“The BRAT diet acronym stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast,” says Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, a Piedmont therapeutic dietitian. “Historically, it was used in pediatrics when kids got sick and couldn’t tolerate anything. But this diet is helpful for anyone who has nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.”
Why is the BRAT diet no longer recommended?
Proponents also believe that these foods promote a quick recovery from a stomach illness. However, doctors no longer recommend this diet because its nutritional profile is limited, and it may not support rapid or full recovery.
Is the BRAT diet still used?
The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends the BRAT diet for diarrhea and other tummy troubles, and lots of experts in health care agree.
Can you eat anything else on the BRAT diet?
Aside from the basics of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, and potentially the other bland foods mentioned, the BRAT diet pretty much excludes every other food. Foods to avoid on the BRAT diet include the following: Meat, poultry, fish, and other forms of protein. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy.
What do you eat on a BRAT diet? – Related Questions
Can I eat pasta on BRAT diet?
Include simple carbohydrates like saltine crackers, pasta, boiled potatoes or cooked carrots in your diet. Be careful adding sauce to pasta unless you are sure you can stomach it. Be sure to remove the skins from the potatoes. Eat chicken for protein.
What kind of bread is best for BRAT diet?
FOODS TO FOCUS ON
- Soft fruits: bananas, applesauce, avocado, pumpkin, canned fruit (packed in water not heavy syrup), and melons.
- Steamed or boiled vegetables: carrots, green beans, potatoes, and squash.
- Low-fiber starches: white bread, white rice, saltine crackers, cream of wheat, instant oatmeal, and noodles.
Is peanut butter allowed on BRAT diet?
Eat BRAT diet foods
Snacks: canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, creamy peanut butter.
What can I eat for lunch on the BRAT diet?
Lunch And Dinner Foods
- Chicken broth.
- Canned tuna packed in water (not oil)
- Plain noodles or pasta.
- A small portion of lean chicken, turkey, or pork.
- Mashed potatoes, winter squash, or sweet potatoes.
- A little amount of asparagus tips, green beans, carrots, peeled zucchini, beets, or mushrooms.
- Crackers.
- Salty pretzels.
Are eggs OK on the BRAT diet?
You can also eat cooked vegetables, but they should be soft. Avoid vegetables that have been steamed or blanched. 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.
Is yogurt OK on the BRAT diet?
That diet should include a mix of fruits, vegetables, meat, yogurt, and complex carbohydrates. Both children and adults who are ill need to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Water is good, but adding broth, a sports drink, or a rehydration solution can help replace lost electrolytes.
Is cheese part of the BRAT diet?
People should avoid foods that are “non bland” on this diet. They include: milk and dairy.
Can you butter toast on BRAT diet?
Yes, you can put butter on toast for the BRAT diet, as long as it’s a small amount. If eating buttered toast causes more nausea or vomiting, stick to plain toast or even rice water.
What foods help diarrhea go away?
BRAT stands for “bananas, rice, apples, toast.” These foods are bland, so they won’t aggravate the digestive system. They’re also binding, so they help firm up stool.
Other foods that are included in the BRAT diet include:
- cooked cereal, like Cream of Wheat or farina.
- soda crackers.
- applesauce and apple juice.
How do I make my poop more solid?
Eating probiotic foods, taking a fiber or probiotic supplement, or eating BRAT diet consisting of bread, (white) rice, applesauce, and toast can also help make poop more solid. Loose stool is a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D).
What drinks stop diarrhea?
The most important treatment for diarrhea is to drink fluids that contain water, salt, and sugar, such as oral rehydration solution (ORS). Sports drinks (eg, Gatorade) may be acceptable if you are not dehydrated and are otherwise healthy.
What causes watery diarrhea?
Watery diarrhea is commonly caused by a viral infection or food poisoning from eating undercooked meat or rotten foods. It can be serious if it causes dehydration. Keep an eye out for blood in the stool, and be sure to drink water and fluids with electrolytes.
How long is too long for diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a common problem. It may last 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days it may mean you have a more serious problem.
What is explosive diarrhea a symptom of?
Bacterial and viral infection
coli. Contaminated food and fluids are common sources of bacterial infections. Rotavirus, norovirus, and other kinds of viral gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as “stomach flu,” are among the viruses that can cause explosive diarrhea.
What does yellow liquid diarrhea mean?
What does yellow, liquid diarrhea mean? Yellow diarrhea can mean several things. It could be caused by a problem with one of your digestive organs, including your liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. It could also be caused by a germ, like a bacteria or virus, or a parasite.
Why does diarrhea smell worse?
Certain foods, such as eggs, garlic, legumes, and dairy, are hard to digest and can cause gas. In turn, this makes your stool extra pungent. Other times, the problem may be from an abundance of bad bacteria in your gut, a viral infection, or Clostridioides difficile—a bacterium that causes diarrhea.
