diet /di·et/ (di´it) the customary amount and kind of food and drink taken by a person from day to

day; more narrowly, a diet planned to meet specific requirements of the individual, including or
excluding certain foods.di´etary

acid-ash diet  one of meat, fish, eggs, and cereals with little fruit or vegetables and no cheese or
milk.
alkali-ash diet  one of fruit, vegetables, and milk with as little as possible of meat, fish, eggs,
and cereals.
balanced diet  one containing foods which furnish all the nutritive factors in proper proportion
for adequate nutrition.
bland diet  one that is free of irritating or stimulating foods.
diabetic diet  one prescribed in diabetes mellitus, usually limited in the amount of sugar or
readily available carbohydrate.
elimination diet  one for diagnosis of food allergy, based on sequential omission of foods that
might cause the symptoms.
Feingold diet  a controversial diet for hyperactive children which excludes artificial colors,
artificial flavors, preservatives, and salicylates.
gouty diet  one for mitigation of gout, restricting nitrogenous, especially high-purine foods, and
substituting dairy products, with prohibition of wines and liquors.
high calorie diet  one furnishing more calories than needed to maintain weight, often more than
3500–4000 calories per day.
high fat diet  ketogenic d.
high fiber diet  one relatively high in dietary fibers, which decreases bowel transit time and
relieves constipation.
high protein diet  one containing large amounts of protein, consisting largely of meat, fish,
milk, legumes, and nuts.
ketogenic diet  one containing large amounts of fat, with minimal amounts of protein and
carbohydrate.
low calorie diet  one containing fewer calories than needed to maintain weight, e.g., less than
1200 calories per day for an adult.
low fat diet  one containing limited amounts of fat.
low purine diet  one for mitigation of gout, omitting meat, fowl, and fish and substituting milk,
eggs, cheese, and vegetable protein.
low residue diet  one giving the least possible fecal residue.
low salt diet , low sodium diet one containing very little sodium chloride; often prescribed for
hypertension and edematous states.
protein-sparing diet  one consisting only of liquid proteins or liquid mixtures of proteins,
vitamins, and minerals, and containing no more than 600 calories; designed to maintain a
favorable nitrogen balance.
purine-free diet  see low purine d.
salt-free diet  low salt d.

Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. © 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of

Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

bland diet (bl nd)

n.
A regular diet omitting foods that may irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin
Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

bland diet,
a diet that is mechanically, chemically, physiologically, and sometimes thermally nonirritating to
the GI tract. It is often prescribed in the treatment of peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, gallbladder
disease, diverticulitis, gastritis, idiopathic spastic constipation, and mucous colitis and after
abdominal surgery. Historically, it was first called the "white diet" (or Sippy diet, after Dr.
Sippy, who developed it). This allowed the use of only white foods, such as milk, cream, mashed
potatoes, and hot cereal (Cream of Wheat). It has progressed to what has been called the "liberal
bland diet," which allows all foods except caffeine, alcohol, black pepper, spices, or any other
food that could be considered irritating. The clinical value of the traditional bland diet has never
been proven, and thus its use as a treatment for GI problems is questionable.
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.

diet
the customary amount and kind of food and drink taken by an animal from day to day; more
narrowly, a diet planned to meet specific requirements of the animal, including or excluding
certain foods. See also winter diet.

acid diet
diets of low alkalinity which are fed to cows to prevent milk fever. The diet in the 4 weeks
preceding parturition, which is ordinarily highly alkaline, is supplemented with calcium chloride,
and aluminum and magnesium sulfates, to reduce this alkalinity.
bland diet
one that is free from any irritating or stimulating foods.
calcium homeostatic diet
a diet aimed at maintaining normal blood levels of calcium in recently calved cows.
calculolytic diet
formulated to aid in the dissolution of struvite uroliths. Usually provides a low intake of protein,
restricts phosphorus and magnesium, and acidifies the urine. Additional salt may also be
included. These have been used successfully in dogs and cats.
deficient diet
see nutritional deficiency disease.
drought feeding diet
see drought feeding.
elemental diet
contains nutrients as small molecular weight compounds, i.e. proteins as amino acids or peptides,
carbohydrates as oligosaccharides or monosaccharides, and fats as medium-chain triglycerides.
Used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease. Called also monomeric diet.
elimination diet
one for diagnosing food allergy, based on the sequential omission of foods which might cause
the clinical signs in the patient.
geriatric diet
may vary in composition; generally, they are formulated to provide lower energy intake and
increased digestibility.
gluten-free diet
one without wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, or oats or related products.
high-calorie diet, high-energy diet
one that furnishes more calories than needed for maintenance; used to increase body condition,
in recovery from illness and for maintenance under stressful conditions.
high-fiber diet
one relatively high in dietary fiber; in dogs and cats, used in the management of large and small
bowel diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, constipation and obesity.
high-protein diet
one containing large amounts of protein; used in the management of dogs and cats recovering
from illness.
home-prepared diet
one prepared in the home kitchen, in contrast with commercially prepared pet foods.
hypoallergenic diet
one formulated to avoid suspected allergens; usually used in the management of allergic skin or
bowel disease.
liquid diet
a diet limited to liquids or to foods that can be changed to a liquid state.
low-calorie diet
one containing fewer calories than needed to maintain weight; normally used in management of
obesity in dogs and cats.
low-fat diet
one containing limited amounts of fat; used in the management of pancreatic disease, bowel
disease, and obesity in dogs and cats.
low-fiber diet
see low-residue diet (below).
low purine diet
in dogs and cats, generally a low-meat diet.
low-residue diet
one with a minimum of cellulose and fiber and restriction of connective tissue found in certain
cuts of meat. It is prescribed for irritations of the intestinal tract, after surgery of the large
intestine, in partial intestinal obstruction, or when limited bowel movements are desirable. Called
also low-fiber diet.
low vitamin A diet
one containing low levels of vitamin A; in dog and cat diets, this would mean little or no organ
meats. The only probable indication for such a diet is in the treatment of hypervitaminosis A.
lower urinary tract disease diet
one that promotes acidification of the urine and containing restricted magnesium and
phosphorus, and sometimes increased salt.
monomeric diet
see elemental diet (above).
phosphate-restricted diet
one containing restricted amounts of phosphorus; used in the management of chronic renal
disease.
polymeric diet
meal replacement diets; fed to animals with almost normal gastrointestinal function. Proteins,
fats and carbohydrates are present in high molecular weight forms.
sodium-restricted diet
used in management of congestive heart failure and systemic hypertension in dogs and cats.
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

bland diet
Clinical nutrition A mechanically soft and nonirritating diet commonly prescribed for Pts with
IBD and peptic ulcer disease, despite its uncertain efficacy. See Diet. Cf Spicy foods.