Low Fibre Diet Sheet

Please note, this page is printable by selecting the normal print options on your computer.

This information sheet will provide you with information on following a low fibre diet. There are several reasons why you may be recommended to follow a low fibre diet.

Some examples are:

• If you are experiencing symptoms of diarrhoea.
• If you are having a flare-up of inflammatory bowel disease.
• To ease the passage of stools through the bowel if there is an obstruction or narrowing.
• For easier digestion following surgery on your bowel.
• If you have an ileostomy, and particularly if you have a high output.

A low fibre diet is usually recommended temporarily but may be recommended on a permanent basis depending on why you have been advised to follow it. Ask your
doctor or specialist nurse or dietitian for guidance on why you need to follow a low fibre diet and how long for.

A low fibre diet will help to leave less ‘residue’ or ‘bulk’ behind after digestion, and is easier for your body to digest and absorb if you are having symptoms relating to
any of the conditions mentioned above.

The following table lists lower fibre foods to include within your diet, and foods higher in fibre which should be avoided:

	LOW FIBRE FOODS TO HAVE	HIGH FIBRE FOODS TO AVOID
Breakfast cereal and bread	Rice Krispies®, Coco Pops®, Corn Flakes, Special K® White bread/rolls/toast/bagels White English muffins White pitta bread, plain Naan/chapatti Plain scones	Bran flakes, Weetabix, Shredded wheat, All Bran, Porridge, Muesli, oat bran, wheat germ Brown, wholemeal, granary and rye bread Wholegrain and seeded bread/rolls/toast Brown or wholemeal pitta bread, naan or chapattis Fruit / nut muffins or scones Breads or pastries with dried fruit or nuts
Flour, pasta and rice	White rice, white pasta White flour, cornflour, sago, tapioca, semolina Plain couscous, polenta, tortillas, tacos White or rice Noodle	Brown rice, wild rice, wholemeal pasta Wholemeal couscous or noodles Quinoa, pearl barley
Meat, fish, eggs and alternatives	Plain pieces of lean meat including red meat, chicken, turkey Lean mincemeat with no gristle All plain fish including white fish, fresh or tinned tuna, salmon Eggs Tofu meat alternative products	Tough stringy pieces of meat with large amounts of fat, gristle and tough skin. Fish skin and fish bones e.g. tinned sardines, anchovies Quorn meat alternative products
Vegetables	Well cooked ‘flesh’ or ‘body’ of vegetables Remove skins, stalks and seeds from vegetables e.g. peeled and deseeded courgette or cucumber, broccoli, or cauliflower tips / florets only, peeled root vegetables e.g. carrots, parsnips, turnip, swede Sieved tomato sauce e.g. passata Sieved soup Peeled potatoes, peeled sweet potatoes, potato chips without skins, baked potato (no skin)	Raw vegetables and salads including coleslaw, salsa etc. Tough fibrous vegetables e.g. cabbage, kale, greens, fennel, sprouts, sweetcorn, mushrooms, peas, beans, okra, asparagus Stringy vegetables e.g. celery, runner beans Vegetable juices/smoothies with ‘bits’ or pulp Pulses such as baked beans, kidney beans, lentils, butter beans, chickpeas
Fruit	Peeled body of fruit without skins, pith, pips or seeds e.g. peeled pear, apple, peach Tinned pears or peaches Smooth fruit juice with no ‘bits’ or pulp	Fruit with skins, pith, pips or seeds e.g. pineapple, oranges, cherries, grapes, raspberries, watermelon, blueberries, kiwi All dried fruit Fruit juice with ‘bits’ or pulp Fruit Smoothies
Milk and dairy products	All types of milk – including lactose free varieties Yogurts with added fruit, nuts, or cereals Cheese with added pieces of fruit Cream, crème fraiche, fromage fraise, smooth yogurt Custard, ice cream, smooth milk puddings Cheese	Yoghurts with added fruit, nuts, or cereals Cheese with added pieces of fruit Ice cream with added fruits or nuts
Other

Ice cream with added fruit or nuts
Other Seedless and rindless jam or
marmalade, honey, syrup
Potato Crisps
Boiled sweets, plain dark, milk or white
chocolate, clear jelly
Smooth Sauces e.g. white sauce,
gravy, ketchup, brown sauce,
mayonnaise, salad cream
Jam or marmalade with skin and seeds
Chutney and Pickles.
Wholegrain mustard
Popcorn.
Wholegrain/Rice savoury crackers
Chocolate with added fruit or nuts
Nuts and seeds