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Bland Diet is also known as a “soft diet” for the soft foods that complement it. With lightly spiced and food low in fiber, a bland diet can be helpful if you have had stomach or intestinal surgery.
The bland or soft Diet is invented to reduce peristalsis and prevent gastrointestinal tract irritation.
It’s perfect for people with peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, reflux esophagitis, or dyspepsia. It may also be exercised in the healing of hiatal hernia.
It is not easy to market a diet called The Bland Diet. That is why it has not been produced or marketed by anyone.
Most of the time, the eating approach is prescribed by physicians for people who have ulcers, bowel problems, nausea, vomiting, or gas.
What is Bland Diet?
The Bland Diet consists of foods that are easy to digest and tender.
Fried and highly seasoned foods and most raw food such as fruits and vegetables are prohibited.
It would be best if you avoided drinks containing alcohol. Other foods that should get rid of the Diet include coffee (both regular and decaffeinated), tea, cocoa, chocolate, pepper, and chili powder.
Here are a few examples of substitutions:
Eat cream of wheat instead of bran cereal
Eat applesauce or canned seedless fruits instead of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries
Instead of taking raw vegetables, eat cooked carrots or green beans
Why do you need Bland Diet?
There are several reasons why you may want to eat a bland diet. Sometimes, we have to give our digestive system a rest.
If you think about it, we really push our bodies to the extreme, often eating inappropriate foods that are too greasy and fattening to really be unhealthy.
And then, there is gastroenteritis and other ailments that we get from eating tainted or old food that isn’t completely safe.
What to eat in Bland Diet?
The key to a bland food diet is choosing easily digestible foods so our system can recover. With that in mind, here are the foods you should choose:
Fruits and Vegetables
You don’t want to eat raw fruits and vegetables. As unbelievable as it may seem, these are actually hard to digest, mainly due to the skins.
Instead, you’ll want to eat cooked or canned fruits and vegetables. You can’t go wrong with applesauce. It is the perfect thing to eat on a bland diet.
Other favorites include low acidic juices such as apple or grape juice.
Dairy Foods
Dairy foods are easy to tolerate and should make up a large percentage of your bland diet.
Always choose the low-fat and nonfat varieties to stay on the safe side. Some of my favorites include cottage cheese, yogurt, and skim milk.
Puddings are also a popular choice, and certain varieties of cheese, such as Colby, are more easily digestible.
Meats
While meats can be eaten on a bland food diet, some people don’t recommend them.
If you must have meat, choose the ones you feel are the most easily digestible.
These typically include poultry and fish. Avoid meats that are stringy or tough to chew. Consider eating meat substitutes instead, such as peanut butter, tofu, etc., if you are a vegan.
Drinks
Besides skim milk and certain juices, you can also drink green tea, water, and non-caffeinated drinks. If you’re unsure about a specific beverage, then consume a little bit at a time and see what happens.
As always, avoid drinking or overeating at one time. You should try to eat several small meals during the day instead of just two to three large ones.
Further, it will help your digestive system recuperate. It can be a little challenging to manage at times, but it works great!
List of foods to eat and avoid in Bland Diet
Food to eat in Bland Diet
- Tofu and Paneer
- Broth
- Smooth nut butter
- Well cooked vegetables, such as potatoes, squash, and carrots
- Plant-based milk alternatives, such as almond milk, walnut milk, and coconut milk
- Fresh fruit juices, although people with acid reflux, may need to avoid tomato and citrus juices. Avoid processed fruit juices
- Home-made unprocessed puddings and custard
- Black tea, green tea, and some herbal teas
- Dairy, if a person can tolerate or recommend by a doctor
- Tender meats, such as fish and poultry, if recommended by a doctor
Food to avoid in Bland Diet
- Tough to chew fatty meats
- Fried foods such as burger
- Legumes
- Spicy, seasoned, cured, or smoked meat
- Strong cheeses, such as blue cheese
- Fatty dairy, such as whipping cream
- Pickles and sauerkraut
- High sugar foods and drinks
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole grain cereals, white bread, crackers, and pasta
- Crunchy nut butter
- Processed dried fruit
- Raw vegetables
- Vegetables that produce gas and flatulence, including broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions, peppers, and cauliflower
- High fiber cereals and vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts
- Fried pastries, such as donuts
- Gluten, if a person cannot tolerate it
Wrap Up
The Bland Diet is a restraining plan, but this is one of the diet ways that helps a specific purpose.
Before you decide to take it upon yourself to follow The Bland Diet, you should consult with your doctor, who will analyze if it is the best approach for you.
