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 should I eat for dinner 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

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 spaghetti 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 pancakes on a low-residue diet? ›

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.

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

A. Vegetables you can eat in a low-residue diet include eggplant, beets, carrots, asparagus, yellow squash, spinach, pumpkin, and potatoes. You must ensure the vegetables are peeled, without seeds, and cooked appropriately.

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.

Is peanut butter ok on a 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 steak on a low residue diet? ›

You can eat most types of food on a low-fiber diet, including meats, white breads, and cooked fruits and vegetables. Your doctor can tell you how much fiber you can eat each day. Here are some examples of low-fiber foods: Cooked red meat, fish, or poultry.

What foods should be avoided 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.

Can I eat bananas on a low residue diet? ›

Foods Allowed on a Low Residue Diet

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.)

Can I eat toast on a low residue diet? ›

Breakfast. Low fibre cereal (from the 'Foods to include' section) with milk and sugar (if desired). White bread or toast with margarine or butter and honey, marmite or seedless jam.

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

Pulses including baked beans, butter beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils. Soup with pieces e.g. minestrone. Vegetable juices with pulp. Eat flesh only (no seeds, peel, pith or stalks).

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 have coffee on a low-residue diet? ›

Beverages: Drink plenty of water. Carbonated beverages like seltzer are allowed, though they may increase symptoms of gas. Caffeine from coffee, tea, and soda are aggravating for some people with digestive disorders, though they are permitted on a low-residue diet.

What would be a good low-fiber dinner? ›

Main dish recipes
  • Baked cod with lemon and capers.
  • Baked salmon with Southeast Asian marinade.
  • Balsamic feta chicken.
  • Balsamic roast chicken.
  • Barbecued pork tenderloin.
  • Beef stroganoff.
  • Blackened sole.
  • Broiled grouper with teriyaki sauce.

Is applesauce ok on a low residue diet? ›

Fruit/Juices

All strained fruit juices • Canned peaches, pears, apricots • Applesauce • Ripe banana • Baked apple without skin • All other fruits and juices • No prunes or prune juice.

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