Questions Answered By Expert
Kelly Issokson, MS, RD, CNSC
Registered Dietitian, Nutrition and Integrative IBD Program
A: Diet prescriptions are very patient and provider specific, so if you are not sure what you’re supposed to eat please ask your provider for clarification. In general, a bland diet means to eat foods that are low fat, and not heavily spiced. Foods that are baked, steamed, boiled, poached would be allowed on this diet. This is similar to a BRAT (banana, apples, rice, toast) diet which is also low in fiber. You don’t have to avoid gluten on a bland diet and you may be able to tolerate plain white bread and pasta. You can also add plain proteins (hard boiled egg, baked/boiled chicken, canned tuna packed in water, lean ground beef, firm tofu, plain yogurt, creamy peanut butter), refined grains (white rice, white pasta, white bread, rolled oats, rice cereal), cooked vegetables (cooked spinach, boiled/baked potatoes), peeled fruits, and pureed beans/lentils. Be sure to include these plant foods in your diet because they help feed a healthy microbiota (the microbes in your gut), provide soluble fiber which will help your colon recover, reduce urgency, and reduce bowel movement frequency. hide answer
A: There is no official definition for a “semi liquid diet” so please get clarification from your provider on this. They may have a dietitian that they work with that they can refer you to for individualized nutrition counseling. For our patients needing surgery we sometimes recommend a full liquid or low fiber diet until they can have surgery. A full liquid diet would include foods like milk, pudding, smoothies, yogurt, and soups that have been pureed (without chunks or hard particles). The next step up would be pureed foods, like mashed potatoes, pureed carrots, apple sauce, pureed meats, creamy nut butters, cream of rice, pureed beans. The mashed potatoes and cooked/soft vegetables may fit your provider’s definition of semi-liquid if they are pureed or easily mashable in your mouth. Weetabix would not be allowed, neither would salads, dried fruits, coconut, mushrooms, or anything that takes a lot of chewing to break down. You may need to eat several times daily, or larger portions if you are getting hungry. You can also ask your provider about nutrition supplements to help prevent weight loss before surgery (which can lead to more complications), give you energy, protein, and vitamins/minerals while you are on this restricted diet waiting for surgery. Some nutrition supplement options include Ensure, Boost, Kate Farms, Orgain, and Modulen. hide answer
A: A registered dietitian can help your brother understand which foods to eat to help regain his weight and recover from his recent hospitalization. Protein will be important to help him recover, and energy from soft foods will help him regain weight. Sometimes high fat foods can make symptoms worse. Some foods he should try to include are: Baked chicken, firm tofu, plain yogurt, creamy nut butters, plain rice/pasta, sourdough bread, steamed vegetables, peeled fruits (apple sauce, banana, melon), and pureed beans. Beans are really good for the colon as they are fermented by gut bacteria to produce anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acids. Too many beans at once can increase gas and bloating, so he should try small portions initially (1/4 cup to ½ cup). When he’s feeling better, and if it’s ok with his doctor, he should try to eat more high fiber foods (whole fruits, salads, whole nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains) as these will help stimulate the growth of good microbes in his gut and prevent chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. hide answer