Low Fiber Diet

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
  

Grains/Starches: 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
  

Grains/Starches 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 Chex

• Refined cooked cereals like cream of wheat or farina
  

Cereals: Foods to Avoid

• Whole grain or bran cereals

• Granola and oatmeal

• High fiber cereal bars
  

Cereal 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
  

Fruits: Foods to Avoid

• Dried fruits

• Fruit juice with pulp, prune juice

• Fruit with skin like grapes, blueberries, and apple
  

Fruit Tip: 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

Vegetables: Foods to Avoid

• Cooked greens or spinach

• High fiber vegetables like corn and peas

• Most fresh vegetables
  

Vegetable Tip: 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

• Smooth peanut and nut butters
  

Meats, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, Nuts, and Seeds: Foods to Avoid

• Nuts and seeds

• Crunchy nut butters
  

Meats, Poultry, Fish, Eggs, Nuts, Seeds 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
  

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
  

Desserts: 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 the phone number 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.