2. WHAT IS A BLAND DIET?
Bland diets a diet consisting of foods that are generally soft,
low in dietary fiber, cooked rather than raw, and not spicy.
Fried and fatty foods, strong cheeses, whole grains (rich
in fiber), and the medications aspirin and ibuprofen are
also avoided while on this diet. Such a diet is
called bland because it is soothing to the digestive
tract (it minimizes irritation of tissues). It can also be
bland in the sense of "lacking flavor", but it does not
always have to be so; nonirritating food can be appetizing
food, depending on preparation and individual
preferences.
3. PURPOSE
The foods included are limited to non-
stimulating, non-irritating and mildly seasoned
products.
This diet should be individualized according to
your appetite and food tolerance. With time
and recovery, you may be able to expand this
diet to you tolerances.
The bland or soft diet is designed to decrease
peristalsis and avoid irritation of the
gastrointestinal tract.
4. Nutrients Modified
All nutrients are available on the Bland Diet.
Texture is modified by offering items that are
easily digested, moderately low in roughage
and very mildly seasoned products.
Tender foods are used such as cooked
vegetables, canned fruits, and refined breads
and cereals.
Fried foods and highly seasoned foods,
pepper, caffeinated beverages and alcohol
may cause distress and, therefore, are
eliminated.
5. INDICATIONS
Stomach or intestinal surgery
Ulcers Diseases
Heart burn
Nausea and Vomiting
GERD
Gas and Flatulence
Gastritis
Dyspepsia
Treatment of hiatus hernia
6. A bland diet is designed primarily to help
patients recover from gastrointestinal
conditions or other medical circumstances in
which improved digestion would be essential.
It is not especially effective as a long-
term weight loss diet, although portion
sizes are strictly controlled. Many people find a
bland diet to be very difficult to maintain,
although some find the use of acceptable spice
alternatives does make it easier.
Most patients slowly return to a more normal
diet once their medical issues have been
resolved.
7. Dietary Guidelines and
Food List
Eat three regular meals a day without snacks
since all food stimulates acid output.
Eat foods slowly, chew well and avoid stomach
distention with large quantities of food.
Use milk sparingly because it stimulates gastric
acid secretion.
Use salt and very mild seasonings. Avoid
heavy spices such as chili peppers, black
pepper, chilis powder and highly seasoned
foods.
Dietary fiber may be added since there is no
evidence that dietary is harmful.
8. Choose whole grain, enriched, or refined
breads and cereals. Avoid large amounts of
unprocessed bran.
Cook by baking, boiling, broiling, roasting,
stewing, microwaving or creaming. Avoid
frying.
Avoid caffeinated beverages, coffee and tea
products because of the caffeine, theobromine,
and tannins.
Citric acid juices may be irritating to some
individuals.
Avoid aspirin, non steroidal anti-inflammatory
9. FOOD
GROUP
SERVINGS
DAILY
FOODS
INCLUDED
FOODS
EXCLUDED
Milk, Yogurt
and Cheese
2 - 3 Servings Skim, low fat, or
whole milk,
buttermilk, mild
drinks such as
pasteurized
eggnogs,
milkshakes,
chocolate mild,
cocoa,
evaporated or
condensed milk,
non-fat dry
milk solids, yogurt
with allowed
fruits, cottage
cheese, soft mild
American or mild
cheeses.
Strong cheeses,
any
food not tolerated
10. Meat, Poultry,
Fish, Dry
Beans, Eggs
and Nuts
2 - 3
Servings
Baked, boiled, broiled,
roasted,
stewed, micro waved or
creamed meat and fish,
very
tender chicken, turkey,
veal,
beef, lamb, lean pork, all
fish
(no bones), smooth
peanut
butter, soft prepared
meat
alternates, finely ground
nuts,
tofu, (soy cheese), eggs
and
style except fried, egg
substitutes.
