What Is Bland Diet? How To Do It And Benefits
You digestion can improve once you know what to consume and what to keep away from your plate.
Expertise: Nutrition
Experience: 30 years
Madhu Sharma is a member of the National Executive Committee of IDA. She has been associated for almost three decades with Pediatric Nutrition at PGI while serving in the Gastroenterology Department (20 years) and then the Advanced Pediatri... more
Charushila Biswas MSc (Biotechnology), ISSA Certified Fitness Nutritionist
Expertise: Nutrition & Fitness
Experience: 6 years
Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and... more
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A bland diet doesn’t mean you have to eat bland or tasteless foods. It simply is a diet excluding all the irritant foods that can irritate the intestinal lining. The diet is mostly recommended for treating acidity, stomach ulcers, and diarrhea. In addition, people who have undergone intestinal surgery will often be kept on this diet to ease the recovery process (as greasy, salty, and spicy foods may worsen all these conditions) (1).
This diet may also work for those who have breakouts, as spicy foods may trigger them. So, if you want to cut down on spicy and greasy food, this diet can be a perfect fit for you. But do not merely go by its name. You can get a range of tasty foods in this diet too.
Learn more about the bland diet, how it can benefit you, the dietary guidelines, foods to eat and avoid, the bland diet recipes, and a menu plan. We also have included a few yoga poses to ease your stomach problems. Continue reading.
1. Dietary Guidelines
You should take utmost care to avoid irritating the stomach walls. These dietary guidelines will help you understand what type of foods you should choose at home or while eating out. Take a look.
- Always eat cooked, boiled, broiled, microwaved, baked, stewed, roasted or creamed food. Do not eat fried, blanched, or raw food (1).
- Avoid using too much salt or seasoning.
- Do not eat the peel of fruits or nuts.
- Strain fruit or vegetable juices using a sieve.
- Avoid consuming citrus fruits or juices if they irritate your stomach (1).
- Avoid eating whole grain, multigrain, and wheat flour. Opt for white rice, white flour, white pasta, and white bread to avoid irritating the stomach lining (1).
- Avoid alcohol and smoking (1).
- Do not drink aerated drinks, pulpy fruit juices, and caffeinated drinks (2).
- Use low-fat dairy products (1).
- Eat well-cooked lean proteins (1).
- Avoid non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin.
- Chew your food well before gulping it down.
- You can have 3-4 meals per day, but be careful to snack only on the allowed foods.
Opt for natural nutritious beverages like green tea or coconut water instead of sugary drinks.
2. Foods To Eat And Avoid
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| Food Group | Servings Per Day | Foods To Eat | Foods To Avoid |
| Fruits And Veggies | 2-3 | Sweet potato, waxed beans, pumpkins, carrots, beetroot, white potato, summer and winter squash, strained vegetable juice, avocado, banana, fruit juice without pulp, orange and grapefruit without the membrane and seeds, and apple without the peel. | Fried veggies, potato wafers, spicy veg preparations, fried potato, broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, tomato, berries, and figs. |
| Proteins & Nuts | 2-3 | Soy, tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, cod, trout, herring, soft boiled eggs, lean cuts of chicken, lamb, pork, peanut butter, groundnuts, and well-cooked and soft meat. | Greasy, spicy, and highly seasoned meat, fried chicken, fried fish, fried poultry, raw eggs, dry beans, sausages, ham, chunky peanut butter, nuts with the outer cover, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. |
| Carbs | 6-10 servings | White bread, flour pasta, white rice, rice noodles, flour spaghetti, flour flatbreads, rice wraps, flour biscuits, and cornbread. | Whole wheat bread, multigrain flour, multigrain bread, highly seasoned biscuits, multigrain biscuits, whole wheat cookies, cookies with dry fruits, popcorn, and brown rice. |
| Fats & Oils | In moderation | Butter, mayonnaise, margarine, olive oil, avocado dressing, cream cheese, sour cream, white sauce, cream sauce, and olive oil and dijon mustard dressing. | Animal fat, highly seasoned and high-calorie dressings, coconut oil. |
| Dairy | 2-3 servings | Buttermilk, low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, condensed milk, pasteurized egg nogs, low-fat milk powder, mild cheeses, cottage cheese, and low-fat milk ricotta cheese. | Full-fat milk, full-fat yogurt, and strong cheeses. |
| Herbs & Spices | In moderation | Salt, olives, and mild spices. | Black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili, chili sauce, garam masala, allspice, clove, garlic, ginger, barbecue sauce, sweet chili sauce, strong lemon-based sauces, mustard seeds, and pickles. |
| Desserts & Sweets | In moderation | Honey, ice cream, seedless jam, syrup, molasses, chocolate, marshmallow, custard, white flour cakes, pudding, sherbet, hard candies, jelly, and gelatin dessert. | Marmalades, donuts, fried ice cream, chocolate with nuts, ice cream with nuts, desserts with fruits, and sweets made from full-fat milk. |
| Beverages | Water, buttermilk, coconut water, strained fruit and vegetable juices. | Coffee, energy drinks, tea, alcohol, fresh fruit juice with pulp, and lime juice. |
Once you have a clear idea about what foods you can consume and what to avoid, chalking a diet plan becomes easier. Here are 3 diet menus for you. Follow the one that suits you the best. You can also make your own diet chart depending on the foods you are allowed to eat.
