chicken and Rice Soup
The good thing about preparing chicken and rice soup is that it takes not more than one hour to prepare and has all the ingredients that make for a perfect bland diet. The soup is also healthy and nourishing.
Banana Slushie
If you want some variety in your diet, you can add a smoothie to it. The banana smoothie is easy to prepare and suitable for a taste change. So, the next time you must try the banana and ice combination.
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Baking is more manageable and hassle-free, so you can simply bake some sweet potatoes with mild ingredients, giving you an easy and quick dinner. For ingredients, you could try some cottage cheese on the potatoes.
What Foods to Avoid on a Bland Diet?
Certain food items can be acidic or cause heartburn for some people. Also, people are allergic to certain foods, which can be challenging to digest. So, here are some foods you must avoid if you're dieting
Fatty Meats
If you're eating bland diet foods, you must avoid fatty meals like beef, fried fish, and also canned beans. You should avoid eating greasy or fried protein sources such as beef tacos or meat sauce.
Specific Vegetables
Some vegetables don't suit everyone and could produce gas. These vegetables include cabbage, peppers, onion, cauliflower, and more. Tomatoes are also acidic and so people should avoid it.
Whole Grains
People should avoid foods with high fiber content and also bread that has gluten. As a result, it could harm some people, so it's best to avoid such food items. They include grain bread, whole wheat pasta, and sprouted wheat bread.
Acidic Fruits
One must avoid Certain fruits as they may be acidic and cause heartburn. Seeded and acidic fruits like limes, grapefruit, prunes, oranges, and berries are best if avoided.
High-Fat Dairy
Strongly flavored cheese and dairy foods like whole milk, ice cream, or whipped cream are not recommended. Also, if you're lactose intolerant, you must avoid having dairy products altogether.
What are Some Bland Foods for Diarrhea?
Some foods can worsen your diarrhea, so you must avoid them. You should eat a diet that's easy on your digestive system and nourishes you. Eating plain and simple food in the first 24 hours of catching a stomach flu is crucial.
Some bland diet foods for stomach infection include boiled potatoes, toast, pretzels, baked chicken, and more. Probiotics are also a great option, so you could try yogurt, kombucha, or kefir.
Also Read: Stuff Up Calories in an Apple to Keep Your Weight in Check
Conclusion
As discussed above, there are loads of bland diet foods that you can try when you're ill and can't decide what you should eat. Foods in the bland diet are easy on the stomach. This is why if you're suffering from digestive issues or stomach flu, now is the time to switch to a healthy bland diet.
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