What should you know about food after vomiting?

After vomiting, restart with small sips of fluid, then choose bland foods when your stomach settles. Take a pause if eating brings nausea back. The immediate priority is replacing fluid gradually rather than filling the stomach quickly.

Vomiting can leave the stomach irritated and make strong smells, rich meals, alcohol and large portions harder to tolerate. Water, oral rehydration solution or clear broth can be easier to manage in frequent small amounts. Once fluids stay down, try toast, rice, bananas, crackers, potatoes or soup. Vomiting can occur with gastroenteritis or food poisoning, while severe upper-abdominal pain may need assessment for gallstones or pancreatitis.

Sip slowly and sit upright. If that stays comfortable, have a small portion of a simple food and wait before eating more. Gradually return to your usual meals as nausea improves. Avoid forcing food, and take care with greasy, spicy or very sweet choices at first. Keep track of whether you are passing urine and whether symptoms are improving.

Seek urgent care for blood or coffee-ground material in vomit, severe or worsening abdominal pain, a stiff neck with severe headache, confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine and marked dizziness. Contact a clinician if vomiting continues, you cannot keep fluids down, or you have a condition that makes dehydration risky. Children, older adults and pregnant people may need advice sooner.

Ask what fluids are suitable, when to restart regular meals, whether a medicine could be causing the vomiting, and which symptoms should prompt urgent review. Mention the timing of vomiting, recent foods, pain, fever, diarrhoea and any medicines you take.