Any though,
stringy
highly
seasoned or
fried
meat, fish, or
poultry, hot
digs, cold
cuts,
sausages,
ham, corned
beef, chunky
peanut
butter dry
beans and
peas, baked
beans, fried
eggs, raw
eggs
11. Bread,
Cereal,
Rice and
Pasta
6 -11
Serving
s
Refined whole wheat
bread,
enriched white bread, rye
bread without seeds, plain
rolls
and crackers (saltine or
graham) refined cereals
(cooked or dry) hot breads
as
tolerated, rice, spaghetti
(plain,
no spicy sauce), macaroni,
noodles, pasta
Coarse, whole
grains,
highly seasoned
snack
crackers, any
containing
seeds, nuts or
dried
fruits, highly
seasoned
rice and pasta
12. Vegetable 3 - 5 Servings Mashed, boiled,
creamed or
baked white or sweet
potato,
all cooked or canned
vegetables* and
vegetable
juices, chopped lettuce
as
tolerated *These
vegetables may be
included or
omitted, depending on
tolerance: broccoli,
Brussels
sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower,
corn, dried beans and
peas,
green pepper, onions,
rutabagas, sauerkraut,
turnips
Highly seasoned
potatoes, fried
potatoes,
potato chips, all
cooked
vegetables not
tolerated,
use raw
vegetables with
caution, avoid
fried vegetables
13. Fruits 2 - 4
Servings
As tolerated, all fresh, canned
and frozen fruits or fruit juices
Any fruit not
tolerated,
any with seeds
or tough
skins, uncooked
dried
Fruits
Fats
and
Oils
Use
Sparingly
Margarine, reduced calorie
margarine, butter,
mayonnaise, mildly seasoned
regular or low calorie salad
dressing, oil, shortening
cream, sour cream, cream
cheese, drained crisp bacon,
cream gravy, cream sauce,
Avocado
Gravies made
with meat
fats, salt pork, fat
back,
highly seasoned
salad
dressings or those
with
seeds
14. Sweets and
Desserts
Use
Sparingly
Sugar, syrup, honey,
jelly,
seedless jam,
molasses, nonnutritive
sweeteners, hard
candies, plain
chocolate
candies,
marshmallows, all
desserts made with
allowed
foods: cakes, cookies,
pies,
pudding, custard, ice
cream,
sherbet, gelatin dessert
Jams,
marmalades, all
sweets and
desserts
containing nuts,
coconut
or fruit not
allowed, fried
pastries such as
doughnuts
15. Miscellaneous As desired Salt, mild spices,
herbs,
flavorings, mildly
flavored
gravies and sauces,
olives,
caffeine-fsree soft
drinks
Strongly flavored
seasonings and
condiments such
as
barbecue sauce,
chili
pepper, chili
sauce,
garlic, black
pepper,
horseradish,
coconut,
nuts, pickles,
popcorn.
Use catsup,
mustard,
vainer, lemon and
lime
juice with caution,
alcoholic
beverages,
coffee, tea,
caffeine
beverages.
16. SAMPLE DAILY MENU PLAN
BREAK
FAST
FOOD
ITEMS
AMOUNT
(g)
PROTEIN
(g)
CHO
(g)
FAT
(g)
CALORIES
(kcals)
1. Orange
Juice
200g 1.4g 21.8g 0.4g 96.4 kcals
2. Noodles 50g 3.8g 39g Nil 171.2 kcals
3. Scramble
d eggs
55g 7g Nil 7g 91 kcals
4. Cow’s
milk
250ml 8g 11.5g 10.3g 170.7 kcals
5. Brown
bread
2
piece(30g)
2.7g 15g Nil 70 kcals
Total 5 items 335g
250ml
22.9g 87.3g 17.7g 599.3 kcals
18. SAMPLE DAILY MENU PLAN
DINNER FOOD
ITEMS
AMOUNT
(g)
PROTEIN
(g)
CHO
(g)
FAT
(g)
CALORIES
(kcals)
1. Chapattis 3 (100g) 12.1g 71.2g 1.5g 346.7 kcals
2. Boiled fish 100g 16.6g 4.4g 1.4g 96.6 kcals
3. Potatoes 100g 1.6g 22.5g 0.1 97.3 kcals
4. Curd 200g 6.2g 6.0g 8.0g 120.8 kcals
5. Cooked
vegetables
100g 1.8g 5.1g 0.8g 34.8 kcals
6. Grapes
juice
100g 0.5g 16.5g 0.3g 70.7 kcals
Total 6 items 700g 38.8g 125.7
g
12.1g 766.9 kcals
19. SUMMARY
It's also known as a "soft diet," for the soft foods that
go with it. With lightly spiced, and low fiber foods, a
bland diet may also be helpful if you have had
stomach or intestinal surgery.
The bland or soft diet is designed to decrease
peristalsis and avoid irritation of the gastrointestinal
tract. It's appropriate for people with peptic ulcer
disease, chronic gastritis, reflux esophagitis or
dyspepsia.
It may also be used in the treatment of hiatus hernia.
20. Avoid greasy foods, especially fatty meats.
Eliminate deep fried foods as well.
Do not consume alcohol on a bland diet.
Most bland diets emphasize soft foods over
fibrous ones. This aids in digestion.
Total caloric intake through sample daily menu for
a day is 2123.82 calories i.e. an average intake of
707.94 calories for each meal thrice a day.
Caloric intake depends on individual and the type
of work performed and can be adjusted
accordingly.
