What to Not Eat When Throwing Up: Your Guide to a Speedy Recovery

November 4, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, viral gastroenteritis often causes severe vomiting. Knowing what to not eat when throwing up is crucial for allowing your digestive system to rest and heal, preventing further irritation and discomfort during an already unpleasant experience.

Quick Summary

To allow your digestive system to recover after vomiting, steer clear of greasy, spicy, and high-sugar foods that can worsen nausea. Instead, focus on rehydration with small sips of clear liquids and gradually reintroduce bland, easy-to-digest items to settle your stomach.

Key Points

Avoid Fatty Foods: Greasy, fried, and rich foods are difficult to digest and can increase nausea by slowing down stomach emptying.
Steer Clear of Spicy Foods: Capsaicin and other spicy ingredients can irritate the stomach lining, worsening symptoms and inflammation.
Limit Dairy Intake: Temporarily reduced lactase production can cause difficulty digesting the lactose in milk and other dairy products.
Cut Acidic and Sugary Items: Foods and drinks high in acid or sugar can further irritate the stomach and contribute to diarrhea.
Prioritize Hydration: Sipping on small, frequent amounts of clear liquids like water, broth, or electrolyte drinks is the most important step after vomiting.
Start with Bland Foods: When you are ready to eat solids, begin with easy-to-digest, non-irritating foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Why Avoiding Certain Foods is Crucial

When your stomach is sensitive after vomiting, certain foods can re-aggravate symptoms and hinder recovery. Avoiding these helps prevent further irritation and allows your digestive system to rest.

The Problem with Fatty and Greasy Foods

Fatty and greasy foods are hard to digest and can make nausea worse by slowing down how quickly your stomach empties. This includes fried items, fast food, and rich desserts.

Fried Foods: High in oil and difficult to process.
Fast Food: Often high in fat, potentially causing discomfort.
Rich Sauces: Hard for your digestive system to handle.

Why Spicy Foods Are Off-Limits

Spicy foods irritate the stomach and intestinal lining, which can trigger or worsen nausea and cramps. It's best to avoid chilis and heavily seasoned meals while recovering.

Dairy Products and Upset Stomachs

After a stomach illness, you might have temporary difficulty digesting lactose in dairy products. Full-fat dairy is particularly problematic, though bland, low-fat yogurt might be tolerated cautiously by some.

The Effect of Acidic and High-Sugar Items

Acidic foods and high-sugar items can irritate the stomach lining and potentially worsen symptoms like acid reflux and diarrhea.

Acidic Drinks: Citrus and tomato juices can cause irritation.
Sugary Foods: Candy and sweets offer little benefit and can upset the stomach.
Caffeinated and Alcoholic Drinks: Both are irritants and can dehydrate you, hindering recovery.

The Path to Reintroducing Food

Once rehydrated with clear liquids, you can gradually introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods. The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) is often suggested. Start with small, frequent meals.

The Importance of Hydration

Hydration is vital as vomiting causes fluid and electrolyte loss. Sip clear fluids slowly.

Clear Liquids: Water, broths, and electrolyte drinks like Pedialyte are good choices.
Flat Soda: May be tolerated in small amounts after losing carbonation.
Ice Chips: Can help with hydration and soothe the stomach.

Comparison of Foods During Recovery


Foods to AVOID	Foods to TOLERATE
Greasy, Fried Foods	Clear Broth and Water
Spicy Dishes	Plain Toast and Crackers
High-Fat Dairy (Milk, Cheese)	Bananas and Applesauce
Acidic Fruits and Juices	Plain, White Rice
High-Sugar Sweets	Gelatin or Popsicles
Caffeine and Alcohol	Weak, Herbal Tea (Ginger or Peppermint)
Whole-Grain, High-Fiber Foods	Boiled Potatoes

Conclusion

Knowing what to not eat when throwing up is crucial for recovery. Avoid fatty, spicy, acidic, and high-sugar foods to let your digestive system heal. Focus on rehydration with clear liquids and slowly reintroduce bland, easy-to-digest foods. For more information on managing nausea and vomiting, the Cleveland Clinic offers additional resources Cleveland Clinic's advice on managing nausea and vomiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is generally recommended to wait at least a few hours after the last episode of vomiting before attempting to eat or drink anything. Start with small sips of clear liquids to see if your stomach can tolerate it.

Safe liquids include water, clear broth, diluted fruit juice (like apple juice), and electrolyte-replenishing drinks such as Pedialyte. Flat ginger ale is also often recommended. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugary sodas.

Generally, it's best to avoid milk and most dairy products after vomiting due to potential temporary lactose intolerance. However, some people may tolerate plain, low-fat yogurt well, but it's best to introduce it cautiously and in small amounts.

The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) is a popular and effective short-term solution for settling an upset stomach. These foods are bland and easy to digest, though you should return to a balanced diet as soon as you feel well enough.

While healthy otherwise, high-fiber foods like whole grains and raw vegetables are harder for the digestive system to process. When your stomach is sensitive, it's best to stick to low-fiber, bland options to give it a rest.

Caffeine can irritate the stomach and act as a diuretic, potentially worsening dehydration. Avoid coffee and black tea. Herbal teas like ginger or peppermint tea can be soothing, but it's best to avoid them initially.

You should contact a doctor if vomiting persists for more than 24-48 hours, is accompanied by a high fever, severe abdominal pain, or shows signs of severe dehydration (e.g., dizziness, dark urine). Blood in the vomit is also a reason to seek immediate medical attention.