Low Residue Diet Food List

Do you need to reduce the amount and the frequency of your bowel movements? Then a low residue diet is exactly what you need. Low residue is just what the name suggests, the amount of waste left after the food you eat is absorbed by the small intestine. While this special diet is quite similar to a low fiber diet there are some key differences specifically as it relates to foods such as milk and milk products which would increase bowel activity rather than slow it down. Until you are suffering with some very specific ailments such as diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease or a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy this diet is not for you.

If you have been advised to go on a low residue diet your first question would be, what foods can I eat or not eat? The low residue diet food list (divided into categories) below would be a handy list to refer to when planning your meals.

Meat, Fish, Poultry and Cheese

At the first mention of any diet meat lovers freeze at the thought of having meat removed from the diet. They would be happy to know that meat is included in this low residue diet food list as long as the meats are broiled, roasted or steamed. In other words no fried or grilled meats! Meats (tender), seafood and cheeses allowed in this category include:

Pork
Lamb
Beef
Poultry
Sweetbreads
Liver
Kidney
Oysters
Clams
Fish
Swiss Cheese
American Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Cottage Cheese

Dairy, Eggs, Fats and Oils

While milk and milk products are not usually advised for low residue diets they can be taken as long as the quantities are limited. Only 2 cups a day are allowed for milk and milk products.

Dairy milk
Almond milk
Lactose free milk
Rice milk
Soy milk
Yogurt
Ice cream
Eggs
Mayonnaise
Butter
Margarine
Vegetables oils

Breads and Cereals

Most diets restrict the use of refined cereals and breads but with the low residue diet lots of bread and cereal are allowed as long as they do not contain whole grains like bran, oats, dried fruits and nuts and granola.

Refined white bread
Light wheat bread
Rye bread
Soda crackers
Refined pasta
White rice
Saltines
Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are allowed to some extent. Vegetables that do not have skin or seeds can be eaten if they are cooked or canned. You can also consume cooked or canned fruits if they have the skin (all except for pineapples).

Cooked or canned vegetables without skin or seeds
Lettuce
Cantaloupes
Ripe bananas
Vegetable juice with no pulp or seeds
Fruit juices with no pulp
Desserts and Other Sweets

Low residue dieters can eat deserts and sweets if they pay attention to the content. The dishes should not contain fruits and nuts not allowed in the diet.

Cakes
Cookies
Candy
Sherbet
Gelatin
Plain puddings
Others Foods

This low residue diet list is a guide but is not all inclusive. Dieters should let common sense prevail if there are observed foods that are leading to increased bowel movement then stay away from them and record it on your personal list. Some other foods not listed above that are allowed include jellies, honey, syrups, gravies (as long as they are plain) and strained soups. Tea and coffee are also allowed although there has been some controversies about whether these are low residue foods.

Low Residue Diet - How Important to Your Health?

Whether you are suffering from a bowel inflammation, preparing for a colonoscopy or somewhere in between your doctor may have brought up the idea of a low residue diet to you. In a nutshell, these low fiber diets are designed so that the frequency of your visits to the bathroom are reduced and the transit time in your intestinal passages is increased.

Whilst you can lose weight with the low residue diet it is actually designed to help people with stomach conditions. Essentially the low residue diet removes a lot of indigestible foods from your diet so your body doesn’t have to work as hard to process it.

Because of this diet design there is some pretty strict guidelines of what you can and can’t eat. It is always best to consult with your doctor first but in general here are the foods that are ok to consume.

Foods you can eat on a Low residue diet

• Clear juices (make sure they are pulp free and strained)
• Fresh fruits (in moderation) that contain no seeds or peels.
• Well ground up meets, eggs, chicken or fish
• Mayonnaise, vegetable oils, butter and margarine as well as some dressings and (plain) gravies
• White rice and pasta, some cereals and white bread.
• Strained soups and broth from the above foods.

More important than the foods you can eat is the…

Foods to avoid during a Low Residue Diet

• Yogurts that contain the skin or seeds of fruit, most cheeses
• Popcorn
• Peanut Butter
• Raw veggies (except for lettuce)
• Any tough meat
• Oatmeal, millet, flax and buckwheat
• Peas, dried beans and other legumes.
• Whole grain pasta and bread or any products containing whole grains
• Corn bread and muffins
• Coco Powder (this includes chocolate)
• Seeds and Nuts
• Spicy food

As mentioned, your doctor may have his or her own personal plan for you so be sure to double check before you reach for the pantry.

So who is this diet for?

The low residue diet is aimed at a lot of different people such as

Bowel inflammation sufferers - If you have been recently ill or gone through surgery you may have been experiencing inflammation and pains in your stomach. A low fiber diet helps the body rest by not working as hard and giving it time to reduce the inflammation.

Pregnant women – Women in late stages of pregnancy are sometimes recommended to try this diet because it can reduce some of the stomach pain associated with pregnancy.

Radiotherapy patients – Some patients who have radiation treatment in their pelvis and stomach area can develop diarrhea. If the diarrhea continues it can be a serious medical issue! The low residue diet addresses these concerns by re-hydrating the person whilst stopping the diarrhea and preventing malnutrition.

Many other people also use the low residue diet to help them such as Crohn’s disease sufferers, patients after abdominal surgery, those inflicted with ulcerative colitis and even astronauts in space!