BRAT Diet
Don’t let the name fool you; while the BRAT diet is for children, it isn’t a punishment for throwing tantrums. The BRAT diet plans are designed for children and even adults who consume solid foods but suffer from diarrhea. BRAT is actually an acronym for bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast. Other BRAT diets include the BRATT (bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast and tea), the BRATY (bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast and yogurt) and the CRAM (cereal, rice, applesauce and milk).

Anyone with gastroenteritis or dyspepsia, relatively common in children and the elderly, can benefit from the BRAT diet either short term or long. Some doctors consider a simple BRAT diet for toddlers to include tubers (potatoes) instead of toast, as wheat can cause digestive problems for some. A BRAT diet for babies with diarrhea may exclude toast and tubers but add a supplement to formula or breast milk instead.

Special Needs Diets – BRAT
Patients with recent changes in their gastrointestinal system, including those on antibiotics, taking in new foods or freshly immunized, often find their stomachs upset and their stools loose. In addition to the basic bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast, a doctor may recommend a BRAT diet list of foods that are bland and low in dietary fiber.

The BRAT diet foods list will exclude things like dairy (for 3 days), fried or greasy food, spicy dishes, pork, salmon, citrus fruit, dried fruit, raw root vegetables, corn, tomatoes, grapes, berries, alcohol, caffeine, coffee and very hot or very cold drinks. Vegetables of the BRAT diet should be well cooked, even over cooked, for the first 3 to 5 days. Baby food is recommended for the BRAT diet for children.

Nausea And Vomiting In Adults
The BRAT diet isn’t just for the little ones and the elderly. Women who are pregnant often use BRAT diet foods to alleviate nausea caused by morning sickness. Adults often use modified BRAT diet plans after an evening of over indulging in alcohol.

IBS And Bacterial Infections
Two common causes of severe diarrhea in children and adults are bacterial infections and IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome. An anti diarrheal diet, the BRAT diet, can help ease the discomfort and bring a calm to the bowels again. After a few days eating the BRAT foods and drinking plenty of water, you may be able to begin adding soft foods, one at a time.

If diarrhea lasts more than 3 days while sticking to the BRAT diet, is accompanied by a fever of 102 or more, includes blood or pus in the stool or includes severe pain in the abdomen or rectum, contact a doctor immediately.