What is a low fiber diet? The goal of a low fiber diet is to choose foods that are easy for your body to digest. This diet includes plain white bread, white rice, crackers, cooked vegetables, and fruit without skin or seeds. Eating these foods will help to slow down bowel movements. It is important to avoid foods that are high in fiber. For example beans, whole grains, raw vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds. Consume no more than 10-15 grams of fiber each day. Who needs to be on a low fiber diet? A fiber restricted diet may be needed for a short time or for the rest of your life depending on your medical condition. Work with your medical provider or dietitian to determine what is best for you. Breads, Cereal, Rice and Pasta: Breads, Cereal, Rice and Pasta: Vegetables: Vegetables: Fruits: Fruits: Milk/Dairy: Milk/Dairy: Meat/Proteins: Meat/Proteins: Fats, Snacks, Sweets, Condiments and Beverages: Fats, Snacks, Sweets, Condiments and Beverages: When your doctor says you have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) -- like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis -- they may suggest a low-residue diet. The basic idea is that you'll eat foods that are easy to digest and cut back on those that aren't. It limits high-fiber foods, like whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts, seeds, raw or dried fruits, and vegetables. "Residue" is undigested food, including fiber, that makes up stool. The goal of the diet is to have fewer, smaller bowel movements each day. That will ease symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, gas, and stomach cramping. Your doctor may recommend this diet for a little while when you have a flare, or after surgery to help with recovery. Grains
Fruits and Vegetables The skin and seeds of many fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, so you need to peel them and avoid the seeds. These vegetables are OK:
Fruits on the good list include:
Milk and Dairy They're OK in moderation. Milk has no fiber, but it may trigger symptoms like diarrhea and cramping if you're lactose intolerant. If you are (meaning you have trouble processing dairy foods), you could take lactase supplements or buy lactose-free products. Meats Animal products don't have fiber. You can eat beef, lamb, chicken, fish (no bones), and pork, as long as they're lean, tender, and soft. Eggs are OK, too. Fats, Sauces, and Condiments These are all on the diet:
Sweets and Snacks You can satisfy your sweet tooth on a low-residue diet. These desserts and snacks are OK to eat in moderation: Drinks Safe beverages include: On this plan, you’ll stay away from: As long as you follow the general guidelines for the diet, you can mix and match as much as you’d like. There are many meal options to choose from on a low-residue diet: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Everyone is different. You may be OK with some of the things listed under "foods to avoid," while other items on the "foods to enjoy" list may bother you. So keep a food diary for a few weeks. Track what you eat and how it makes you feel, so you know what works for you. If you enjoy whole grains, nuts, and raw fruits and vegetables, shifting to a low-residue diet may be hard. But if you prefer white bread and pasta, don't mind canned fruits and vegetables, and are happy to snack on saltines and vanilla wafers, it may come naturally. Remember, this isn’t a healthy way to eat for a long time because it skips many important nutrients. Ask your doctor if they know a nutritionist who can help make sure your diet is right for you and let you know if you need to take supplements. © 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCES: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: "Low-Residue/Low-Fiber Diet," "Following a Low-Fiber Diet." Hoag Health Network: “Low Fiber/Low Residue Diet.” National Institutes of Health: "Fiber-Restricted Diet." Greenwich Hospital: "What is a Low Fiber/Low Residue Diet." Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo: "Low Residue Diet." "Colitis Cookbook: Diet for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease." Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America: "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: Diet and Nutrition." |