You can eat cheese on a low-fiber diet, which is why cheese and crackers makes a great snack.
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If you're recovering from surgery or treatment on your digestive tract or have a condition like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), your doctor may recommend a low-residue diet menu. This is an eating plan that's low in fiber, which reduces strain on your digestive system so it can heal.
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Fiber is a nutrient that your body can't break down, and it's found in fruits, vegetables and grains, according to the Mayo Clinic. If your digestive system is functioning well, fiber is an essential nutrient that promotes good digestion. But if your GI tract is compromised, too much fiber can lead to irritation.
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Luckily, following a fiber-restricted diet can help. A typical low-residue, low-fiber diet contains 10 to 15 grams of fiber per day (for those without digestive concerns, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended 22 to 34 grams per day), per the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Here's a sample low-residue diet menu to try, including low-residue recipes and low-fiber snacks to enjoy.
What Can You Eat on a Low-Fiber Diet?
Per the NLM, the best foods to eat on a low-fiber diet include low-residue foods like:
Dairy products like milk and yogurt
Refined grains like white bread and pasta
Certain low-fiber fruits and veggies, like bananas and lettuce
Meat
Fish
Eggs
Tofu
Nut butter
Oils
Breakfast
Kick off your day with a low-residue meal that fuels you while also going easy on the fiber. According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some foods to munch on in the morning:
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Cornflakes with milk
White toast with smooth peanut butter
Fruit juice (as long as it doesn't contain pulp, according to the NLM)
Eggs, prepared your favorite way
Yogurt with skinless and seedless low-fiber fruit
You can also try one of these low-residue diet recipes:
Only follow a low-residue diet if your doctor recommends it, according to the NLM. These low-fiber diet menu examples can be restrictive, so work with a medical professional to make sure your nutritional needs are being met.
Lunch is a great time to load up on nutrients like protein and beneficial fats while still keeping your fiber intake low. According to the Mayo Clinic, here's some inspiration for your midday meal:
Turkey or chicken sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise and shredded lettuce
Smooth peanut butter sandwich on white bread
Tomato soup (as long as it doesn't contain pulp, seeds or skin)
Fish with white rice and low-fiber vegetables
White pasta with shrimp
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For more specific soft, low-residue diet recipes, try:
If you have a form of IBD called Crohn's disease, you may benefit from eating foods that are low in fiber. And according to the NLM, small quantities of shredded lettuce are typically OK to eat. However, talk to your doctor to settle on a diet plan that works best for you and your symptoms.
Dinner
Though a low-residue diet can be restrictive, there are still a number of options for your evening meal. According to the Mayo Clinic, you could eat:
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Meat loaf
Mashed potatoes with butter
Cooked low-fiber vegetables
Fish or seafood
White rice or pasta with tofu
Here are additional recipes to include in your low-residue diet menu:
There's no reason to skimp on snacks in between meals just because you're sticking to a low-residue diet. Try one of these suggestions from the Mayo Clinic and the NLM:
Yogurt
Slices of cheese on white crackers
Applesauce
Pudding
Cottage cheese
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Other good snack foods for a low-fiber diet include:
If you're following a low-fiber diet because you have Crohn's disease, these low-residue diet menu snacks should all be safe for you to eat, according to the Mayo Clinic and the NLM. That said, it's always best to talk to your doctor to determine the best eating plan for you.
They leave the least residue, which results in less stool. This lets the intestine rest. What to choose: White bread, biscuits, muffins, and rolls; plain crackers; white pasta; white rice; cream of wheat; grits; white pancakes; cornflakes; cooked potatoes without skin.
A low-fiber diet limits the types of vegetables, fruits and grains that you can eat. Some of the foods that are allowed on a low-fiber diet include milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish and eggs. People who are lactose intolerant should avoid milk and dairy products if they cause stomach pain or diarrhea.
No fluids with pulp! Eggs: Soft or hard boiled, scrambled, poached, or soufflé. Fish Ensure fruits and vegetables are tender and/or well cooked. Cereal: Cream of Wheat®, grits, corn flakes, or Rice Krispies®.
fruit without peels or seeds and certain canned or well-cooked fruit (e.g., peeled apples, seedless peeled grapes, banana, cantaloupe, etc.) some soft, cooked vegetables (e.g., beets, beans, carrots, cucumber, eggplant, mushrooms, etc.)
A low fiber diet encourages consuming foods that are low in fiber, including cooked red meat, fish, or poultry, eggs, dairy, white rice, pasta, bread, lettuce, or fresh or canned fruits without the skin. Depending on personal medical conditions, this diet could be short or long-term.
There's no fiber in milk, but it can upset your stomach. If it doesn't agree with you, avoid it. That includes milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, custard, and ice cream. Half-ounce servings of cheese are OK.
A low fiber diet encourages consuming foods that are low in fiber, including cooked red meat, fish, or poultry, eggs, dairy, white rice, pasta, bread, lettuce, or fresh or canned fruits without the skin. Depending on personal medical conditions, this diet could be short or long-term.
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