Begin to add bland, low-fat foods as listed above, like bananas, rice, applesauce, crackers, cooked cereals (Farina, Cream of Wheat), toast and jelly, yogurt, cooked carrots, and chicken or turkey. Eat small meals every few hours.
Foods to avoid on the BRAT diet include the following: Meat, poultry, fish, and other forms of protein. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy.
That means no butter, cheese, milk, yogurt, or ice cream. But for many, small amounts of low fat or fat free milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese are OK to consume on a bland diet (even though they do add residue to the colon). Was this helpful?
Foods to avoid on the BRAT diet include dairy, alcohol, fried foods, pork, salmon, sardines, raw veggies, citrus fruit like lemons and limes, tomatoes, extremely hot or cold beverages, coffee and caffeinated beverages like soda, and added sugars and sweets.
The banana, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet may help treat diarrhea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints. But, many health professionals no longer recommend it as a treatment option due to the risk of nutrient and calorie deficiencies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends the BRAT diet for management of diarrhea in children. Instead, it recommends oral hydration therapies using re-hydration drinks. Using the BRAT diet for short periods, usually less than 48 hours, is unlikely to cause any harm.
Milk, Butter, Ice Cream, and Cheese Even if the diarrhea isn't caused by lactose intolerance — a difficulty processing lactose, a sugar found in dairy products — stay away from these foods when you have diarrhea. You may be temporarily sensitive to dairy products, even if you usually have no problem with them.
To try out the BRAT diet when you're experiencing symptoms, start small with a snack rather than a full meal as to not overload your already-distressed digestive system. This is why we have deemed our Peanut-Butter Banana Cinnamon Toast the best snack to eat when you have diarrhea.
Make toast.
White bread is better because the flavor is milder and there is less fiber and will help firm up your stools. Avoid putting butter and sugary jams on your toast. Butter is high in fat and sugary jams can make your stomach worse.
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.
Eating a probiotic-rich yogurt might help ease symptoms of your diarrhea and shorten the length of time you experience diarrhea. If you are sensitive to lactose or have lactose intolerance, choose a yogurt that is dairy- or lactose-free.
The BRAT diet doesn't provide all the nutrients of a healthy diet. You should be able to start eating a more regular diet, including fruits and vegetables, within about 24 to 48 hours after vomiting or having diarrhea.
If you eat Greek or Icelandic yogurt, like Skyr, you're getting gut-friendly probiotics to help keep nausea and stomach problems at bay. Try a small helping of these yogurts before head out the door or when you feel nausea coming on.
Refined grains, including white bread, white rice or pasta. Lean proteins, such as tofu, skinless poultry or white fish. Steamed or boiled vegetables, including carrots, squash, green beans or potatoes. Soft fruits, such as bananas, avocados, pumpkin, melons and canned fruit.
By day three, you can re-introduce soft foods, like soft-cooked eggs, sherbet, cooked vegetables, white meat chicken or fruit, says Beal. Avoid using strong seasonings. Fruits and meats should be cooked down so they are soft and easy to consume.
The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) was once a staple of most pediatricians' recommendations for children with an upset stomach. The idea was that it gave the gut a chance to rest and reduced the amount of stool produced. Experts now say the BRAT diet may not be the best option for children who are ill.
Having a very high fibre or low fibre intake can make toddler diarrhoea worse. Change from white bread and low fibre cereals to wholemeal or wholegrain products e.g. wholemeal or seeded bread, Shredded wheat, Weetabix or Shreddies, brown rice or pasta. Include more fruit and vegetables.
You should avoid certain kinds of foods when you have diarrhea, including fried foods and greasy foods. Avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause gas, such as broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy vegetables, and corn. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks.
Honey blocks the attachment of the pathogenic bacteria to the intestinal cells, thereby lowering your risk of infections and preventing you from gastrointestinal tract (GI) infections. Moreover, the antibacterial properties of honey also help in quick recovery from diarrhoea caused due to bacterial infection.
Because of its bland flavor, grilled cheese sandwiches are a good choice for diarrheal diarrhea. Furthermore, the salt in cheese can be used to replace electrolytes that have been lost.
Drink plenty of water or low-sugar beverages to replace the fluids lost from diarrhea. Drink plenty of clear liquids and electrolyte beverages such as water, clear fruit juices, coconut water, oral rehydration solutions, and sports drinks. These drinks help replenish fluids and electrolytes in the body.
Take Probiotics.
Present in aged soft cheese and cottage cheese, sauerkraut, sourdough bread and many fermented foods including yoghurt, kefir, kimchi, and miso, probiotics have been found effective by researchers in providing symptomatic relief for certain types of diarrhoea, as well as shortening its course.
The BRAT (bananas, rice, apples, toast) diet is often recommended for patients suffering from diarrhea or the stomach flu. In addition to these foods, you may also consume other mild foods that ease the GI tract such as saltines, oatmeal, or boiled potatoes.
Unsweetened applesauce contains a compound called pectin, a type of soluble fiber that works as a prebiotic in your gut. It has been shown to boost the amount of bifidobacteria which supports the gut in calming inflammation, which in turn decreases intestinal permeability and fluid loss.
Evidence suggests honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis.