Bland Diet
A bland diet is for people with ulcers, nausea, gas, vomiting or bowel problems and consists of food to help you pass bowels. A bland diet may be used for people who’ve just undergone stomach or intestinal surgery and is quite effective in getting people back to where they need to be.
If your doctor tells you that you need to be on the bland diet, I’d take his advice. The food listing below is what is suggested by recognized experts on the subject. If you’re going to go on to this version of the bland diet, with your doctors guidance, it’s a good idea to stick to the serving sizes and recommended amounts:
Bland Diet: Breads
Eat 6 to 8 servings a day from this list:
1/2 cup cream of wheat
1/2 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup cooked pasta, noodles, or macaroni
6 small (2 inch square) saltine crackers
1 slice white bread
1 medium size (2-1/2 inch) roll or bun
FRUITS
Eat 2 to 3 servings a day from this list:
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup canned or cooked fruits without skins or seeds
1/2 cup mild juices, such as apple, grape, and pear
1/2 of a 9 inch banana or 1 small (5 inch) banana
VEGETABLES
Eat 2 to 3 servings a day from this list:
1/2 cup cooked or mashed vegetables without stems and seeds
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 cup green beans
1/2 cup onions and celery in soups
1/2 cup summer squash or zucchini
1/2 cup winter squash
MILK And DAIRY
Eat 2 to 4 servings a day from this list:
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup custard
1/2 cup ice cream or ice milk, without nuts
A 1- to 2-inch-square slice of mild cheese, such as Longhorn, Colby, or Muenster
1 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup pudding
1 cup yogurt without seeds or nuts
MEAT And MEAT SUBSTITUTES
Eat the equivalent of 5 to 7 ounces of meat a day from this list:
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (equals 1 ounce of meat)
1 large egg (equals 1 ounce of meat)
1 cup of a casserole made from foods listed in this diet (equals 2 to 3 ounces of meat)
Fish, turkey, chicken, or other meat that is not tough or stringy
1/2 cup tofu or other bland soy products (equals 1 ounce of meat)
FATS
Eat 2 to 4 servings a day from this list:
1 pat or 1 teaspoon butter
1 pat or 1 teaspoon margarine
1 teaspoon olive, vegetable, or safflower oil
BEVERAGES
Drink as much as you want from this list:
Low-acid juices, such as apple, grape, or pear
Mild herbal teas or weak regular tea
Water
Caffeine-free drinks
Soda (do not drink more than 2 cans a day)
SOUPS
Eat or drink as much as you want from this list:
Bouillon or broth
1 serving of a cream soup may take the place of a serving of milk
Any soup without tomato or strong spices
There is also a whole list of foods not to eat which is available for your viewing online. If, under your doctor’s supervision, you use only the amounts listed above in your recipes, you should be back on the way to a healthy lifestyle in no time.