Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho Needs a Bland Diet?BananasApplesauceEggsOatmealToastWhite RiceSweet PotatoesChickenSalmonSaltine CrackersGelatinTrigger Foods
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who Needs a Bland Diet?
Bananas
Applesauce
Eggs
Oatmeal
Toast
White Rice
Sweet Potatoes
Chicken
Salmon
Saltine Crackers
Gelatin
Trigger Foods
Experiencing digestive issues can make eating unpleasant.Digestive disorders, infections, medication side effects, and gastrointestinal procedures can make it challenging for the body to digest certain foods.
This can often lead touncomfortable symptomslike stomach pain, bloating, nausea, acid reflux, and more. Fortunately, some dietary swaps and additions can potentially make circumstances like these a bit easier.
This article discusses easy-to-digest foods and tips on maintaining a healthy diet while avoiding digestive issues and symptoms.
Yagi Studio/ Getty Images
Who Can the Easiest Foods to Digest Help?
Dietary changes and selectingeasy-to-digest foodscan help with gastrointestinal (GI) infections or disorders. Examples include:
In addition, people who have just undergone gastrointestinal surgery may need to eat bland, easy-to-digest foods to help support the healing process.
A Word From VerywellGrits and Cream of Wheat are warm cereals that can be easily digested when made with water. Smoothies and broth-based soups like chicken noodle also are good options and easy on the stomach, while still providing nutrients.—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Grits and Cream of Wheat are warm cereals that can be easily digested when made with water. Smoothies and broth-based soups like chicken noodle also are good options and easy on the stomach, while still providing nutrients.—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Grits and Cream of Wheat are warm cereals that can be easily digested when made with water. Smoothies and broth-based soups like chicken noodle also are good options and easy on the stomach, while still providing nutrients.
—JAMIE JOHNSON, RDN, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
As a low-fiber fruit,bananasare a solid option for people with uncomfortable digestive symptoms. “Banana” are the “B” in the"BRAT diet,“which also includes rice, applesauce, and toast. It is recommended when nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting occur.Bananas also containpotassium, which is important forrestoring electrolytesthat can be lost due to dehydration from those symptoms.
Brown Bananas: When to Eat Them and When to Toss Them
Applesauce is a soft, easily digestible option that doesn’t contain as much fiber as a whole apple with the peel, which can be challenging to digest.People with diarrheamay benefit from thepectinin applesauce, which, some studies have shown, may help add bulk toloose stool.
Whether scrambled, boiled, or poached, eggs can be easy for the stomach to digest.Eggs are also good to eat if you have a virus or nausea. While eggs are sometimes known for theirhigher cholesterol content, egg whites contain less fat and are easily digestible. Eating the yolk may help bolster the rest of the nutrients you consume during digestive distress.
Oatmeal is a heart-healthyfood that can also support gut health. Raw oatmeal made with water instead of milk is a solid, digestible option rich in vitamins and minerals but less processed than sugary cereals containing dairy.In addition to being soft and easy to consume, oatmeal is a good source of protein, which also aids in digestion.
A slice of plain, white toast—another BRAT diet staple—can be soothing on an upset stomach. Whilewhole-grain breadis often promoted for its health benefits, it may be more difficult to digest than white when you’re experiencing digestive discomfort. Its carbohydrates, protein, and limited fiber can help with vomiting, diarrhea, ornausea.
White ricemay be more helpful thanbrown riceif you have digestive issues. Refined grain products that don’t contain as much fiber, like white rice, can be a safe bet when you have an upset stomach.
Too much fibercan speed up food’s movement through the digestive system, worsening uncomfortable GI symptoms like diarrhea or bloating.
Sweet potatoessupport gut health, improve digestion, and help improve diarrhea.Well-cooked sweet potatoes are gentler on the digestive system than white potatoes because they’re soft and easy on digestive enzymes. For optimal digestive relief, try cooking sweet potatoes with their skins removed.
Try lean meat likechickenif your digestive system can tolerate it.Due to its lower fat content, chicken can be digested easier than red meat like steak. Plus, when eaten unseasoned, chicken serves as a good source of protein while still being low-sodium and sugar-free.
Saltine crackers—with or without soup—are a standard option for people with a GI virus or upset stomach. They’re often recommended to help combat nausea inpregnancyand other situations. They are easy to digest and include limited calories and some nutrients.Choose low-sodium options, as salt is a key ingredient in saltines.
Research suggests thatgelatin, a protein deriving from animal collagen, may support gut health.Animal protein can aid digestion, and gelatin is easy to digest.Gelatin is commonly found in food products like cakes and jellies but can also be added to smoothies, drinks, soups, oatmeal, and more.
Foods That May Cause Indigestion
While every person’s digestive system is different, some generaltrigger foodsmay impact your GI tract, making it harder for healthy digestion.
Hard-to-digest foods include:
Summary
Gastrointestinal symptoms stemming from a digestive disorder, illness, recent surgery, pregnancy, food poisoning, or another circumstance can put a damper on your diet. Experts recommend various easy-to-digest options, typically foods high in protein, low in fiber, and soothing on the GI tract.
Easy-to-digest foods include sweet potatoes, toast, bananas, and gelatin. Before making any significant dietary changes, check with a healthcare provider to work on adding the most beneficial options.
24 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.
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