Bland Diets

If you have recently been diagnosed with chronic gastritis, dyspepsia, a peptic ulcer or acid reflux disease, your doctor has probably advised you to go on a bland food diet to help get your gastrointestinal tract back into shape. Although you may have to give up some of your favorite spicy foods during your recovery, you can still enjoy a wide variety of tasty foods at every meal.

Starches

• Eat six to eleven starch servings per day.

  Eat white or refined wheat products such as English muffins, pita bread, bagels, white melba toast, plain white rolls and tortillas that do not contain seeds. Abstain from all whole grain and bran products. Refined cereals are also allowed, such as well-cooked farina, oatmeal, cream of wheat and cream of rice. Use enriched macaroni, spaghetti, rice, barley, couscous and other enriched pasta products for side dishes. Snack on only plain, graham, soda or saltine crackers that do not contain seeds. Eat baked, boiled or steamed white and sweet potatoes, but do not eat fried potatoes.

Vegetables

• Eat three to five vegetable servings per day.

  Abstain from all raw vegetables. Eat canned, cooked or frozen vegetables such as green peas and beans, carrots, spinach, asparagus tips, mushrooms and squash. Avoid all gas-producing vegetables such as cucumber, turnips, corn, cabbage, broccoli, sauerkraut, rutabagas and onions. Eat lettuce only in small amounts and drink mildly-flavored vegetable juices.

Protein

• Eat two to three meat or meat substitute servings per day.

  Abstain from all smoked, cured or highly seasoned fish, poultry and meat dishes such as hot dogs, corned beef and luncheon meats, sausages and anchovies. Eat lean and tender shellfish, meat, fish and poultry and tofu dishes. Eggs prepared any way but fried and smooth nut butters are also allowed bland diet foods.

Dairy

• Eat two to four dairy servings per day.

  Bland diets permit milk and dairy products. However, you should eat cottage cheese and plain mild cheeses such as Muenster, Longhorn and Colby and avoid strongly flavored cheeses such as black pepper and jalapeno cheeses.

Fruit

• Eat two to four fruit servings per day.

  Abstain from all fresh and dried fruit, berries and figs except for oranges and grapefruit sections without their membranes, bananas and avocados. All fruit juices are allowed and all canned and cooked fruits without tough fibers, seeds or skins are allowed.

Snacks and Fats

• Use fats such as fortified margarine and butter sparingly while on a bland diet. You may have mild salad dressings such as French dressing, oil and vinegar and mayonnaise with your salads. Select dessert foods, such as ice cream, cookies, pies and cakes that do not contain seeds, nuts, coconut or fruit. Avoid all fried pastries, such as beignets and doughnuts.

Miscellaneous

• Abstain from alcohol while on a bland diet and avoid caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee and sodas.

  Choose mildly flavored sauces and gravies to accompany your meals. Avoid horseradish, chili sauce, garlic, chili peppers, barbeque sauce and all other densely spiced foods.

  Avoid olives and pickles during your bland diet.

  Use condiments such as mustard, vinegar and pepper in moderation.