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GVHD Diet Phase 2 Foods

This GVHD diet plan includes foods that are easy for the body to digest. Your care team may have you add foods as your child is able to tolerate them. To help reduce your child’s discomfort:

  • Offer smaller meals more often.
  • Limit liquids with meals.
  • Do not add foods unless instructed by the care team.

Soups (serving size: 1 cup)

  • Chicken, vegetable, or beef broth
  • Chicken rice soup
  • Chicken noodle soup
  • Ramen noodles with 1/2 package of seasoning

Grains (serving size: 1/2 cup)

  • Steamed white rice
  • Plain noodles (linguini, penne, spaghetti)
  • Cream of Wheat®
  • Cream of Rice®
  • Plain oatmeal
  • Corn flakes, Cheerios®, or Rice Krispies®
  • Toasted white bread (1 slice)
  • Toasted bagel (1/2)
  • Toasted English muffin (1/2)
  • White dinner roll (1 roll)
  • Flour tortilla (1)
  • Pancake (1)
  • Low-fat Eggo® waffle (1)
  • Saltine crackers (2 crackers)
  • Plain pretzels (1 oz)

Vegetables (serving size: 1/2 cup)

  • Well-cooked green beans or carrots,
  • Plain potatoes or yams (mashed, steamed, or baked)

Fruit (serving size: 1/2 cup)

  • Banana (half)
  • Tangerine
  • Fresh fruit bowl
  • Applesauce, unsweetened
  • Canned fruit or fruit cup, no added sugar

Snacks

  • Fruit-flavored ice pop, sugar-free (1)
  • Jell-O®, sugar-free (1 serving)
  • Graham crackers (4 per day limit), Animal crackers (7 per day limit), or Vanilla wafers (5 per day limit)

Beverages

  • Bottled water or tap water
  • Diluted apple, cranberry, or grape juice (4 oz juice + 4 oz water)
  • Diluted Gatorade®, lemonade, or ginger ale (4 oz beverage + 4 oz water)
  • Sprite® Zero

Condiments

  • Salt
  • Margarine (1 pat)
  • Low-fat mayonnaise (1 teaspoon)
  • Low-fat sour cream (1 Tablespoon)
  • Jelly sugar-free (1 portion)
  • Syrup, sugar-free (1 serving)
  • Lemon packet

Protein (serving size: 3 ounces)

  • Baked chicken breast (skinless)
  • Roasted turkey
  • Lean ham
  • Hard-boiled egg
  • Scrambled egg (plain) or cooked with non-stick, non-fat cooking spray
  • Tuna, water packed
  • Baked mild fish (cod or tilapia)

Half sandwiches on white bread

  • Low-fat turkey or ham sandwich
  • Low-fat, plain egg salad sandwich
  • Low-fat, plain tuna salad sandwich

Dairy or non-dairy alternatives (serving size: 1 cup)

  • Lactose-free 2% milk
  • Rice milk
  • Soy milk
  • Yogurt (with less than 7gm sugar per serving)

Nutritional supplements (1 cup) if recommended by a registered dietitian

Always follow your care team’s instructions. Talk to your dietitian or nutrition professional if you have questions about what your child should eat. If your child’s symptoms seem to get worse or come back after getting better, be sure to tell your care team right away.


Reviewed: October 2022