This diet will help you avoid high-density fiber foods, or “ruffage,” while healing from bowel surgery. Ruffage includes raw vegetables (for example a large salad, raw carrots, celery) and vegetables/fruits with skins on them (tomatoes, apples, peaches, kiwis, etc.). Cooked vegetables are ok if you can cut it with the side of your fork. Raw fruits (apples for example) are okay with the skins removed. Please order foods that will not upset your bowels, as they are still healing. If it made you feel bloated or sick before surgery, it will now too.
Breakfast
Hot cereal: cream of wheat or cream of rice, oatmeal
Cold cereal: Honey-Nut Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Rice Chex, Cheerios, or Shredded Wheat
Scrambled eggs
Hard boiled eggs
Omelet: cheese, ham, chicken, and/or feta cheese
French toast (white or whole wheat) or crepes with powdered sugar
Breakfast sandwich on English muffin with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, ham, and/or sausage
Pancakes: buttermilk or blueberry
Breakfast Sides
Toast: white, whole wheat, or cinnamon raisin
English muffin
Bacon
Ham
Turkey sausage
Sausage links
Hash browns
Bagel: plain or cinnamon raisin
Blueberry muffin or apple bran muffin
Greek yogurt (blueberry, strawberry, or vanilla)
Banana bread
Fruits
Fresh: banana, cantaloupe, watermelon, orange
Canned: applesauce, mandarin oranges, peaches, pears, or fruit cocktail
Soups
Soups: chicken noodle, tomato, cream of potato, vegetarian chili; beef, chicken or vegetable broth
Flat-Bread Pizza
Toppings: cheese, chicken, ham, pepperoni, sausage, and/or black olive
Hot Sandwiches
Roast beef on a baguette
Burger: beef, turkey, salmon, or spicy black bean
Grilled chicken breast
Grilled cheese: American, cheddar, provolone, Swiss, or pepper jack
Quesadilla: cheese, chicken and cheese, beef and cheese, bean and cheese, or steak and cheese
Sloppy Joe
Build Your Own Sandwiches
Fillings: ham, roast beef, turkey, turkey and avocado, egg salad, or creamy peanut butter and jelly
Toppings: cheese, bacon, avocado, grilled onion
Bread: White or wheat bread, baguette, or flour tortilla
Snacks
Baked potato chips or sun chips
Cottage cheese
String cheese
Fruit leather
Granola bar
Greek yogurt (blueberry, strawberry, or vanilla)
Saltine or graham crackers
Main Courses
Grilled chicken
Chicken parmesan
Baked cod
Grilled salmon (plain or with mustard dill sauce)
Cheese lasagna
Roast turkey breast
Baked macaroni and cheese
Linguini primavera
Chicken pot pie
Meatloaf
Taco on corn or flour tortilla
Fillings: beef, chicken, white fish, or refried beans
Toppings: cheese, guacamole, salsa, and/or sour cream
Pot roast
Beef stew
Chicken parmesan
Linguini with shrimp scampi
Tuna noodle casserole
Sides
Steamed vegetables: peas, carrots, green beans
Sautéed vegetable blend
White rice or brown rice
Mashed potatoes
Refried beans
Baked potato (do not eat skin)
Baked sweet potato (do not eat skin)
Garlic bread
Macaroni and cheese
Dinner roll
Drinks
Hot drinks: regular or decaf coffee, hot chocolate, regular or decaf black tea, green tea, decaf apple cinnamon tea
Cold drinks: bottled water, sugar-free lemonade, iced tea, or Powerade
Dairy milk: 1%, 2%, skim, whole, lactose-free, or chocolate
Non-dairy milk: chocolate or vanilla soy, rice or almond
Juice: apple, cranberry, diet cranberry, grape, orange, or low-sodium V8
Desserts
Fruit smoothie: mixed berry or strawberry banana
Sugar-free cookies: chocolate chip or lemon cream
Regular or sugar free gelatin: lime, orange, or strawberry
Regular or sugar free pudding: vanilla or chocolate
Breads and cakes: banana bread, angel food cake, cheesecake (plain or with chocolate sauce)
Cookies: chocolate chip, sugar or oatmeal with cranberry
Pie: apple, cherry or lemon meringue
Frozen desserts: frozen yogurt (vanilla, chocolate or strawberry), sherbet (orange or raspberry), sugar-free sorbet (orange or strawberry), milk shake (vanilla or chocolate), popsicle, or fruit ice (orange or cherry)
