Deciding what to eat after diarrhea resolves can be tricky. The BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—and other bland, low-fat foods may be ideal when you have diarrhea. As you start to feel better, you will want to add other foods back in slowly. The goal is to ensure you get enough nutrients, without further aggravating your digestive tract.

This article discusses what to eat after diarrhea. It explains the reasoning behind different post-diarrhea food plans and provides safe options for meals and snacks. It also offers tips for staying hydrated.

The BRAT Diet

The BRAT diet has long been used as a home remedy for diarrhea. Research, however, suggests it may not be good for all people, especially children.

Limiting your diet to bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast can quickly deprive you of much-needed energy and important nutrients, including:

  • Fat
  • Protein
  • Fiber
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B12
  • Calcium

Should You Eat Fiber After You’ve Had Diarrhea?

You may have heard you should avoid fiber when you have diarrhea. This is not necessarily true.

There are two different types of fiber:

  • Soluble fiber can be dissolved in water. It ferments readily in the colon. This type of fiber can be prebiotic. This means it acts as food for healthy bacteria in the stomach. It also delays the speed at which stools pass through and exit the body.
  • Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in the body. Instead, it absorbs water as it passes through the digestive tract. This softens and loosens stools.

When recovering from diarrhea, focus on foods with soluble fiber, like oatmeal. This will help the good bacteria in your intestines recover while building more solid stools.

Breakfast Foods

You can keep eating bananas, applesauce, and toast while you recover. It is also important to include some protein and probiotic foods. Probiotic foods like yogurt contain healthy microorganisms.

Recap

It is okay to eat soluble fiber after you’ve had diarrhea. This fiber dissolves in water and can help slow the speed at which stools exit your body.

Safe breakfast items include:

  • Crisp rice cerealEggs boiled or scrambled with minimal butter or oilOatmeal, cream of wheat, farina, or rice porridgePlain, low-fat yogurt with live bacterial culturesPancakes or waffles without syrupUnflavored rice cakes

Note that you’ll need to choose pancakes or waffles that do not contain fully or partially hydrogenated oils, which are unhealthy fats.

Lunch and Dinner Foods

Focus on increasing your protein intake during lunch and dinner. Avoid eating too much fat. You can also add certain carbohydrates to bind watery stools.

You can have a small amount of nonfat milk with your cereal. Otherwise, avoid it. With the exception of yogurt, dairy tends to contribute to diarrhea symptoms.

Safe food options include:

  • Canned tuna packed in water, not oilA small portion of lean chicken, turkey, or porkChicken brothCrackersSalty pretzelsPlain pasta or noodlesSandwich on white bread with lean lunch meat Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or winter squashA small portion of carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, asparagus tips, or peeled zucchiniA vegetable soup made with the ingredients listed above

Avoid eating whole grains while you recover.

The Low FODMAP Diet

If your diarrhea is related to IBS, a low-FODMAP diet may help. This diet restricts certain carbohydrate-containing foods.

White rice is good for treating diarrhea, but avoid whole grains like:

The acronym comes from the names of simple sugars that are hard for your body to absorb:

  • FO: Fermentable oligosaccharides, found in foods like wheat, onions, and garlicD: Disaccharides, lactose-containing foods like milk, yogurt, and ice-creamM: Monosaccharides, found in honey and some fruitsA: AndP: Polyols, found in some fruits and sweeteners

Unlike the BRAT diet, you can stay on the FODMAP diet longer. It’s intended to help identify the foods that trigger your symptoms, so you can avoid them and add back the others on the list above. It’s important to work with a dietitian to make sure you’re getting the right nutrition.

Hydration Tips

Diarrhea causes the rapid depletion of water from your system. It also depletes electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals your body needs for many functions.

If your diarrhea is related to IBS, talk to a dietitian about the low-FODMAP diet. This diet limits certain kinds of sugars that are hard for your body to absorb.

To compensate for this, you will need to keep replacing fluids. This is true even if you are having a hard time keeping them down.

If you have a loose bowel movement, drink at least one cup of fluid right afterwards. Water is best, but you can also drink a sugar-free sports drink. This will help replace lost electrolytes.

As your stomach gets stronger, you’ll need to increase your water intake. Aim for between eight and 10 glasses of clear fluid per day. Water is the best choice.

Non-caffeinated, herbal teas are great for soothing stomachs. Avoid caffeinated drinks, though. This includes coffee, tea, and soda. Carbonated water may help reduce queasiness, but avoid fizzy sodas or sugary drinks. These can make diarrhea worse.

Summary

It is important to get enough nutrients while you’re recovering from diarrhea. A strict BRAT diet will not give you all the nutrients you need.

It is very important to stay hydrated during and after a bout of diarrhea. Make sure to drink at least one cup of water after every loose bowel movement.

You can eat fiber while you’re recovering, as long as it’s soluble fiber. Add some protein to your breakfast and eat probiotic foods like yogurt. Avoid other dairy products. Increase your protein intake during lunch and dinner. Avoid fats and whole grains. 

If your diarrhea is related to IBS, talk to a dietitian about a low-FODMAP diet.

It is important to stay hydrated while you recover. Drink a cup of water every time you have a loose bowel movement. Work up to eight to 10 glasses of water a day. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When can I resume my normal diet after having diarrhea?
  • A good rule of thumb is to wait until you’ve passed a normal, soft, formed stool. At that point, you should be able to go back to eating normally.
  • Are there foods I shouldn’t eat after I have diarrhea?
  • At first, steer clear of:Fried foodsFruits and vegetables that can make you gassy, like prunes and broccoliAlcoholCaffeineCarbonated beveragesLimit your intake of milk products, too. You’ll be able to resume eating these foods once you start having normal bowel movements.

A good rule of thumb is to wait until you’ve passed a normal, soft, formed stool. At that point, you should be able to go back to eating normally.

At first, steer clear of: