Bland Diet Foods

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Bland Diet Foods

Question:

What is meant by a "bland diet," and what kinds of foods are encouraged and discouraged?

Answer:

A bland diet generally involves avoiding foods and drinks that could irritate the digestive tract. Foods that can irritate the digestive tract include, but are not limited to:

• Raw vegetables and fruits

• Alcohol

• Coffee

• Tea

• Highly spiced foods

Instead, choose foods that are low in fiber, lightly seasoned and soft. A bland diet can limit some key nutrients. Fortunately, most people don't need to follow a bland diet for very long.

Today, a common reason to start a bland diet in the short term is during the initial recovery from some type of gastrointestinal surgery.

In the past, the bland diet was routinely used in the management of ulcers, but that is no longer the case.

Kathy McManus, M.S., R.D is the director of the department of nutrition at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an investigator on the Pounds Lost Trial, a 5 year NIH funded obesity study. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Simmons College, completed her Dietetic Internship at Brigham and Women Hospital, and received a Master of Science degree in nutrition from Framingham State College.

Last updated:	July 20, 2009