WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What is a low-fiber diet? A low-fiber diet limits foods that are high in fiber. Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that is not broken down by your body. You may need to follow this diet after surgery on your intestines. You may also need to follow this diet for certain conditions such as Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis. Ask your healthcare provider or dietitian how much fiber you can have each day. What foods can I include? Read food labels to check the amount of fiber that are found in foods. Some foods that are low in fiber include the following: - Grains: Choose grains that have less than 2 grams of fiber in each serving. Examples include the following:
- Cream of wheat and finely ground grits
- Dry cereal made from rice
- White bread, white pasta, and white rice
- Crackers, bagels, and rolls made from white or refined flour
- Other foods:
- Canned and well-cooked fruit without skins or seeds, and juice without pulp
- Ripe bananas and melons
- Canned and well-cooked vegetables without skins or seeds, and vegetable juice
- Cow's milk, lactose-free milk, soy milk, and rice milk
- Yogurt without nuts, fruit, or granola
- Eggs, poultry (such as chicken and turkey), fish, and tender, ground, well-cooked beef
- Tofu and smooth peanut butter
- Broth and strained soups made of low-fiber foods
What foods should I avoid? - Breads, cereals, crackers, and pasta made with whole wheat or whole grains (such as whole oats)
- Brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, kasha, and barley
- All fresh fruit with skin, except banana and melons
- Dried fruits and fruit juice with pulp
- Canned pineapple
- Raw vegetables
- Nuts, seeds, and popcorn
- Beans, nuts, peas, and lentils
- Tough meats
- Coconut and avocado
What else do I need to know about a low-fiber diet? A low-fiber diet can decrease the amount of bowel movements you have. Drink liquids as directed to avoid constipation. Ask how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you. |