Bland Diet Food List for Ulcers and Gastritis + PDF

A bland diet is an eating plan of soft, mild, low-fiber foods with no spicy, fried, or raw foods. It is used with lifestyle changes to ease symptoms of ulcers, heartburn, and nausea, and after stomach or intestinal surgery. It does not heal an ulcer: treatment of the cause, such as H. pylori infection, does. This list shows what to buy and what to leave out.

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Diets for digestive health

How the bland diet works

A bland diet includes foods that are soft, not spicy, and low in fiber, according to MedlinePlus. It leaves out spicy, fried, and raw foods, alcohol, and drinks with caffeine. MedlinePlus says it can be used alongside lifestyle changes to help with the symptoms of ulcers, heartburn, GERD, nausea, and vomiting, and that you may need it after stomach or intestinal surgery. It sets no length: your health care provider tells you when you can start eating other foods again.

A bland diet does not heal an ulcer. The main causes of stomach ulcers are H. pylori infection and regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, and the NHS says treatment depends on the cause, with antibiotics for H. pylori and medicines that reduce stomach acid. The NIDDK says researchers have not found that diet plays an important role in causing, preventing, or treating peptic ulcers. For gastritis, the NHS also says treatment depends on the cause.

MedlinePlus advises eating small meals more often, chewing slowly and thoroughly, and drinking fluids slowly. It also says not to eat within 2 hours of bedtime, while the NHS advises eating the evening meal 3 to 4 hours before bed for ulcers and gastritis. Cook vegetables until soft, and steam, bake, or grill meat and fish with no added fat.

Triggers vary from person to person. For ulcers, the NHS says to avoid any food or drink that sets off your symptoms, which can include fatty or spicy foods, coffee, and chocolate. MedlinePlus also says to stop smoking if you smoke, and lists aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen as medicines to avoid on this diet.

What can you eat on the bland diet

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  Lean, tender protein

  MedlinePlus lists poultry, whitefish, and shellfish that are steamed, baked, or grilled with no added fat, plus eggs and tofu. Leeds Teaching Hospitals suggests eggs boiled, poached, or scrambled, not fried.

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  Cooked vegetables and potatoes

  MedlinePlus allows cooked, canned, or frozen vegetables and potatoes. Leeds Teaching Hospitals asks you to cook vegetables rather than eat them raw, and to peel potatoes and skip roasted or chipped ones.

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  Mild fruit

  Bananas, melons, applesauce, and canned fruit are on the MedlinePlus list. Leeds Teaching Hospitals says to skip fruit with skins and pips.

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  Refined grains and bread

  MedlinePlus lists bread, crackers, and pasta made with refined white flour, plus refined hot cereals such as farina. Leeds Teaching Hospitals adds white rice and refined breakfast cereals such as cornflakes.

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  Low-fat dairy

  MedlinePlus allows low-fat or fat-free milk and other dairy. Leeds Teaching Hospitals specifies smooth yogurt with no lumps or bits, and low-fat cheese.

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  Broth, gelatin, and drinks

  Broth-based soup is on the MedlinePlus list, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals allows clear or strained soup. Both list gelatin or jelly. For drinks, choose water and caffeine-free options.

Foods to avoid on the bland diet

On a bland diet, leave out:

• Spicy and strongly seasoned foods. Hot pepper, garlic, chili, and curry powder, plus highly seasoned, cured, or smoked meats and fish.
• Fried, greasy, and fatty foods. Fried and greasy foods, fatty dairy such as whipped cream or high-fat ice cream, strong cheeses such as blue cheese, and tough, fibrous meats such as steak.
• Raw and gas-producing vegetables. Raw vegetables and salads, and broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, which can make you gassy. Leeds Teaching Hospitals adds onions and peppers, and MedlinePlus adds pickles, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods.
• Dried fruit, citrus, and tomato. Dried fruit is on both lists. Leeds Teaching Hospitals also lists citrus fruit and tomato products, and MedlinePlus says people with GERD may want to skip citrus and tomato.
• Whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Whole-grain or bran cereals, whole-grain bread, crackers, and pasta, and, per Leeds Teaching Hospitals, brown rice. Seeds and nuts are out too.
• Alcohol and caffeine. MedlinePlus and Leeds Teaching Hospitals both say no alcohol and no caffeinated drinks. For gastritis, the NHS also advises avoiding acidic drinks such as orange juice, and fizzy drinks.
• Sugary foods. MedlinePlus lists foods with a lot of sugar among those to avoid. It also lists gelatin, pudding, and custard as allowed, so its advice on sweets is not fully consistent.

Downsides to know about

• Does not heal ulcers. The NIDDK says doctors do not recommend a special diet or avoiding specific foods or drinks to prevent or treat ulcers. The NHS lists medicines as treatment: antibiotics for H. pylori infection and medicines that reduce stomach acid.
• Lists and triggers differ. MedlinePlus allows creamy peanut butter, juices, and weak tea, while Leeds Teaching Hospitals leaves out nuts, citrus, tomato, onions, and caffeine. The NHS says triggers vary, so a food on one list may suit you and another may not.
• Low in fiber, with no set end. The diet leaves out raw vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, so it is low in fiber and in variety. MedlinePlus sets no length and says to keep choosing healthy foods as you add others back.