Soft bland diet

Why does my child need this diet?

The bland/soft diet lets your child have foods and fluids when they are not able to tolerate a general diet. After being on this diet, your child will slowly move to being able to have a general diet.

Beverages

Recommended:

  • Milk, malted milk, milkshakes

Avoid:

  • Any containing raw eggs or caffeine

Breads

Recommended:

  • Enriched white, rye or fine whole grain bread, rolls and crackers
  • Plain muffins, biscuits
  • Pancakes, waffles, cornbread, soft tortillas
  • Coffee cake, sweet roll, if tolerated

Avoid:

  • Coarse breads, bran rolls, breads or crackers with seeds, coconut or nuts
  • Doughnuts and other fried breads

Cereals

Recommended:

  • Cooked and dry cereals

Avoid:

  • Any with bran, nuts, seeds or dried fruits with seeds or tough skins

Desserts and sweets

Recommended:

  • Plain custards, puddings
  • Sherbet; ice cream; fruit ices and frozen pops
  • Fruit whips; yogurt; gelatin
  • Cakes, pies and cookies without nuts or seeds

Avoid:

  • Any with nuts, coconut or seeds
  • Deep fried desserts

Fats

Recommended:

  • Butter, margarine
  • Cream and cream substitutes; whipped cream and toppings
  • Gravy
  • Sour cream, salad dressings
  • Mayonnaise

Avoid:

  • Salad dressing that is highly seasoned

Fruits

Recommended:

  • Cooked, frozen, canned or dried fruits without seeds
  • Avocado, banana, citrus sections without membrane
  • Fruit juices

Avoid:

  • Other raw fruits
  • Canned, frozen or dried fruits with seeds and tough skins
  • Any not tolerated

Potato or substitutes

Recommended:

  • Mashed, baked, or creamed potatoes; sweet potatoes
  • White rice; pasta and noodles

Avoid:

  • Hashbrowns, fried potatoes, potato skins, french fries
  • Wild or brown rice; hominy
  • Potato chips

Soups

Recommended:

  • Broth, bouillon, consommé
  • Any made from allowed food items
  • Cream soups

Avoid:

  • Any highly seasoned soups, any made with foods to avoid

Vegetables

Recommended:

  • Tender, cooked beans, asparagus, carrots, beets, peas, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomatoes, celery, mushrooms
  • Lettuce and parsley, if tolerated

Avoid:

  • Raw or strong flavored vegetables
  • Corn, others with coarse skins
  • Fried vegetables, or any not tolerated

Miscellaneous

Recommended:

  • Seasonings in moderation
  • Mild sauces and gravy
  • Sugar, jellies, honey, syrup
  • Hard candies

Avoid:

  • Highly seasoned foods; pepper
  • Pickles, olives, relishes
  • Coconut, nuts
  • Potato chips and other fried snack foods; popcorn
  • Chocolate
  • Jams and marmalades

Sample menu for child 7 to 10 years old

Breakfast

  • Orange juice (½ cup)
  • Cream of wheat (1 cup)
  • Banana muffin (1)
  • Margarine (1 tsp)
  • Reduced-fat (2%) milk (1 cup)

Morning snack

  • Pudding (1/2 cup)

Lunch

  • Cream of tomato soup (1 cup)
  • Saltine crackers (4)
  • Macaroni and cheese (3/4 cup)
  • Canned fruit cocktail (1/2 cup)
  • Reduced-fat (2%) milk (1 cup)

Afternoon snack

  • Applesauce (1/2 cup)

Dinner

  • Grape juice (1/2 cup)
  • Roast chicken (3 oz)
  • Mashed potatoes (1/2 cup)
  • Gravy (1/4 cup)
  • Green beans, steamed (1/2 cup)
  • Dinner roll (1)
  • Margarine (1 tsp)
  • Sugar cookie (1)
  • Reduced-fat (2%) milk (1 cup)

Evening snack

  • Banana bread (no nuts) (1 slice)
ALERT: Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered b ythis information.