Bland Diet

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

BREADS and STARCHES

• Eat 6 to 8 servings a day from this list:
• 1/2 cup cream of wheat
• 1/2 cup cooked white rice
• 1/2 cup mashed potatoes
• 1/2 cup cooked pasta, noodles, or macaroni
• 6 small (2 inch square) saltine crackers
• 1 slice white bread
• 1 medium size (2-1/2 inch) roll or bun
• Do not eat these foods:
• Barbecue and taco chips
• Bran and granola cereals
• Breads and rolls with nuts, seeds, or bran
• Corn chips
• Hard crackers, such as Ry-Krisp®
• Popcorn
• Potato chips, french fries, and fried potatoes
• Whole-grain breads and rolls

FRUITS

• Eat 2 to 3 servings a day from this list:
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup canned or cooked fruits without skins or seeds
• 1/2 cup mild juices, such as apple, grape, and pear
• 1/2 of a 9 inch banana or 1 small (5 inch) banana
• Do not eat or drink these foods:
• Berries with seeds, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries
• Cranberry, orange, pineapple, and grapefruit juice
• Lemonade
• Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, and pineapples

VEGETABLES

• Eat 2 to 3 servings a day from this list:
• 1/2 cup cooked or mashed vegetables without stems and seeds
• 1/2 cup carrots
• 1/2 cup green beans
• 1/2 cup onions and celery in soups
• 1/2 cup summer squash or zucchini
• 1/2 cup winter squash
• Do not eat these foods:
• Raw vegetables
• Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and other vegetables that cause gas
• Mild or hot peppers
• Sauerkraut and pickled vegetables
• Tomato products, such as tomato paste, tomato sauce, and tomato juice
• Vegetable juice

MILK and DAIRY

• Eat 2 to 4 servings a day from this list:
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup custard
• 1/2 cup ice cream or ice milk, without nuts
• A 1- to 2-inch-square slice of mild cheese, such as Longhorn, Colby, or Muenster
• 1 cup low fat milk
• 1/2 cup pudding
• 1 cup yogurt without seeds or nuts
• Do not eat these foods:
• Chocolate milk products
• High fat dairy foods, such as cream and half and half
• Spicy or strongly flavored cheeses, such as jalapeno and black pepper

MEAT and MEAT SUBSTITUTES

• Eat the equivalent of 5 to 7 ounces of meat a day from this list:
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (equals 1 ounce of meat)
• 1 large egg (equals 1 ounce of meat)
• 1 cup of a casserole made from foods listed in this diet (equals 2 to 3 ounces of meat)
• Fish, turkey, chicken, or other meat that is not tough or stringy
• 1/2 cup tofu or other bland soy products (equals 1 ounce of meat)
• Do not eat these foods:
• Crunchy peanut butter
• Dried cooked beans, such as pinto, kidney, or navy beans
• Fried or greasy meats
• Processed, spicy meats, such as sausage, bacon, ham, and lunch meats
• Ribs and other meats with barbecue sauce
• Tough or stringy meats, such as corned beef or beef jerkey

FATS

• Eat 2 to 4 servings a day from this list:
• 1 pat or 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 pat or 1 teaspoon margarine
• 1 teaspoon olive, vegetable, or safflower oil
• Do not eat these foods:
• Fried foods
• Nuts and seeds

BEVERAGES

• Drink as much as you want from this list:
• Low-acid juices, such as apple, grape, or pear
• Mild herbal teas or weak regular tea
• Water
• Caffeine-free drinks
• Soda (do not drink more than 2 cans a day)
• Do not drink these liquids:
• Alcoholic beverages
• Coffee and regular teas
• Colas and other drinks with caffeine

SOUPS

• Eat or drink as much as you want from this list:
• Bouillon or broth
• 1 serving of a cream soup may take the place of a serving of milk
• Any soup without tomato or strong spices
• Do not eat these foods:
• Chile (any kind)
• Minestrone and other tomato-based soups

OTHER ITEMS

• Eat as much as you want from this list:
• Desserts made with approved foods from the lists above
• Herbs
• Mild gravies and sauces
• Salt and other mild seasonings
• Do not eat these foods:
• Chili, taco, or picante sauces
• Chili pepper
• Desserts with nuts or coconut
• Horseradish
• Pickles

Return to top