Pregnancy SmartSiteTM

Skip Navigation Schedule An Appointment

Normal Pregnancy

Staying Healthy

Alcohol and pregnancy Managing your weight gain in pregnancy Steps to take before you get pregnant When you need to gain more weight during pregnancy

What to expect during pregnancy

Aches and pains during pregnancy Choosing the right practitioner Common symptoms during pregnancy Hyperemesis Gravidarum Morning sickness Pregnancy and travel Pregnancy and work Problems sleeping during pregnancy Skin and hair changes during pregnancy Teenage pregnancy

Preparing to go home with your baby

Cribs and crib safety Eat right during pregnancy Preparing your other children

Visits and Tests

Amniocentesis Chorionic villus sampling Genetic counseling before pregnancy Glucose tolerance test-pregnancy Monitoring your baby before labor Nuchal translucency Prenatal care in your first trimester Prenatal care in your second trimester Prenatal care in your third trimester

Bland diet

Description

A bland diet can be used alongside lifestyle changes to help address the symptoms of ulcers, , , nausea, and vomiting. You may also need a bland diet after stomach or intestinal surgery.

Self-care

A bland diet includes foods that are soft, not spicy, and low in . If you are on a bland diet, you should not eat spicy, fried, or raw foods. You should not drink alcohol or drinks with caffeine in them.

Your health care provider will tell you when you can start eating other foods again. It is still important to eat healthy foods when you add foods back in. Your provider can refer you to a dietitian or nutritionist to help you plan a healthy diet.

Foods you can eat

Foods you can eat on a bland diet include:

  • Milk and other dairy products, low-fat or fat-free only
  • Cooked, canned, or frozen vegetables
  • Potatoes
  • Canned fruit as well as apple sauce, bananas, and melons
  • Fruit juices and vegetable juices (some people, such as those with GERD, may want to avoid citrus and tomato)
  • Breads, crackers, and pasta made with refined white flour
  • Refined, hot cereals, such as Cream of Wheat (farina cereal)
  • Lean, tender meats, such as poultry, whitefish, and shellfish that are steamed, baked, or grilled with no added fat
  • Creamy peanut butter
  • Pudding and custard
  • Graham crackers and vanilla wafers
  • Popsicles and gelatin
  • Eggs
  • Tofu
  • Soup, especially broth
  • Weak tea

    • Foods to Avoid

    Some foods you may want to avoid when you are on a bland diet are:

  • Fatty dairy foods, such as whipped cream or high-fat ice cream
  • Strong cheeses, such as bleu or Roquefort cheese
  • Raw vegetables and salads
  • Vegetables that may make you gassy, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
  • Dried fruits
  • Whole-grain or bran cereals
  • Whole-grain breads, crackers, or pasta
  • Pickles, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods
  • Spices and strong seasonings, such as hot pepper and garlic
  • Foods with a lot of sugar in them
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Highly seasoned, cured or smoked meats and fish
  • Tough, fibrous meats
  • Fried or greasy foods
  • Alcoholic beverages and drinks with caffeine in them

    • You should also avoid medicine that contains aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

    Other Diet Tips

    When you are on a bland diet:

  • Eat small meals and eat more often during the day.
  • Chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
  • Stop smoking cigarettes, if you smoke.
  • Do not eat within 2 hours of your bedtime.
  • Do not eat foods that are on the "foods to avoid" list, especially if you do not feel well after eating them.
  • Drink fluids slowly.

    • References

    Moldwin RM, Hanno PM. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and related disorders. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 57.

    Pruitt CM. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. In: Olympia RP, O'Neill RM, Silvis ML, eds. Urgent Care Medicine Secrets. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 20.

    Thompson M, Noel MB. Nutrition and family medicine. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 37.

    Schedule An Appointment

    Contact Atlanta Obsetrics and Gynaecology at The Womens Center Millennium Hospital - 404-ATL-BABY

    GO

    Review Date: 5/4/2024

    Reviewed By: Stefania Manetti, RDN, CDCES, RYT200, My Vita Sana LLC - Nourish and heal through food, San Jose, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.