Dietary Management of Gastroenteritis and Watery Diarrhea

Immediate Dietary Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend resuming an age-appropriate regular diet immediately after rehydration is complete, focusing on starches, cereals, yogurt, vegetables, and fresh fruits, while strictly avoiding foods high in simple sugars and high-fat foods 1, 2
For infants and breastfed children, continue breastfeeding on demand throughout the entire diarrheal episode without interruption, as recommended by the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2
For bottle-fed infants, immediately reintroduce full-strength, lactose-free or lactose-reduced formulas after rehydration, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 3, 4

Include starches such as rice, potatoes, noodles, crackers, and bananas, as well as cereals like rice cereal, wheat cereal, and oat cereal, which are recommended by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 3, 5
Include yogurt, which contains beneficial probiotics, and fresh fruits and vegetables, as recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association 3, 5
Avoid high simple sugar foods like soft drinks, undiluted apple juice, Jell-O, and presweetened cereals, as well as high-fat foods, which can exacerbate diarrhea, as advised by the American College of Gastroenterology 3

Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the first-line therapy and takes priority over dietary interventions, as recommended by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 2
Replace ongoing stool losses with 10 mL/kg ORS for each watery stool, as suggested by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 4, 5
Consider adding probiotics, such as Lactobacillus GG or Saccharomyces boulardii, to reduce symptom severity and duration, as recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology 1, 2