Low Residue Diet Menu

A low residue diet is defined as the type of diet which limits foods rich in residue or fiber, and helps in slowing down bowel movements. Residue or fiber is that part of the food which is not digested by the digestive system and remains in the intestinal tract to form stools. If your daily diet comprises a high fiber diet, the amount of residue in the intestinal tract is more and you experience the need to pass stool more often. However, if you follow a low residue diet, which is not the same as low fiber diet (low residue is more restricted), there is less amount of residue formed in your intestines leading to limited passing of stools. Since our food is the most important factor to stay healthy, there is a low residue diet menu that is designed for this reason. This menu is mentioned below for your convenience, so take a look.

Low Residue Diet Menu Ideas

Not everyone suffering from digestive problems are advised to follow the low residue diet menu. This diet is only prescribed for patients who have gone through abdominal surgeries or those who are suffering from issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or diverticulitis. As mentioned above, the low residue diet is more strict than the low fiber diet and limits consumption of fiber and other foods which can't be digested by the digestive system.

The result of this diet is reduction in your bowel movements and the abdominal pain which are caused because of diarrhea and diverticulitis. But there is one drawback related to this diet, which is limitation of nutrients due to the strict consumption of low fiber foods. Thus, this diet is suggested for a very short time and includes foods without skin, seeds and baked foods made with refined white flour. With a few ideas for low residue diet recipes, there are menu ideas for this diet mentioned in the coming up paragraphs, just for you. Take a look!

Breakfast Menu Ideas
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and thus needs to be healthy. If you are consuming any dairy products, it is advised to have only 2 cups daily and not more. Therefore the low residue diet menu for breakfast can be;

• Muffins
• Cheerios
• Cornflakes
• Cream of Wheat
• Croissant
• Eggs (all types)
• English muffin
• French toast
• Milkshake
• Oatmeal
• Pancakes
• Puffs
• Rice Krispies
• Special K
• Toasted bread or bagel

Main Meal Menu Ideas
Your lunch and dinner can include almost all regular foods, but make sure there are no nuts, seeds or whole grains consumed. Dried fruits are also foods you should avoid in this diet. Thus this diverticulitis diet menu ideas for lunch and dinner can be;

• Beef
• Chicken burger
• Chicken wings or chicken balls
• Egg and cheese quiche
• Fish
• Fish burger
• Ham
• Hamburger
• Meatloaf or meatballs
• Pasta (fresh or canned)
• Perogies
• Pork
• Potatoes - baked, mashed, scalloped or salad
• Poultry
• Sandwiches
• Shepherd's pie
• Stews or soups
• Tacos, crepes, or tortillas
• Tofu

Snacks Menu Ideas
The snacks that can be included should be very light, and they have to be cooked. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables as they are high fiber foods. You can take a look at this low residue diet food list to get an idea of the foods to be eaten / avoided. Some more options can be:

• Digestive cookies
• Biscuit and cheese slices
• Canned fruit
• Fruit juice
• Garlic bread with cheese
• Hard candies or caramels
• Licorice or gum drops
• Melba toast and applesauce
• Muffin and banana
• Plain bagel and cream cheese
• Plain donut or cake
• Pretzels
• Scone
• Sherbet, ice cream, or pudding
• Soda crackers and smooth peanut butter
• Yogurt - (vanilla, peach, plain, lemon, coffee, caramel)

With these great ideas for low residue diet menu suggested in the above article, you can have a healthy and delicious diet, and stay healthy and fit. But before you decide to go for this diet, make sure to consult your doctor.