FIBER-RESTRICTED!
SAMPLE MENUS
Fiber-Restricted Sample Menus
Some types of cancer and cancer treatments may cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Your doctor may recommend that you
follow a fiber-restricted diet (also referred to as low-residue or low-fiber). A fiber-restricted diet reduces the amount and frequency of
bowel movements, therefore reducing irritation to your digestive tract. Your healthcare team may also recommend a fiber-restricted
diet if you have a colostomy or ileostomy, or recent intestinal surgery.
Suggestions for a fiber-restricted diet are listed below. When reading nutrition labels on packaged foods, look for foods that contain
fewer than 2 grams of dietary fiber per serving. Ask for a referral to a registered dietitian (RD) to help you find out how much fiber
you should be consuming.
AVOID:
✕
Raw, undercooked fruits and vegetables
✕
Fruits and vegetables with seeds, skins, or hulls
✕
Cooked greens or spinach
✕
Peas and corn
✕
Berries
✕
Dried fruits
✕
Juices with pulp
✕
Prune juice
✕
Tough meats with gristle
✕
Fried meat, poultry, or fish
✕
Sushi
✕
Dried beans, peas, or lentils
✕
Sausage, bacon, or hot dogs
✕
Chunky nut butters
✕
Whole grains such as whole wheat bread, brown rice,
quinoa, barley, oatmeal, and popcorn
You may also want to avoid these gas-forming vegetables:
beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lima beans,
mushrooms, okra, onions, parsnips, peppers, and potato skins.
EAT:
✓ Canned or well-cooked fruits and vegetables
✓ Low-fat milk (if lactose intolerant, choose lactose-free)*
✓ Yogurt without added granola, fruit, nuts, or seeds*
✓ Soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk*
✓ Sherbet*
✓ Tender, well-cooked meat, poultry, pork, or fish
✓ Eggs
✓ Smooth nut butters
✓ Tofu
✓ White bread, pasta, or rice
✓ Cream of Wheat
✓ Grits
✓ Cold and hot cereals made from refined white flour
✓ Pancakes and waffles made with refined white flour
✓ Oils, butter, cream cheese, margarine, mayonnaise
*Although milk does not contain fiber, it can leave indigestible
food in your intestines, leading to diarrhea and discomfort. If
you can tolerate milk, limit milk products to no more than 2 cups
per day. If you arelactose intolerant, try using lactose-free
products.
WHAT ABOUT DESSERT?
Choose desserts without whole grains, seeds, nuts, raisins, or coconut. Desserts can be high in sugar, which can cause diarrhea to
worsen. Limit yourself to small portions of these treats. Some examples include sugar cookies, popsicles, angel food cake, Italian ice,
and gelatin.
Below are three sample meal plans for following a fiber-restricted diet (each with about 2,000 calories). For a meal plan to meet your
specific needs and food habits, ask your healthcare team for a referral to an RD who works with cancer survivors. If you struggle with
your food choices or don’t have enough energy, an RD can help you develop a healthy meal plan.
Fiber-Restricted Sample Menu: Day 1
MEAL
SUGGESTED ITEMS
NOTES
BREAKFAST
Fiber 2 grams
1 scrambled egg with
1 oz. mild cheddar cheese
2 slices white toast with 2 tsp. butter and 2 tsp.
grape jelly
4 oz. cranberry juice
8 oz. tea
Look for bread with fewer than 2 grams
dietary fiber per serving. Use jelly instead
of jam or preserves.
Try decaffeinated beverages.
MORNING SNACK
Fiber 1 gram
6 saltine crackers
1 Tbsp. peanut butter
8 oz. water
Use smooth instead of crunchy nut
butters.
LUNCH
Fiber 6 grams
grilled chicken sandwich with 3 oz. grilled
chicken,1 oz. Swiss cheese
1 tsp. mustard, and 1 hamburger bun
1 cup chicken and rice soup
1/2 cup well-cooked zucchini
1/2cup canned pears
8 oz. water
If lactose intolerant, look for lactose-free
cheese. Use buns made with white flour
and no sesame seeds or berries.
Eat well-cooked vegetables without
seeds or peels.
AFTERNOON SNACK
Fiber 2 grams
1 small bagel
1 Tbsp. cream cheese
8 oz. herbal tea
Choose plain bagels without fruit or nuts.
DINNER
Fiber 3 grams
4 oz. baked salmon
1/2cup well-cooked green beans
3/4 cupGinger Rice*
white dinner roll with 1 tsp. butter
8 oz. iced tea
Remove strings from green beans.
Healthy people need 8-10 glasses of fluid
daily. If you have diarrhea, you may need
more fluid.
BEDTIME SNACK
6 oz. sorbet
8 oz. water
Use sorbet without fruits.
* Denotes aPearlPointrecipe.
Fiber-Restricted Sample Menu: Day 2
MEAL
SUGGESTED ITEMS
NOTES
BREAKFAST
Fiber 5 grams
1 cup puffed rice cereal with 4 oz. low-fat milk
1/2 English muffin with 1 Tbsp. smooth peanut
butter
3/4 cup cottage cheese with 1/2 cup canned
peaches
8 oz. coffee
Use grains made from refined, white flour.
