This information explains what a low-fiber diet is. It lists foods to include and avoid while you’re following a low-fiber diet. It also shares sample recipes.
Fiber comes from foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, beans, and grains. It’s not broken down by your body. There are 2 types of fiber:
Talk with your healthcare provider or clinical dietitian nutritionist to learn more about types of fiber.
A low fiber diet limits foods high in fiber like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. This type of diet may be recommended for digestive issues like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, IBS or after bowel surgery. Many people wonder if you can eat shrimp on a low fiber diet. The good news is that shrimp is a low fiber food that can be included in a low fiber meal plan.
What is a Low Fiber Diet?
Dietary fiber refers to the edible parts of plants that cannot be digested by the body. Fiber passes through the digestive system absorbing water along the way to create bulky stool. A low fiber diet limits high fiber foods to help reduce stool bulkiness and frequency of bowel movements.
A low fiber diet typically recommends limiting foods with more than 2-3 grams of fiber per serving. Foods to avoid on a low fiber diet include:
- Whole grains like whole wheat, brown rice, oats, quinoa
- Fruits and vegetables (especially raw produce)
- Legumes like beans, lentils and peas
- Nuts and seeds
- Dried fruit
- Shredded wheat and bran cereals
Allowed foods on a low fiber diet include
- Refined breads, cereals, crackers, pasta
- White rice
- Canned or cooked fruits and vegetables without skin or seeds
- Tender meats, poultry, fish, eggs
- Milk, yogurt, cheese
- Oils, butter, salad dressings without seeds
- Condiments
Can You Eat Shrimp on a Low Fiber Diet?
Yes, shrimp is perfectly acceptable on a low fiber diet. A 3 ounce serving of shrimp contains zero grams of fiber, making it a great protein choice for low fiber meal plans.
Shrimp is low in fat and calories too. A 3 ounce serving provides:
- 84 calories
- 18 grams protein
- 1 gram fat
- 0 grams carbs
- 0 grams fiber
In addition to being low fiber shrimp offers several important nutrients
- Selenium – supports thyroid function and immune health
- Vitamin B12 – essential for nerve function and red blood cell formation
- Iodine – regulates metabolism and promotes thyroid health
- Zinc – boosts immune function and wound healing
- Antioxidants like astaxanthin – reduces inflammation
The high protein content keeps you feeling fuller longer on fewer calories, which is helpful when you have to limit high fiber foods like fruits, veggies and whole grains.
Shrimp can be prepared in many ways to suit a low fiber diet:
- Grilled, sautéed, baked or broiled plain shrimp
- Shrimp scampi
- Shrimp tacos in corn tortillas
- Shrimp salad with mayo
- Shrimp cocktail
- Shrimp stir fry with white rice
- Creole shrimp with white rice
- Shrimp bisque soup
When buying shrimp, opt for wild caught or sustainably farmed shrimp. Try to avoid shrimp that has been treated with chemicals like sodium tripolyphosphate to retain water weight. Check the ingredients and nutrition facts to identify added fiber sources like whole grains or vegetable powders.
Sample Low Fiber Meal Plan with Shrimp
Here is a sample low fiber diet meal plan incorporating shrimp:
Breakfast
- Scrambled eggs
- White toast with butter
- Banana
- Coffee
Lunch
- Shrimp salad sandwich on white bread
- Cantaloupe slices
- Iced tea
Dinner
- Grilled shrimp skewers
- Baked potato without skin
- Steamed carrots
- White dinner roll
- Vanilla pudding
Snacks
- Saltine crackers with cheese
- White rice cakes
- Greek yogurt
- Cold shrimp with cocktail sauce
- Apple slices
This sample menu provides less than 15 grams of fiber per day from refined grain breads and cereals, tender fruits and vegetables, eggs and low fiber shrimp.
Tips for Following a Low Fiber Diet
Here are some tips to help you follow a low fiber diet:
- Read nutrition labels and avoid products with more than 2-3 grams fiber per serving
- Look for breads, cereals, pasta made with refined white flour
- Peel and de-seed fruits and vegetables; cook produce to soften it
- Choose canned fruits packed in juice, not heavy syrups
- Limit nuts, seeds, legumes, bran or whole grains
- Drink plenty of fluids like water, juice, tea, broths
- Ask your doctor about taking a fiber supplement like Benefiber
- Work with a dietitian to ensure nutritional adequacy
The Bottom Line
Shrimp is a smart choice for a low fiber diet. With zero grams of fiber per serving, shrimp offers an easy way to boost protein intake when you need to limit high fiber foods. Combined with refined grains, low fiber fruits and vegetables, eggs and dairy, shrimp can be part of a nutritious low fiber diet to manage digestive issues. Just be sure to have your low fiber diet monitored by your healthcare provider and registered dietitian.
