The bland diet is sometimes called the BRAT or BRATT diet. BRAT is an acronym that stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. If you're following a bland diet, you can incorporate these four foods into your meals, but there are many other options to choose from.
The BRAT diet for diarrhea is one classic and often suggested diarrhea diet. It consists of: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT). This diet is no longer recommended by the American Academy of Pediaterics. The reason is, it's low in nutrients, fiber, fat and protein.
Low-fiber starches: white bread/toast, white rice, saltine crackers, cream of wheat, instant oatmeal, noodles. Proteins: unseasoned skinless chicken/turkey, scrambled eggs, yogurt. Liquids: clear broth soups (chicken or vegetable), apple juice, water, Gatorade/Powerade, gelatin, weak and decaffeinated tea.
Alternatives to the BRAT Diet
8 Natural yogurt, kefir, miso soup, and fermented vegetables (e.g., sauerkraut) are great options. While recovering from stomach symptoms and re-introducing solid foods into your diet, it is essential to keep yourself well-hydrated.
A typical such diet includes, but is not limited to, low-fat dairy products, eggs, broth, pudding, fruit juices, cream of wheat, tofu, lean meat (skinless chicken, fish,...), bland vegetables (beet, bean, spinach, carrot,...), eggs, and tea. The diet also eliminates raw or uncooked foods.
Fruits & Vegetables: All fruit, juices, and vegetables as tolerated; baked (without skin), boiled, mashed, diced or creamed potatoes, yams. Avoid citrus fruits and gas-forming vegetables as tolerated, fried potatoes, hash brown potatoes.
Eat BRAT diet foods
Soups: clear broth, such as chicken, vegetable or beef. Liquids: cranberry, apple and grape juice, tea (without caffeine), water. Snacks: canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, creamy peanut butter.
Both children and adults need to drink plenty of fluids while they're sick to prevent dehydration. Water is good, but adding broth, a sports drink, or a rehydration solution such as Pedialyte can help replace lost electrolytes. Broth or broth-based soups (chicken noodle, vegetable, etc.)
There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.
Brown, wholemeal, wholegrain, granary, multigrain, seeded breads and rolls. Oatcakes, wholegrain rice cakes, Ryvita®, crisp breads, wholegrain crackers, digestive biscuits, popcorn, Hob Nobs, flapjacks, fruit cake, malt loaf.
So yes, peanut butter is okay to eat when you have diarrhea—just start with a small amount of it. Here's why we recommend Peanut-Butter Banana Cinnamon Toast.
Bananas are also a low residue food that helps deal with the weakness and dehydration. You can either have it as a fruit or add it to your yoghurt or smoothie. Add 1-2 bananas for 2 times a day to ease the stomach issue.
Clear broth: Chicken or vegetable broth provides hydration and electrolytes. Toast: Skip the jam and butter, keep it plain. Cereal: Plain rice cereal or oat-based cereals are gentle on the stomach. Pedialyte or similar rehydration fluids: Important for replenishing electrolytes lost through vomiting or diarrhea.
Good sources of protein on the bland diet include skinless roasted or baked chicken, eggs, low-fat milk and yogurt, and smooth peanut butter and other nut butters.
Foods you can eat on a bland diet include: Milk and other dairy products, low-fat or fat-free only. Cooked, canned, or frozen vegetables. Potatoes.
Toast is another easily digested, low fiber food that will help to firm up your stool. For added nutrition, you should feel free to spread jam on your toast if you can stomach it. You will probably want to avoid butter and peanut butter, as they are high in fat, which is hard on your stomach.
Certain foods can make diarrhea worse. These foods include dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and ice cream. Yes, in most individuals with diarrhea, eggs help slow down bowel movements and help the patient recover faster from diarrhea.
Recommended: Enriched white, rye or fine whole grain bread, rolls and crackers. Plain muffins, biscuits. Pancakes, waffles, cornbread, soft tortillas.
When prescribed a bland diet, people often feel doomed to culinary purgatory. Gone are all their favorite foods and spices, like garlic, onions, hot pepper, curry, or pizza.