If your doctor prescribes a low-residue diet.  It usually means you are experiencing digestive issues or medical conditions that require your bowels to work less strenuously. This specialized diet is designed to ease the burden on your digestive system, allowing your intestines to function at a slower and more comfortable pace.  Let’s explore what a Low Residue Diet Food List looks like, why doctors recommend it, and how you can create meal plans that support your health.

What Is a Low-Residue Diet?

A low-residue diet reduces the amount of undigested food (known as residue) that passes through the intestines. Unlike high-fiber diets, which increase bowel activity, a low-residue plan minimizes fiber intake to 10–15 grams per day.

This approach helps reduce:

• Frequency of bowel movements
• Digestive tract irritation
• Bloating and abdominal pain

By doing so, your intestines get a chance to rest and recover.

Why Doctors Recommend a Low-Residue Diet

Doctors may prescribe a low-residue diet for several reasons, including:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

• Diverticulitis or intestinal blockages

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): during flare-ups

• After digestive surgery to promote healing

• Before colonoscopy or medical tests requiring bowel rest

By reducing indigestible food particles, this diet provides short-term relief and supports recovery.

Low Residue Diet Food List

When following a low-residue diet food list, the goal is to choose foods that are gentle on the digestive system while avoiding high-fiber, rough, or hard-to-digest items.

Low-Residue Diet recommended foods

Grains

• White bread, plain bagels, white rice, refined pasta

• Low-fiber cereals such as cream of wheat

Protein Sources

• Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, and tofu

• Tender cuts of beef, veal, lamb, and pork

• Oysters, clams, liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads (when broiled, roasted, stewed, or creamed)

Dairy

• American, cheddar, jack, Swiss, cottage cheese, cream cheese

• Milk, lactose-free milk, almond, rice, or soy milk (limit to two cups per day)

• Yogurt and small portions of ice cream

Vegetables

• Cooked or canned vegetables without skins or seeds

• Lettuce

• Carrots, zucchini, green beans (well-cooked)

• Vegetable juice without pulp

Fruits

• Bananas (ripe and peeled)

• Cantaloupe and honeydew melon

• Applesauce

• Canned or cooked fruits without skin (except pineapple)

• Fruit juice without pulp

Fats and Dressings

• Mayonnaise, seed-free salad dressings, vegetable oils

• Small amounts of butter or margarine

Sweets and Desserts

• Plain cookies, pies, and cakes (without nuts or seeds)

• Sherbet, fruit ice, gelatin, custard, puddings, tapioca

• Hard candy in moderation

Beverages

• Clear juices, broths, herbal teas

• Coffee and regular tea only if tolerated (check with your doctor)

Foods to avoid while on the diet

• Whole grains: brown rice, whole wheat bread, bran cereals

• Raw vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, corn, and leafy greens

• High-fiber fruits: berries, apples with skin, pears, figs

• Nuts, seeds, and legumes: beans, lentils, almonds, sunflower seeds

• Tough meats and fried foods

Example of a Low-Residue Diet Menu

Here’s what a typical day might look like on a low-residue diet:

• Breakfast: White toast with scrambled eggs and applesauce

• Lunch: Grilled chicken breast with white rice and cooked carrots

• Snack: Yogurt or a banana without skin

• Dinner: Baked fish with mashed potatoes and peeled zucchini

• Beverage: Clear broth or herbal tea

Key Takeaway

A low-residue diet is not meant for long-term use but can be very effective in reducing bowel strain during flare-ups or recovery. Always follow your doctor’s guidance and gradually reintroduce fiber when your condition improves.