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Low Fiber Diet- Eating Plan
Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Eating a diet low in fiber helps to reduce how often you have bowel movements and how much you produce during a bowel movement. A low-fiber eating plan may help your digestive system heal if:
- You have certain conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis.
- You recently had radiation therapy on your pelvis or bowel.
- You recently had intestinal surgery.
- You have a new surgical opening in your abdomen (colostomy or ileostomy).
- Your intestine is narrowed (stricture).
Your health care provider will determine how long you need to stay on this diet. Your health care provider may recommend that you work with a diet and nutrition specialist (dietitian).
What are tips for following this plan?
General guidelines
- Follow recommendations from your dietitian about how much fiber you should have each day.
- Most people on this eating plan should try to eat less than 10 grams (g) of fiber each day. Your daily fiber goal is _________________ g.
- Take vitamin and mineral supplements as told by your health care provider or dietitian. Chewable or liquid forms are best when on this eating plan.
Reading food labels
- Check food labels for the amount of dietary fiber.
- Choose foods that have less than 2 grams of fiber in one serving.
Cooking
- Use white flour and other allowed grains for baking and cooking.
- Cook meat using methods that keep it tender, such as braising or poaching.
- Cook eggs until the yolk is completely solid.
- Cook with healthy oils, such as olive oil or canola oil.
Meal planning
- Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals.
- If you are lactose intolerant:
- Choose low-lactose dairy foods.
- Do not eat dairy foods, if told by your dietitian.
- Limit fat and oils to less than 8 teaspoons a day.
- Eat small portions of desserts.
What foods are allowed?
The items listed below may not be a complete list. Talk with your dietitian about what dietary choices are best for you.
Grains
All bread and crackers made with white flour. Waffles, pancakes, and French toast. Bagels. Pretzels. Melba toast, zwieback, and matzoh. Cooked and dried cereals that do not contain whole grains, added fiber, seeds, or dried fruit. Cornmeal. Farina. Hot and cold cereals made with refined corn, wheat, rice, or oats. Plain pasta and noodles. White rice.
Vegetables
Well-cooked or canned vegetables without skin, seeds, or stems. Cooked potatoes without skins. Vegetable juice.
Fruits
Soft-cooked or canned fruits without skin and seeds. Peeled ripe banana. Applesauce. Fruit juice without pulp.
Meats and other protein foods
Ground meat. Tender cuts of meat or poultry. Eggs. Fish, seafood, and shellfish. Smooth nut butters. Tofu.
Dairy
All milk products and drinks. Lactose-free milks, including rice, soy, and almond milks. Yogurt without fruit, nuts, chocolate, or granola mix-ins. Sour cream. Cottage cheese. Cheese.
Beverages
Decaf coffee. Fruit and vegetable juices or smoothies (in small amounts, with no pulp or skins, and with fruits from allowed list). Sports drinks. Herbal tea.
Fats and oils
Olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, and grapeseed oil. Mayonnaise. Cream cheese. Margarine. Butter.
Sweets and desserts
Plain cakes and cookies. Cream pies and pies made with allowed fruits. Pudding. Custard. Fruit gelatin. Sherbet. Popsicles. Ice cream without nuts. Plain hard candy. Honey. Jelly. Molasses. Syrups, including chocolate syrup. Chocolate. Marshmallows. Gumdrops.
Seasoning and other foods
Bouillon. Broth. Cream soups made from allowed foods. Strained soup. Casseroles made with allowed foods. Ketchup. Mild mustard. Mild salad dressings. Plain gravies. Vinegar. Spices in moderation. Salt. Sugar.
What foods are not allowed?
The items listed below may not be a complete list. Talk with your dietitian about what dietary choices are best for you.
Grains
Whole wheat and whole grain breads and crackers. Multigrain breads and crackers. Rye bread. Whole grain or multigrain cereals. Cereals with nuts, raisins, or coconut. Bran. Coarse wheat cereals. Granola. High-fiber cereals. Cornmeal or corn bread. Whole grain pasta. Wild or brown rice. Quinoa. Popcorn. Buckwheat. Wheat germ.
Vegetables
Potato skins. Raw or undercooked vegetables. All beans and bean sprouts. Cooked greens. Corn. Peas. Cabbage. Beets. Broccoli. Brussels sprouts. Cauliflower. Mushrooms. Onions. Peppers. Parsnips. Okra. Sauerkraut.
Fruit
Raw or dried fruit. Berries. Fruit juice with pulp. Prune juice.
Meats and other protein foods
Tough, fibrous meats with gristle. Fatty meat. Poultry with skin. Fried meat, poultry, or fish. Deli or lunch meats. Sausage, bacon, and hot dogs. Nuts and chunky nut butter. Dried peas, beans, and lentils.
Dairy
Yogurt with fruit, nuts, chocolate, or granola mix-ins.
Beverages
Caffeinated coffee and teas.
Fats and oils
Avocado. Coconut.
Sweets and desserts
Desserts, cookies, or candies that contain nuts or coconut. Dried fruit. Jams and preserves with seeds. Marmalade. Any dessert made with fruits or grains that are not allowed.
Seasoning and other foods
Corn tortilla chips. Soups made with vegetables or grains that are not allowed. Relish. Horseradish. Pickles. Olives.
Summary
- Most people on a low-fiber eating plan should eat less than 10 grams of fiber a day. Follow recommendations from your dietitian about how much fiber you should have each day.
- Always check food labels to see the dietary fiber content of packaged foods. In general, a low-fiber food will have fewer than 2 grams of fiber per serving.
- In general, try to avoid whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tough cuts of meat, nuts, and seeds.
- Take a vitamin and mineral supplement as told by your health care provider or dietitian.