If lactose intolerant, look for a lactose-
free milk, like soy or almond milk.
Choose canned fruit without peels.
MORNING SNACK
Fiber 1 gram
6 vanilla wafers with
1 Tbsp. almond butter
8 oz. strained lemonade
LUNCH
Fiber 5 grams
one 3.5 inch x 3 inch slice meat lasagna
1 small piece French bread
1 tsp. butter
1/2 cup applesauce
8 oz. iced tea
For lasagna, use sauce made from
peeled, seedless tomatoes. Try a ripe
banana, baked peeled apples, or melon
in place of applesauce.
AFTERNOON SNACK
6 oz. yogurt
8 oz. water
Use creamy yogurt with live and active
cultures and without berries and nuts.
DINNER
Fiber 3 grams
3 oz. pork loin
1/2 cup glazed carrots
1/2 cup mashed potatoes, no skins
1 small dinner roll
1 tsp. butter
4 oz. apple juice
8 oz. water
Choose meats that are tender and well-
cooked but not fried. For variety, try
vegetable juice that is strained with no
pulp.
BEDTIME SNACK
2 small sugar cookies
8 oz. herbal tea
Try an assortment of plain cookies
without nuts or fruit.
Fiber-Restricted Sample Menu: Day 3
MEAL
SUGGESTED ITEMS
NOTES
BREAKFAST
Fiber 3 grams
2 slices French toast
1 tsp. butter
8 oz. low fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup canned mandarin oranges
8 oz. herbal tea
You may also use white bread in place of
French toast.
MORNING SNACK
Fiber 1 gram
2 squares graham crackers with 2 Tbsp. cream
cheese and 1 Tbsp. jelly
8 oz. water
Use jelly instead of jam or preserves.
LUNCH
Fiber 4 grams
tuna salad sandwich made with½ cup tuna
mixed with2 Tbsp. light mayo on 2 slices white
bread
1 oz. pretzels
1 cup canned pineapple
8 oz. water
You may use salmon in place of tuna.Try
canned fruits packed in water.
AFTERNOON SNACK
hard boiled egg
1 oz. mozzarella cheese
8 oz. water
Egg, tofu, and cheese are quick protein
sources.
DINNER
Fiber 7 grams
3 oz.Lemony Honey Glazed Roasted Chicken*
1/2 cup canned yams, mashed
1 cup well-cooked green beans
1 small dinner roll
1 tsp. butter
8 oz. iced tea
Peel potatoes or vegetables before
cooking.
BEDTIME SNACK
Fiber 1 gram
2 medium gingersnap cookies
8 oz. herbal tea
Drink caffeine-free beverages in the
evening for better sleep.
* Denotes aPearlPointrecipe.
Ginger Rice
Studies have shown that ginger soothes an upset
stomach. Try this simple ginger rice recipe to help
managenausea.
INGREDIENTS:
•
2 tablespoons grated and peeled fresh ginger
•
1 teaspoon sugar
•
1 teaspoon salt
•
2 ½ cups water
•
2 cups uncooked rice
DIRECTIONS:
Stir together ginger, sugar and salt in saucepan. Add water
and bring to a boil; boil 2 minutes. Stir in rice; reduce heat
to low. Cover; cook until most water is absorbed, 15 to 18
minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 7 minutes.
Fluff rice with a fork before serving.
Recipe from PearlPoint Cancer Support dietitians.
Lemony Honey Glazed Roasted
Chicken
This recipe has only 5 ingredients, but creates a delicious, flavorful roast
chicken. Lemon juice, warm honey and aromatic herbs give roast chicken the
perfect balance of spicy sweetness and tang. Pair your chicken with a side of
roasted vegetables and brown rice, and you’ve got a tasty, nutritious meal.
INGREDIENTS
•
1 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
•
1 (3 1/2 – 4 lbs.) whole roasting chicken
•
1 Tbsp. dried Italian herbs (or 1/2 Tbsp. dried oregano and 1/2 Tbsp. dried
basil)
•
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
•
4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
•
1/3 cup honey
DIRECTIONS
Pour lemon juice in large bowl. Place chicken in juice. Cover with plastic wrap
and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Turn chicken over and let marinate an additional
hour.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove chicken from marinate. Sprinkle on Italian
herbs. Salt and pepper to taste. Place thyme sprigs in cavity of chicken.
Place chicken breast side up on a rack in roasting pan. Roast uncovered for 15
minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees and roast for an additional 30 minutes.
Heat honey and with pastry brush thoroughly coat chicken all over. Lower heat
to 350 degrees. Continue to cook until well browned, about 45 minutes,
occasionally basting chicken with the natural juices and recoating it with honey.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure chicken is fully cooked, 170 degrees.
If desired, use gravy separator to remove fat from pan juices and ladle juice over
brown rice.
Makes 6 servings.
Per 4oz serving:225 calories, 7 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 16 g carbohydrate,
25 g protein, 0 g dietary fiber, 76 mg sodium.
Recipe from the American Institute for Cancer Research
