You may need to follow a low fiber diet if you have chronic diarrhea, colitis, intestinal obstructions, just had surgery, or have other problems in your stomach or intestines. Fiber in food is not digested. Fiber may increase how often you have bowel movements and increase the amount of gas you make. This diet will help you have fewer and smaller bowel movements with less pressure, cramping and pain. It can also help to prevent bowel obstructions. Use the tips in this handout to limit fiber in your day.
Fiber is found in plant foods. Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. The amount of fiber in a certain food is not changed by cooking, grinding or pureeing the food.
Grains/Starches
Foods to Choose
White bread, rolls, biscuits, and crackers without seeds and nuts
White rice
White pasta
Foods to Avoid
Breads or pasta made with whole grains or bran
Products made with high amounts of seeds, dried fruit, coconut, or nuts
Brown rice or 100% wild rice
Tips
Check food labels and limit portion sizes when choosing whole grains or high fiber grains/starches
Avoid any products with 3 or more grams of fiber per serving
Cereals
Foods to Choose
Cereals with less than 3 grams of fiber per serving like Corn Flakes® or Rice Krispies®
Refined cooked cereals like cream of wheat or farina
Foods to Avoid
Whole grain or bran cereals
Granola and oatmeal
High fiber cereal bars
Tips
Check food labels and limit portion sizes when choosing whole grain or high fiber cereals
Avoid products with 3 or more grams of fiber per serving
Fruits
Foods to Choose
Canned fruit like peaches, pears, mandarin oranges, and fruit cocktail
Melons and ripe banana
Applesauce
Fruit juice
Foods to Avoid
Dried fruits
Fruit juice with pulp, prune juice
Fruit with skin like grapes, blueberries, and apple
Tips
Peeling fruits helps decrease some fiber.
Vegetables
Foods to Choose
Mashed potatoes
Vegetables without skins or seeds such as mushrooms, cauliflower, stewed tomatoes, peppers, onions, and canned green beans
Vegetable juice
Foods to Avoid
Cooked greens or spinach
High fiber vegetables like corn and peas
Most fresh vegetables
Tips:
Eating vegetables without skin or seeds can help to decrease some fiber.
Beans/Lentils
Foods to Avoid
All beans including kidney, garbanzo, black, navy, soy, and pinto beans
Lentils
Meats, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, Nuts, and Seeds
Foods to Choose
Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds
Smooth peanut and nut butters (eat no more than 1 Tbsp at a time)
Foods to Avoid
Nuts and seeds
Crunchy nut butters
Tips
Check labels of vegetable and soy burgers for fiber content
Avoid products with 3 or more grams of fiber per serving
Dairy
Foods to Choose
Milk, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and any dairy products as tolerated
Drinks to Choose
Coffee, tea, and cocoa
Carbonated drinks
Fruit juices
Drinks to Avoid
Prune juice
Fats
Foods to Choose
Butter, margarine, oils
Meat gravies and salad dressings made without fruits, nuts, and seeds
Desserts
Foods to Choose
Sherbet, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and popsicles made without fruits, seeds, or nuts
Cookies, pastries, pies, puddings, custards, and candy made without fruit, seeds, or nuts
Sugar, honey, molasses, corn syrup, and jelly
Foods to Avoid
Any dessert or sweet made with high amount of nuts, seeds or coconut
Other
Foods to Choose
Salt, pepper, herbs, spices
Ketchup, mustard, vinegar, and cream sauces
Who to Call
If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.
Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) can be reached at: (608) 890-5500.
Nutrition clinics for UW Medical Foundation (UWMF) can be reached at: (608) 287-2770