Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBRAT FoodsOther Foods to EatWhy It’s Not RecommendedResearchAlternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
BRAT Foods
Other Foods to Eat
Why It’s Not Recommended
Research
Alternatives
The BRAT diet is an eating plan that pediatricians previously recommended for babies and children recovering fromstomach fluordiarrhea. “BRAT” stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These foods are low in protein, fat, and fiber, which makes them easier to digest.The BRAT diet might be helpful for the short term, but healthcare providers no longer recommend it for sick children because it lacks many important nutrients.
What Is the BRAT Diet?
In the past, healthcare providers often advised a low-fiber, easily digestible diet for people who were recovering from an acute stomach illness that caused vomiting and/or diarrhea. The acronym BRAT was coined as an easy way for people to remember the bland foods that they might be able to eat when they are recovering from a GI upset.
Sticking to the BRAT diet may relieve stomach symptoms because:
What Are the Easiest Foods to Digest? What to Eat and Avoid
Other Foods You Can Eat on the BRAT Diet
You may find that similar foods to the main four in the BRAT diet are also easy to digest and tolerable, such as:
BRATT and BRATTY Diets
There are also two other versions of the BRAT diet. These incorporate the same foods as the standard BRAT diet, plus an additional item:
Why the BRAT Diet Is No Longer Recommended
Experts no longer recommend the BRAT diet for the management of diarrhea in children.Instead, most providers will recommend oral hydration therapies using rehydration drinks and getting a child back to a balanced, nutritious diet as soon as possible.
Using the BRAT diet for a short time—less than 48 hours—might be fine if a child’s pediatrician suggests it. However, prolonged use of the BRAT diet can be dangerous because the diet does not contain enough calories, protein, fat, fiber, minerals, and vitamins.
Does the BRAT Diet Work?
Despite the fact the BRAT diet is well known and has anecdotal support, there is surprisingly a lack of research on its effectiveness and risks. Some limited research suggests that bananas and rice are helpful in reducing diarrhea symptoms.
For example:
Alternatives to the BRAT Diet
You might be able to modify the BRAT diet and add other bland foods, including clear broths, saltine crackers, and oatmeal, to help boost its nutrition. It’s generally OK to give small children dry, plain cereals like Cheerios while following the BRAT diet.
For the long term, you need to make sure your child is getting a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
Beneficial bacteria called probiotics may help shorten the course of diarrhea.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. In addition to drinking water and tea, other helpful choices are clear broth and electrolyte-containing drinks, such as sports drinks.
If you’ve been vomiting, only introduce solid foods after you have been able to hold down liquids for several hours.
What Not to Eat
When you’re sticking to a bland diet, you should avoid certain foods that could irritate your stomach and make you feel worse, including:
Summary
While your provider might suggest following an easy-to-digest BRAT diet for some mild stomach ailments, you can’t stay on this diet long-term because it’s not nutritious enough. If you’re having lasting stomach problems—especially if you don’t know what’s causing them—don’t try to manage on your own. See your provider to find out why you’re having symptoms and come up with a long-term strategy to manage or treat them that is safer and more effective than sticking to the BRAT diet.
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8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Farber, JM.DR FARBER SAYS: 8 gut reactions to common problems. Contemporary Pediatrics; Monmouth Junction Vol. 34, Iss. 12, (Dec 2017): 35.American Academy of Pediatricians.Diarrhea in children: What parents need to know.NCHC.What to eat when you have diarrhea.American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT Diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.Rabbani GH, Larson CP, Islam R, Saha UR, Kabir A.Green banana-supplemented diet in the home management of acute and prolonged diarrhoea in children: a community-based trial in rural Bangladesh.Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15(10):1132-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02608.xKianmehr M, Saber A, Moshari J, Ahmadi R, Basiri-moghadam M.The Effect of G-ORS Along With Rice Soup in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.Nurs Midwifery Stud.2016;5(2):e25852. doi:10.17795/nmsjournal25852MedlinePlus.Bland diet.Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349Additional ReadingChurgay CA and Zafra A. Gastroenteritis in Children: Part II. Prevention and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jun 1;85(11):1066-1070.Duro D. and Duggan C.The BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children: Should It Be Used?Practical Gastroenterology2007 31:60-68.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Farber, JM.DR FARBER SAYS: 8 gut reactions to common problems. Contemporary Pediatrics; Monmouth Junction Vol. 34, Iss. 12, (Dec 2017): 35.American Academy of Pediatricians.Diarrhea in children: What parents need to know.NCHC.What to eat when you have diarrhea.American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT Diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.Rabbani GH, Larson CP, Islam R, Saha UR, Kabir A.Green banana-supplemented diet in the home management of acute and prolonged diarrhoea in children: a community-based trial in rural Bangladesh.Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15(10):1132-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02608.xKianmehr M, Saber A, Moshari J, Ahmadi R, Basiri-moghadam M.The Effect of G-ORS Along With Rice Soup in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.Nurs Midwifery Stud.2016;5(2):e25852. doi:10.17795/nmsjournal25852MedlinePlus.Bland diet.Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349Additional ReadingChurgay CA and Zafra A. Gastroenteritis in Children: Part II. Prevention and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jun 1;85(11):1066-1070.Duro D. and Duggan C.The BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children: Should It Be Used?Practical Gastroenterology2007 31:60-68.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Farber, JM.DR FARBER SAYS: 8 gut reactions to common problems. Contemporary Pediatrics; Monmouth Junction Vol. 34, Iss. 12, (Dec 2017): 35.American Academy of Pediatricians.Diarrhea in children: What parents need to know.NCHC.What to eat when you have diarrhea.American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT Diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.Rabbani GH, Larson CP, Islam R, Saha UR, Kabir A.Green banana-supplemented diet in the home management of acute and prolonged diarrhoea in children: a community-based trial in rural Bangladesh.Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15(10):1132-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02608.xKianmehr M, Saber A, Moshari J, Ahmadi R, Basiri-moghadam M.The Effect of G-ORS Along With Rice Soup in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.Nurs Midwifery Stud.2016;5(2):e25852. doi:10.17795/nmsjournal25852MedlinePlus.Bland diet.Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349
Farber, JM.DR FARBER SAYS: 8 gut reactions to common problems. Contemporary Pediatrics; Monmouth Junction Vol. 34, Iss. 12, (Dec 2017): 35.
American Academy of Pediatricians.Diarrhea in children: What parents need to know.
NCHC.What to eat when you have diarrhea.
American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT Diet: Recovering from an upset stomach.
Rabbani GH, Larson CP, Islam R, Saha UR, Kabir A.Green banana-supplemented diet in the home management of acute and prolonged diarrhoea in children: a community-based trial in rural Bangladesh.Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15(10):1132-9. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2010.02608.x
Kianmehr M, Saber A, Moshari J, Ahmadi R, Basiri-moghadam M.The Effect of G-ORS Along With Rice Soup in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.Nurs Midwifery Stud.2016;5(2):e25852. doi:10.17795/nmsjournal25852
MedlinePlus.Bland diet.
Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349
Churgay CA and Zafra A. Gastroenteritis in Children: Part II. Prevention and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jun 1;85(11):1066-1070.Duro D. and Duggan C.The BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children: Should It Be Used?Practical Gastroenterology2007 31:60-68.
Churgay CA and Zafra A. Gastroenteritis in Children: Part II. Prevention and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jun 1;85(11):1066-1070.
Duro D. and Duggan C.The BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children: Should It Be Used?Practical Gastroenterology2007 31:60-68.
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