What Is a Bland Diet?

A bland diet consists of foods that are easy to digest and mildly seasoned. Heavily seasoned, spicy, fried, and acidic foods are excluded on this diet.

Why Should I Follow a Bland Diet?

This diet may be recommended if you are suffering from a peptic ulcer , chronic gastritis , reflux disease , dyspepsia , or other stomach irritation. While this diet can’t cure these conditions, it can help manage their symptoms.

Foods to Avoid

The following list should be used as a guide. 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. Therefore, it’s important to monitor the foods you consume and how well you tolerate them.

Spices and Condiments

  • Black, red, and white pepper
  • Chili powder
  • Cloves
  • Mustard
  • Nutmeg
  • Salad dressing

Foods

  • Broth
  • Chocolate
  • Corn
  • Nuts
  • Olives
  • Highly seasoned foods (eg, soups, chili)
  • Fried or greasy foods (eg, French fries, fried chicken, snack chips, donuts)
  • Rich desserts (eg, cake, pastries)
  • Raw vegetables (except lettuce)
  • Raw fruits (except ripe bananas)
  • Gas forming foods (eg, onions, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sauerkraut, salad greens, rutabagas)
  • Processed meats high in fat (eg, sausage, bologna, lunch meat)

Beverages

  • Tea (tannins)
  • Caffeinated beverages (eg, coffee, tea, cola)
  • Citrus juice, tomato juice
  • Alcohol

Foods Recommended

In general, try to choose foods and beverages that are:

  • Mildly seasoned
  • Low-fat or fat-free
  • Low-acid (eg, low-acid orange juice)

Suggestions

  • Eat small frequent meals (eg, six small meals instead of three large meals).
  • Eat slowly; try putting utensils down between bites.
  • Avoid lying down for 3-4 hours after eating.
  • Consider meeting with a registered dietitian to create an individualized meal plan.