Low Residue Diet Foods

The pain, cramps and diarrhea often associated with inflammatory diseases such as Crohns disease and diverticulitis is not something that patients want to endure. Doctors usually recommend a low residue diet which involves the consumption of foods which are more digestible that will reduce the frequency of bowel movements. In this type of diet the use of fiber is restricted so foods with whole grains, nuts, seeds and raw or dried fruits are automatically excluded from the diet.

The term residue refers to the food that are not digested and thus passed out into the stools. When intestinal walls are damaged it becomes harder to digest foods and absorb nutrients but a low residue diet makes this a lot easier to do. When intestinal walls are narrowed as is the case with Crohn’s disease the reduced volume of the bowel movement as allowed with a low residue diet will help to reduce the cramps, diarrhea and gas experienced by patients. Although the pain and symptoms is reduced the inflammation will not go away so the diet will not cure the disease itself.

Since low residue diet foods is completely the opposite of what nutritionists believe to be a healthy diet, the diet itself is recommended only short term when there is a flare up or to help with recovery after surgery has taken place. It should also be noted that you should not automatically switch to a low residue diet just because you have been diagnosed with some sort of irritable bowel disease. Always consult with a physician before starting a diet like this.

Low Residue Diet Foods

A low residue diet is similar to a low fiber diet and should not be followed for long periods since it will limit much needed fiber and nutrients from the diet. Some low residue diet foods are:

Grains

Only refined or enriched breads and crackers.
Cream of wheat, grits and other coked cereals.
Puffed rice, corn flakes and similar cold cereals.
Refined pasta and white rice.
Fruits and Vegetables

Skin and seeds should be removed from any fruit consumed due to the high fiber contained in these parts of the fruit.

Well cooked or well cooked fresh vegetables.
Potatoes without the skin.
Tomato sauce is fine as long as the seeds are removed.
Ripe bananas
Honeydew
Cantaloupe
Avocado
Fruits which are canned or cooked without the seeds or skin.

Other low residue diet foods include meats such as tender cuts of pork, beef, poultry, fish, oysters, sweetbreads and more. Foods such as butter, margarine, vegetable oils, mayonnaise, honey, American cheese, Swiss cheese, creams, cottage cheese are also allowed. Milk can be consumed up to a maximum serving of 2 cups a day. Desserts are good on this diet as long as they are made from refined flour and do not contain fruits and nuts.

Low Residue Diet Recipes

Low residue diets can be somewhat restrictive however patients who understand the basic principle behind the diet have less of a hard time preparing meals while on the diet. The purpose of a diet like this is to restrict the volume and frequency of stools passed. Some onlookers might ask but why would anyone want to do that? Well its simple, people suffering from some conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and even those suffering from specific cancers need to reduce their elimination of waste to limit discomfort, prepare for surgery and for other valid reasons. Since doing this is not recommended for long periods low residue diets are usually short term.

The fact that the diet itself may be just for a few weeks or months does not take away the frustration of what to eat and how to prepare meals. There are today an abundance of low residue diet recipes available on the internet, in magazines and even in published cookbooks. Truth be told a number of the foods that the average person consumes may already be low residue since the greater majority of the population limit fiber in the diet as it stands.

To make it simple you can start by putting together simple things for your meals as long as the foods are low in insoluble fiber. Refer to the low reside diet food list for a listing of foods that are allowed and not allowed. You can also use your normal recipes for breads, cakes, soups, entrees and others and replace any ingredients that are not allowed on the diet. Steer clear of meats that are fried and grilled and instead steam, broil or roast any meats that you consume. When making deserts and sweets such as baked pies you can use the same recipes but make sure to peel the skin off your vegetables and remember to remove the seeds! You can also replace any dairy ingredients with non dairy ingredients.

The great part of low residue diet recipes is that with the amount of flexibility allowed it is easy and convenient to prepare meals that are good and tasty, in fact so good that even people who are not on the diet would enjoy them.

Most patients suffering with abdominal ailments, who are on this diet, usually do not want to eat large meals due to the pain sometimes involved. For this reason they tend to snack on smaller meals all throughout the day. In this case breads and cakes can be eaten as long as they are made from white flour and do not contain fruits and nuts. Soup recipes that call for the use of pumpkin, squash and carrots are all good options but make sure to remove any skin or seeds beforehand.

It is not specifically a requirement to purchase a cookbook if you want to get some low residue diet recipes but if you are having a hard time replacing ingredients in normal recipes to follow your diet then you should consider getting one.