Recipes to Include in a Low-Residue Diet Menu | Livestrong.com (2024)

Recipes to Include in a Low-Residue Diet Menu | Livestrong.com (1)

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:

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Tip

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:

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Can You Eat Lettuce With Crohn's Disease?

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:

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Snacks

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:

Snacks for Crohn's Disease

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.

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Recipes to Include in a Low-Residue Diet Menu | Livestrong.com (2024)

FAQs

What meals can I have on a low-residue diet? ›

Dinner
  • Tender roast beef, white rice, cooked carrots or spinach, white dinner roll with margarine or butter.
  • Pasta with butter or olive oil, French bread, fruit co*cktail.
  • Baked chicken, white rice or baked potato without skin, and cooked green beans.
  • Broiled fish, white rice, and canned green beans.
Oct 30, 2023

Is oatmeal OK on a low-residue diet? ›

What can I eat? ◦ Avoid whole grain or bread with seeds • Plain crackers, such as saltines • Cooked cereal such as cream of wheat or grits. ◦ Avoid oatmeal, bran and whole wheat cereals. Cold cereal such as Special K, Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes.

Can I eat hamburger on a low-residue diet? ›

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.

Can you eat mashed potatoes on a low-residue diet? ›

Foods To Include:

Scrambled, poached or souffle. Potatoes: boiled, baked, creamed, mashed. Sweet potatoes. Pasta: plain macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, etc.

Can you eat spaghetti on a low-residue diet? ›

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.

Can I eat baked beans on a low-residue diet? ›

Avoid raw or cooked 'stringy' vegetables including, cabbage, curly kale, celery, cucumber, fennel, leeks, okra, peppers, peas, pumpkin, spinach, sprouts and sweetcorn. Avoid large portions of raw salad at same meal. Pulses including baked beans, butter beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils.

Is peanut butter OK on low-residue diet? ›

5-7 ounces/day Tender, broiled, stewed or creamed roast beef, veal, lamb, pork, ham, poultry, fish, chopped clams, oysters, liver, kidneys Cheeses: cream cheese, cottage, American, cheddar, Swiss or jack cheese Smooth peanut butter Fried meats, fish, or poultry; meats highly seasoned or containing whole spices; sausage ...

Can I eat pizza on a low-residue diet? ›

Can you eat pizza on a low-residue diet? A. Pizza is considered low-fibre food if you have the regular white pizza flour crust.

Can I eat salad on a low-residue diet? ›

A low residue diet may also include small amounts of certain raw vegetables, including: shredded lettuce. skinless, seedless cucumber.

Can I eat bacon on a low residue diet? ›

Meats, Poultry, Fish, Eggs & Cheese

Broiled, baked or boiled beef, chicken or turkey without All fried, canned, Rich gravies or sauces. Boiled or broiled ham, salted or spiced crisp bacon, broiled lamp chops, soft boiled or poached meats and fish, Eggs, cottage or cream cheese.

What are the top 10 low fiber foods? ›

Low-fiber bread, cereals, and grains
  • White breads, waffles, French toast, plain white rolls, or white bread toast.
  • Pretzels.
  • Plain pasta or noodles.
  • White rice.
  • Crackers, zwieback, melba, and matzoh (no cracked wheat or whole grains)
  • Cereals without whole grains, added fiber, seeds, raisins, or other dried fruit.
Feb 26, 2024

What not to eat on a low residue diet? ›

What Are The Guidelines Of The Low Fiber/Low Residue Diet? Avoid any food made with seeds, nuts, or raw or dried fruit. Avoid whole-grain breads and cereals, purchase products made from refined white flour. Do not eat raw fruits or vegetables and remove skins before cooking.

Is mayonnaise allowed on a low-residue diet? ›

Fats such as butter/margarine, oils, mayonnaise, ketchup, sour cream, soy sauce, salad dressings, and many other sauces/condiments are entirely okay with a low-residue diet; Fruits: there are certain fruits you can eat, and others you should aim to avoid — the ones you can eat include bananas, cantaloupe, avocado, etc.

Can I eat chips on a low-residue diet? ›

The following foods can be eaten as part of a low-residue diet: Refined breads, crackers, chips and pasta with less than 1 gram of fiber per serving (Note: Ideally, look for products with zero grams of dietary fiber per serving.)

What cooked vegetables can you eat on a low-residue diet? ›

Foods Allowed on a Low Residue Diet

some soft, cooked vegetables (e.g., beets, beans, carrots, cucumber, eggplant, mushrooms, etc.)

Can you eat macaroni and cheese on a low-residue diet? ›

A. Yes, you can eat macaroni on a low-residue diet. Macaroni and cheese are both low-residue products. But if you plan to eat out, ensure you do not include any other fibre-containing food product in your macaroni and cheese.

What are low residue meal ideas for colonoscopy? ›

What are Low-Fiber Foods?
  • Avoid nuts, seeds, dried fruits, dried beans and peas.
  • Avoid whole grains and cereals.
  • Choose cooked or canned fruits and vegetables over fresh ones.
  • Choose white bread, white rice and products made with refined flour.
  • Drink juices without pulp.
  • Eat tender, well-cooked meats.
Apr 1, 2019

What soups can you eat on a low-residue diet? ›

Soups. Creamed soups with puréed or whole allowed vegetables; strained vegetable soups or chowders, meat or fish broths. See a sample recipe – Beef & Vegetable Soup.

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