For Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea:
- Avoid eating and drinking for two hours after the last episode of vomiting.
- Start with small amounts of clear liquids, such as water, ice, popsicles, sports drinks, clear broth or Jell-O for the first 24 hours. Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and fruit juice.
- Over the next 24-48 hours, advance to the BRAT diet (B-bananas, R-rice (white) A-apple sauce (no juice), T-toast) but choices may also include chicken soup, plain pasta, saltine crackers and pretzels.
- Slowly incorporate other foods, but avoid alcohol, coffee, spicy foods, salad/raw vegetables, milk/milk products, and fried foods for the next 3-5 days.
When to seek medical help
- Severe abdominal pain lasting more than 4 hours
- Severe headache or stiff neck
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Persistent dizziness or confusion
- Fever over 101°F for more than 24 hours (38.3°C)
- Unable to tolerate sips of fluids for more than 8 hours
- Not urinating for more than 8 hours
- Worsening symptoms or no improvement after 48 hours
- You have diabetes or have other chronic medical conditions
Food handlers and child care employees need to be symptom free for 48 hours and require medical clearance to return to work.
Diet Instructions for Vomiting & Diarrhea
Avoid eating and drinking for two hours after the last episode of vomiting.
First 24 hours
LIQUIDS
- Ice chips
- Clear soups, broth
- Jell-O
- Popsicles
- Flat Soda, ginger ale, cola
- Sports drinks
- Bouillon
- Weak Tea
Next 24 – 48 hours
SOFT SOLID FOODS
- Chicken noodle/rice soup
- Cooked, mild vegetables
- Applesauce/bananas
- Eggs (not fried)
- Potatoes (baked or mashed)
- Ready-to-eat cereal (no milk)
- Chicken
- Fish
- Cooked cereal
- Toast with jelly
- Canned pears/peaches
- Plain pasta
- Rice
- Saltines
- Pretzels
FOODS TO AVOID FOR 3 – 5 DAYS
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Spicy Foods
- Salads and raw vegetables
- Whole grain breads and bran cereals
- Milk/milk products
- Fried foods
- Strong flavored vegetables