New colostomy or ileostomy
You may need a new way to get rid of waste after surgery on your colon or rectum. If you do, your surgeon will make an opening on your belly. They’ll connect your ileum (the last part of your small intestine) or colon to the opening. If they use your ileum, it’s called an ileostomy. If they use your colon, it’s called a colostomy. The part of your ileum or colon that’s outside your body is called a stoma. You’ll wear a pouch over your stoma to collect your stool.
After your surgery, your bowel will be swollen and need time to recover. High-fiber foods are harder for your body to digest and can cause gas. They’re also more likely to block your new ileostomy or colostomy. Following a low-fiber diet can help your body heal. Your care team will tell you how long to follow it. They’ll also tell you if you need to make any other changes to your diet after surgery.
You can read Diet Guidelines for People With a Colostomy or Diet Guidelines for People With an Ileostomy to learn more about what you should eat after getting a colostomy or ileostomy.
Depending on the specific GI surgery you had, you may have abdominal pain and diarrhea after surgery. Following a low-fiber diet can help lessen these side effects.
Salmon Filet with Yogurt Avocado Sauce
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Note: Only a small amount of avocado is used to keep the fiber content low.
- Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C).
- Fill a food processor with Greek yogurt, avocado, dill, garlic, lemon juice, water, salt, and pepper to taste. Process until the sauce is smooth. If you need to, add more water one tablespoon at a time until it’s the right consistency.
- Place the fish fillet skin side down on a baking sheet lined with foil. Season with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil. Fish should be baked for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until it’s just cooked through. (Fillets cut from the tail will cook faster than fillets cut from the middle, which are thicker.) ) .
- Add ¼ cup or less of avocado-dill yogurt on top while soup is still warm.
Per serving: 280 calories, 6g carbohydrate, 18g total fat, 3g fiber, 24g protein
Note: This recipe has 3 grams of fiber. It should be counted as a meal.
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Note: To keep the amount of fiber low, do not use more than ⅔ cup of fruit.
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth.
Per serving: 270 calories, 49g carbohydrate, 0g total fat, 2g fiber, 16g protein
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- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth.
Per serving: 113 calories, 27g carbohydrate, 0g total fat, 2g fiber, 1.5g protein
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Note: Only a small amount of spinach is used to keep the amount of fiber low.
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth.
Per serving: 170 calories, 42g carbohydrate, 0g total fat, 0.5g fiber, 2g protein
Dietitian’s Tips on Following a Low Fiber Diet – Mayo Clinic
FAQ
Are shrimp low in fiber?
Can you eat seafood on a low-fiber diet?
Is seafood high in fiber?
Should I eat a low fiber diet?
You may need to eat a low fiber diet if you have certain health conditions. Foods low in fiber include white bread, skinless vegetables, seedless fruits, and some dairy products, among others. This video file cannot be played. (Error Code: 102630) A low fiber diet, or low residue diet, limits the amount of fiber you eat each day.
Is shrimp ok on a soft diet?
Yes, you can, but as long as they are well cooked, and preferably cut into small pieces before eating. All very tender meats can go in.
What foods are low in fiber?
Look for foods that have no more than 1 to 2 grams of fiber in one serving. Avoid these foods and products made with them: Nuts, seeds, dried fruit and coconut. Whole grains, popcorn, wheat germ and bran. Brown rice, wild rice, oatmeal, granola, shredded wheat, quinoa, bulgur and barley. Dried beans, baked beans, lima beans, peas and lentils.
What foods should I avoid if I’m low in fiber?
Avoid bits: In general, it may help to avoid foods with pieces in them, such as fruit yogurts, marmalades, and crunchy peanut butter. Preparation is key: In addition to food choices, food preparation can also help make things lower in fiber. For example, peeling fruits and vegetables and sieving lumpy soups may make them easier to tolerate.