Purpose: The bland or soft diet is designed to decrease peristalsis and avoid irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Use: It is appropriate for people with peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, reflux esophagitis or dyspepsia. It may also be used in the treatment of hiatal hernia.
The soft/ bland diet consists of foods that are easily digestible, mildly seasoned and tender. Fried foods, highly seasoned foods and most raw gas-forming fruits and vegetables are eliminated. Drinks containing Xanthine and alcohol should also be avoided.
| Food Recommended | Foods to Avoid |
|---|---|
| MILK & DAIRY (2-3 servings each day) | MILK & DAIRY |
| All milk and milk products | None |
| Plain mild cheeses | |
| Cottage cheese | |
| VEGETABLES 3-5 servings each day | VEGETABLES |
| Mild flavored vegetable juices | Raw vegetables, dried peas and beans, corn |
| Cooked, frozen or canned vegetables as tolerated (asparagus tips, beets, carrots, green or waxed beans, mushrooms, pumpkin, green peas, white or sweet potato, spinach, summer or winter squashes) | Gas forming vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, cucumber, green pepper, corn, rutabagas, turnips and sauerkraut |
| Lettuce in small amounts | |
| Salads made from allowed foods | |
| FRUIT (2-4 servings each day) | FRUIT |
| All fruit juices | All other fresh and dried fruit |
| Cooked or canned fruit without skins, seeds, or tough fibers | Berries and figs |
| Avocados and bananas | |
| Grapefruit and orange sections without membrane | |
| BREADS AND GRAINS (6-11 servings each day) | BREADS AND GRAINS |
| White, refined wheat, seedless rye breads. Plain white rolls, white melba toast, matzo, English muffin, bagel, pita bread, tortilla | Seeds in or on breads, and crackers |
| Saltine, graham, soda or plain crackers | Bread or bread products with nuts or dried fruit |
| Cooked, refined cereals such as cream or wheat, oatmeal, farina, cream of rice. Dry corn and rice cereals such as puffed rice or corn flakes | Potato chips, fried potatoes, wild rice |
| Potatoes | |
| Enriched rice, barley, noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and other pastas | |
| Couscous | |
| MEAT & MEAT SUBSTITUTES (2-3 servings each day) | MEAT & MEAT SUBSTITUTES |
| All lean, tender meats, poultry, fish and shellfish | Highly seasoned, cured, or smoked meats, poultry, or fish. Corned beef, luncheon meats, frankfurters, sausages, sardines, anchovies, strongly flavored cheeses and chunky peanut butter are to be avoided. |
| Eggs, crisp bacon | |
| Smooth nut butters | |
| Soybean curd (Tofu) and other meat substitutes | |
| Soups | |
| Mildly seasoned meat stock, broth bouillon, or cream soups made with allowed foods | |
| FATS & SNACKS (use sparingly) | FATS & SNACKS |
| Butter or fortified margarine | Highly seasoned salad dressings with seeds or pickle relish |
| Mild salad dressing such as mayonnaise, French or vinegar and oil All fats and oils | All sweets and deserts containing nuts, coconut or fruit not allowed |
| Sugar, syrup, honey, jelly seedless jam, hard candies, plain chocolate candies, molasses, marshmallows | Fried pastries such as doughnuts |
| Cakes, cookies, pies, pudding, custard, ice cream sherbet, and Jell-O made with allowed foods | |
| MISCELLANEOUS | MISCELLANEOUS |
| All beverages as tolerated | Caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, colas, orange soda, Dr Pepper) |
| Herb teas, fruit drinks | Alcoholic beverages |
| Iodized salt, flavorings | Strongly flavored seasonings and condiments such as garlic, barbecue sauce, chili sauce, chili pepper, horseradish, pepper, chili, powder and other highly spiced foods |
| Seedless jams, taffy, sugar, honey, jelly | Pickles, seed spices, olives, popcorn, nuts and coconut |
| Marshmallows, molasses | Aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines |
| Mildly flavored gravies and sauces | |
| Pepper, herbs, spices, ketchup, mustard and vinegar in moderation |
