When you are on a low residue fiber diet, you will eat low-fiber foods that are easy for your body to digest. Eating these foods will slow down your bowel movements.
This diet includes foods you are used to eating, like cooked vegetables, fruits, white breads, and meats. It does NOT include foods that make your bowels work more, like beans and legumes, whole grains, many raw vegetables and fruits, and nuts and seeds.
Your goal is to eat less than 10 to 15 grams of fiber each day.
This diet gives you proteins, fluids, salts, and minerals you need. With the right food choices, you can get enough nutrition from this diet. You may have to take supplements, such as vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, and others if you are on this diet for a long time. Check with your doctor.
You may need to be on a low residue fiber diet if you have diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or bowel inflammation. Sometimes people are put on this diet after certain kinds of surgery, such as an ileostomy or colostomy. You may need to follow this diet only for a short period of time or for the rest of your life. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian for help with meal planning.
Here are some of the foods recommended for a low residue fiber diet.
Milk products:
Breads and grains:
Vegetables: You may eat these vegetables raw:
You can eat these vegetables if they are well-cooked or canned (without seeds). You can also drink juices made from them if they do not contain seeds or pulp:
Do NOT eat any vegetable that is not on the list above. Do NOT eat vegetables raw that are okay to eat cooked. Avoid vegetables and sauces with seeds, such as tomato sauce. Do NOT eat popcorn.
Fruits:
Protein:
Fats, oils, and sauces:
Other foods and drinks:
Fiber diet - low-residue; Low-fiber diet
Updated by: Jennifer K. Mannheim, ARNP, Medical Staff, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Seattle Children's Hospital; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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