For an upset stomach, focus on bland, low-fiber foods like the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) and crackers, plus clear liquids, plain chicken, and boiled potatoes, while avoiding dairy, spicy foods, and high-fiber items to prevent worsening symptoms like diarrhea or nausea. Small, frequent meals and good hydration with water or broth are key.
In general, bland foods can help soothe or avoid further irritation for an upset stomach. The “BRAT” diet is one of the most commonly known bland diets, consisting of bananas, rice, apples, and toast.
For an upset stomach in pregnancy, try ginger (tea, ale, candies), peppermint/chamomile tea, bland foods (BRAT diet), small frequent meals, and staying hydrated with water or weak tea; OTC options like Tums/Maalox for heartburn or B6/Doxylamine for nausea are generally safe, but always check with your doctor before taking any medication, including herbs or supplements, to ensure safety for you and the baby.
To stop diarrhea, focus on bland, binding foods like the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast), lean proteins (chicken), boiled potatoes, crackers, and probiotic yogurt, while avoiding high-fiber, greasy, spicy, or dairy-heavy foods, and staying hydrated with water or broth to help bind stools and restore electrolytes.
Help your child drink plenty of clear fluids such as cooled boiled water or juice. Do not push your child to eat if they feel unwell. If your child is hungry, offer bland food such as crackers, rice, bananas or toast. Place a hot water bottle or wheat bag on your child's tummy or run a warm bath for them.
Treatment
You can treat stomach bugs at home by making sure your child keeps drinking fluids and gets plenty of rest. The best way to keep your child well hydrated is with an electrolyte-containing solution such as Pedialyte®. Have your child take small sips frequently — meaning every five minutes or so — throughout the day.
Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, drinks with electrolytes, tea, and even nonfat chicken broth. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate you more. Eat the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, (white) rice, applesauce and toast. These foods help firm up your stool.
Main meals and snacks
Some foods tend to make your stools firmer so try these instead: rice and pasta, potatoes without the skin, dry cracker biscuits, baked foods, white bread, pretzels, bananas, chicken, beef or fish, and scrambled eggs.
Foods to avoid
Avoid eating fatty, greasy and fried food, including most fast food. Spicy foods also can aggravate nausea, along with foods with strong odors. Foods high in sugar such as candy, cake and rich desserts should be avoided.
While drinking soft drinks like Sprite can be soothing to the stomach for some, its carbonation can be irritating for others. Soda's high sugar content means it's maybe not the healthiest or best drink for nausea, but it can provide quick relief.
Symptoms like lightheadedness, muscle cramps, and general weakness are indications that the body is failing to compensate for dehydration. Nausea and vomiting are particularly bad because they can cause the situation to get worse.
Whether you're recovering from a stomach bug, experiencing a flare of a gastrointestinal (GI) condition, or dealing with GI symptoms, you may need to temporarily eat a diet of easy-to-digest foods and drinks. Bananas, white rice, crackers, and broth are common go-to foods when managing stomach troubles.
Broth-based soups, such as chicken noodle, vegetable soup, or miso soup, are excellent options for replenishing fluids and electrolytes when recovering from gastroenteritis. Avoid creamy, high-fat and spicy soups, which can further irritate the stomach and hinder healing from gastroenteritis.
There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.
Gut-friendly recipes
Toast or Crackers. Toasted bread or plain crackers, like saltines, can help absorb excess stomach acid and relieve an upset stomach. Toast and crackers are also easy to digest, which can also help alleviate stomach upset.
If you have very severe diarrhea, you may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days. Eat bread products made from refined, white flour. Pasta, white rice, and cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes are OK.
Avoid greasy, fried, spicy or very sweet foods. Limit milk or milk products to two cups a day. Drink and eat high-sodium (salt) foods like broths, soups, sports drinks, crackers and pretzels. Drink and eat high-potassium foods like fruit juices and nectars, sports drinks, potatoes with the skin and bananas.
Refer to our article Restoring Intestinal Floral Leads to a Healthy Gut and Happy Poop for more information on the topic.
To harden loose stools, cut out caffeine, be mindful of fruit intake, avoid OTC products that contain magnesium, eat probiotic-rich foods, or try fiber supplements. Antidiarrheal medications can help as well, but check with your healthcare provider before taking them.
Stomach flu and stomach bug are informal terms for viral gastroenteritis, a sickness in which a viral infection causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
It's important to note that if diarrhea is caused by bacteria, your body needs to get rid of the bacteria first by letting diarrhea run its course. If they're taken too soon, anti-diarrheal medication can make symptoms worse and keep you from clearing the infection.
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