3. Bland Diet Menus
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Menu 1
| Meal | What To Eat |
| Breakfast (8 am) | 2 slices of white bread with peanut butter and 1 banana |
| Lunch (12 pm) | Baked trout with carrots in canned pear sauce + white rice |
| Post Lunch Snack (4 pm) | ½ cup low-fat yogurt |
| Dinner (7:30 pm) | Flour spaghetti and tofu balls with butter and a sprinkle of herbs |
Menu 2
| Meal | What To Eat |
| Breakfast (8 am) | 1 scrambled egg + 1 toast with margarine + 1 cup strained carrot juice |
| Lunch (12 pm) | Roasted chicken breast with baked mushroom and asparagus |
| Post Lunch Snack (4 pm) | 1 banana |
| Dinner (7:30 pm) | Sweet potato salad with low-calorie dressing + boiled codfish |
Menu 3
| Meal | What To Eat |
| Breakfast (8 am) | 2 white flour and low-fat milk pancakes with maple syrup |
| Lunch (12 pm) | Blended squash and avocado soup |
| Post Lunch Snack (4 pm) | 1 cup strained fruit juice or buttermilk |
| Dinner (7:30 pm) | Macaroni with tuna and herbs |
You don’t have to survive on tasteless food if you are on the bland diet. It is best that you cook your meals to avoid consuming foods that should be avoided by you. Here is a yummy bland diet recipe that will hit your taste buds with a myriad of flavors.
4. Easy Bland Diet Recipe
Spaghetti And Tofu Balls
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Ingredients
- 3 oz spaghetti
- A large pot of water
- 3 oz mashed tofu
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon milk
- ½ teaspoon mixed herbs
- Cooking spray
- 3-4 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons grated American cheddar cheese
How To Cook
- Preheat the oven at 180°C.
- Mix flour, salt, and a pinch of mixed herbs with the mashed tofu.
- Shape the dough into small balls.
- Spray a baking tray with cooking spray.
- Place the tofu balls on the tray and spray them with the cooking spray.
- Bake them for 10-15 minutes at 140°C.
- Boil a large pot of water and add
- A teaspoon each of salt and olive oil to it.
- Add the spaghetti and let it cook for about 10 minutes.
- Drain the water from the spaghetti and transfer it to a mixing bowl.
- Prepare the sauce by mixing the egg, milk, butter, and mixed herbs.
- Cook it in a frying pan on high flame for a minute. Keep stirring.
- Pour the sauce over the spaghetti and mix well.
- Drop in the baked tofu balls.
- Top it with grated American cheddar cheese.
Though your diet plays a vital role when it comes to curing intestinal irritation and digestion problems, yoga has also been known to cure a lot of diseases effectively. Here are 5 yoga poses that will help alleviate the pain and discomfort that usually accompany stomach problems.
5. Yoga For Treating Stomach Ailments
1. Apanasana
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- Lie on your back and draw your knees to your chest.
- Clasp your knees with your hands.
- Rock from side to side. Hold the position for 1-2 minutes and then leave your hands.
- Repeat this 5 times.
2. Pashchimottanasana
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- Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you.
- Slowly lower your upper torso to touch your toes.
- Remove your hands from the toes and place them on the floor beside your feet.
- Hold the position for 1-2 minutes.
- Repeat this 3 times.
3. Kapalbhati
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- Sit on the floor and fold your legs. Place your hands on your knees such that your palms face the sky.
- Keep your spine erect and close your eyes.
- Take a deep breath and exhale forcefully so that your stomach goes inside as you exhale.
- Relax your mind, and while you exhale, think about all your ailments being exhaled out.
- Do this for 5 minutes.
- Gradually increase the time to 15 minutes.
4. Pavanamuktasana
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- Lie on your back. Relax.
- Inhale. Fold your legs and bring them forward until your forehead touches your knee.
- Place your arms around your legs and lock your fingers.
- Hold this position for 30 seconds.
- Exhale slowly and come back to your original position.
- Repeat this 3-4 times.
5. Vajrasana
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- Sit on the floor. Fold your legs and tuck them under your thighs.
- Close your eyes and keep your spine erect.
- Position your palms on your knees.
- Inhale and exhale slowly.
- Repeat 5 times.
A bland diet contains foods that are easy on your stomach or intestinal lining and eliminates greasy, salty, and spicy delicacies. It is usually used to treat acidity and stomach ulcers. This diet predominantly comprises well-cooked, boiled, broiled, baked, microwaved, stewed, or roasted foods. It is important to chew these foods properly to avoid burdening your digestive system. Avoid whole grain, fried, and raw foods, alcohol, smoking, citrus fruits, and aerated and caffeinated drinks as they can irritate your intestinal lining and cause discomfort. Follow the simple bland diet menus listed above, along with some effective yoga poses, to keep your stomach clean and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat mashed potatoes on a bland diet?
Yes, mashed potatoes make for a good meal option on a bland diet.
Can I eat a sandwich on a bland diet?
Yes, you can eat white bread sandwich with chicken, tuna, turkey, roast beef, or salmon along with some lettuce and tomato.
Is chicken noodle soup considered bland?
Yes, you can have chicken noodle soup with mild seasonings as part of your bland diet.
Key Takeaways
- A bland diet is easy to digest and it reduces inflammation and promotes the healing of the intestinal lining.
- To prevent irritating the stomach walls, avoid using too much salt, alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and aerated beverages.
- Practice yoga asanas like Pashchimottanasana, Apanasana, and Pavanamuktasana to improve digestive health by reducing stress, and promoting circulation.
- To improve your digestive system’s health, it’s crucial to chew food thoroughly and properly sieve fruit or vegetable juices.
