Do you need to eat a bland diet for colitis?

Patients with colitis do not need to necessarily follow a bland diet, but they should limit certain foods and beverages from their diet. There are several types of foods that can cause flare-ups of colitis and should be avoided such as spicy foods, caffeine, refined sugar and popcorn, notes WebMD.

Patients with colitis should try and aim for around 10 to 15 grams of fiber per day, notes WebMD. To prevent flare-ups of colitis, patients are recommended to keep a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, plenty of protein and fresh produce. This type of well-balanced diet can include meats, fish, dairy products, olive oil and canola oil.