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.
Bacon is often considered a delicious, yet unhealthy, food due to its high fat and sodium content. But what about its fiber content? Is bacon actually a low fiber food that can be enjoyed as part of a low fiber diet?
What is Fiber and Why Does Fiber Content Matter?
Dietary fiber refers to the edible parts of plants that cannot be completely broken down by human digestive enzymes There are two main types of fiber
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Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a gel-like material. It helps lower cholesterol and glucose levels. Sources include oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium.
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Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It helps move material through your digestive system and promotes regular bowel movements Sources include wheat bran, vegetables, and whole grains
Consuming enough fiber has many health benefits including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease, constipation, and certain cancers. Most health organizations recommend 25-38 grams of total fiber daily.
However, some medical conditions like Crohn’s disease or bowel obstruction may require a low fiber diet to rest the bowels. This diet limits high fiber foods to allow the GI tract to heal.
Why Bacon is Considered a Low Fiber Food
Bacon is made from pork belly that has been cured, smoked, and sliced. The curing process preserves the meat and gives bacon its signature salty flavor.
During processing, the skin, bones, and fat are removed – taking most of the fiber with them. What little fiber remains comes from the small amounts of meat, fat, and connective tissue left behind.
According to the USDA, a 17g slice of pan-fried bacon contains just 0.2g fiber. That’s only 1% of the daily fiber recommendation in one slice!
So bacon contains very little indigestible plant material and is thus considered an extremely low fiber food. This makes it a suitable choice for people following a low fiber diet.
Other Low Fiber Meats
In addition to bacon, other meats that are naturally low in fiber include:
- Chicken breast: 0g fiber per 3oz
- Pork tenderloin: 0g fiber per 3oz
- Flank steak: 0g fiber per 3oz
- Ground beef: 0g fiber per 3oz
- Turkey breast: 0g fiber per 3oz
- Veal: 0g fiber per 3oz
- Ham: 0-0.5g fiber per 3oz
- Pepperoni: 0-0.5g fiber per oz
All animal products like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese contain no naturally occurring fiber. However, processed meats may have small amounts of added fiber fillers. Check labels to verify.
Building a Low Fiber Meal
When constructing a low fiber meal, focus on incorporating the lowest fiber options including:
- Meat: Bacon, chicken, turkey, ham, tenderloin, eggs
- Dairy: Milk, plain yogurt, cheese
- Grains: White bread, white rice, pasta, crackers without seeds/nuts
- Fruits: Bananas, melons, grapefruit, peaches, plums
- Vegetables: Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes without skin
- Fats/Oils: Butter, olive oil, cream cheese
A sample low fiber breakfast could contain eggs, bacon, white toast, jam, and coffee.
A sample low fiber lunch could have turkey, cheese and mayo on white bread plus canned peaches.
Aim to limit high fiber foods like beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, bran cereals, popcorn, raw fruits/veggies and whole grains. Check food labels and choose options with less than 2g fiber per serving.
Should You Include Bacon in a Low Fiber Diet?
Incorporating small amounts of bacon into a low fiber diet is likely fine for most people. While bacon provides protein, it offers little else nutritionally.
Eating more than 2-3 servings of processed red meat weekly may increase cancer risk. Thus bacon is best enjoyed occasionally as part of an overall healthy low fiber diet focused on nutrient-dense foods. Avoid serving sizes larger than 1-2 slices.
Consult your doctor or dietitian to determine if bacon should be included in your individualized low fiber meal plan. They can help balance your nutritional needs while keeping your fiber intake low.
With its minimal fiber content, bacon can be a tasty protein addition to a low fiber diet. But be mindful of portions and pair it with other nutritious low fiber foods like eggs, yogurt, fruit and white rice or pasta.
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
About the low-fiber diet
A low-fiber diet is low in both insoluble and soluble fiber. Every food you eat should have less than 2 grams (g) of fiber, and each meal should have less than 3 grams of fiber. You should have less than 10 total grams of fiber per day. It’s easy to find out how much fiber is in a serving of food. Read “How to Find Fiber on a Nutrition Facts Label.”
Following a low-fiber diet limits how much undigested food moves through your digestive tract (stomach and intestines). This means your body will make less stool. The stool that your body does make will move through your digestive tract more slowly.
There are many reasons your healthcare provider might recommend following a low-fiber diet. Some common reasons are:
- If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flare-up. IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Your bowel is also called your large intestine or colon.
- For people who are getting radiation therapy to the pelvis and lower bowel
- If you have a lot of diarrhea (loose, watery poop) or diarrhea that won’t go away, you should see a doctor.
- If you have a new colostomy or ileostomy.
- If you’ve had recent gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
- If you have a bowel obstruction. Someone or something is obstructing your bowels when food doesn’t move through them the way it should. It might be because of a tumor or scar tissue from surgery.
To find out more, read the last part of this page called “Reasons you may need to follow a low-fiber diet.”
How long you follow a low-fiber diet depends on the reason you’re following it. Some people only follow it for a little while. Other people follow it for longer. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about what to expect.
Keep following a low-fiber diet until your healthcare provider or clinical dietitian nutritionist says it’s OK to stop.
These Are Super Low Fiber Foods For Low-Residue Diet
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 is a low fiber diet?
A diet low in fiber is mainly composed of ultra-processed, industrialized foods, prepared with refined flours, fried foods, baked goods, sweets, sugary foods, and soft drinks. One of its main characteristics is that the Western diet is low in fiber, marked by the absence of fruits, vegetables, whole foods and a high consumption of fast foods.
What foods have a lot of fiber?
For example, yogurt, ice cream, cereal and even some drinks may have 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.
What foods can you eat on a low-fiber diet?
A low-fiber diet limits the types of vegetables, fruits and grains that you can eat. Some of the foods that are allowed on a low-fiber diet include milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish and eggs. People who are lactose intolerant should avoid milk and dairy products if they cause stomach pain or diarrhea.
What are some no sugar fiber foods?
Foods with low sugar fiber content are avocado, coconut, melon, berries, seeds like chia, linseed, sesame, nuts like Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, walnuts, almonds. Broccoli, asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, kale and brussels sprouts can also be considered.
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.