Can I Eat Canned Tomatoes on a Low-Fiber Diet?

December 3, 2025 •

4 min read

According to numerous medical guidelines, canned or well-cooked vegetables without skins or seeds are often approved for low-fiber diets. This means that with proper preparation and selection, you can eat canned tomatoes on a low-fiber diet, making them a safe and versatile ingredient.

Quick Summary

Canned tomatoes are generally safe for a low-fiber diet when processed to remove skins and seeds. Learn which products are best for gut sensitivity, how to check labels, and preparation tips to maximize digestibility and maintain flavor in your meals.

Key Points

Select Smooth Varieties: Choose tomato paste, purée, or passata, as these are processed to remove high-fiber skins and seeds.
Prepare Whole Canned Tomatoes: If using whole peeled canned tomatoes, you can strain them to remove any seeds for extra precaution.
Cook Thoroughly: Cooking canned tomatoes further breaks down any fibrous components, making them easier to digest for sensitive systems.
Check for Additives: Always read labels on canned tomato products to avoid versions with high-fiber ingredients like garlic, onions, or herbs.
Consider Portion Size with IBS: Those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome should be mindful of FODMAP content in tomatoes and follow recommended serving sizes.
Enjoy Nutritional Benefits: Canned tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant that becomes more bioavailable after cooking and processing.

Understanding the Low-Fiber Diet

A low-fiber diet, sometimes called a low-residue diet, is designed to minimize the amount of undigested material that passes through the body. By limiting high-fiber foods, this dietary approach helps reduce stool volume and frequency, and can help alleviate symptoms related to various gastrointestinal conditions, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis flares. It is also commonly used in preparation for and recovery from certain surgeries.

Unlike fresh vegetables, which often contain fibrous skins and seeds that can be irritating to a sensitive gut, canned and cooked vegetables are typically softer and easier to digest. Adherence to a low-fiber diet involves carefully selecting foods, including fruits and vegetables, to ensure they contain minimal fiber per serving.

Can Canned Tomatoes Fit into a Low-Fiber Plan?

The short answer is yes, canned tomatoes can be an excellent fit for a low-fiber diet, provided they are prepared correctly. The key lies in the processing. Most standard canned tomato products, such as tomato paste, puree, and sauce, have had the fibrous skins and indigestible seeds removed during manufacturing. This significantly reduces their fiber content compared to a raw tomato.

Whole peeled canned tomatoes are also an option, as the skins have been removed. However, to be extra cautious and reduce residue further, some people may choose to strain out the seeds or use a version already processed into a smoother consistency, like passata.

Canned vs. Fresh Tomatoes on a Low-Fiber Diet


Factor	Fresh Tomatoes	Canned Tomatoes
Fiber Content	Can contain higher fiber from skins and seeds (around 1.2g per average tomato).	Typically lower fiber, especially in purées and pastes, as skins and seeds are removed during processing.
Preparation for Low-Fiber	Requires manual peeling and deseeding, which can be time-consuming and tedious.	Already processed for a low-fiber consistency in most forms (paste, purée), minimizing prep work.
Lycopene Levels	Good source of lycopene, but its bioavailability is lower than in processed versions.	Cooking and canning break down cell walls, increasing the bioavailability of the antioxidant lycopene.
Convenience	Less convenient for immediate use in low-fiber recipes due to necessary preparation.	Highly convenient, shelf-stable, and ready for use in soups, sauces, and stews.

How to Use Canned Tomatoes Safely

Choose the Right Type: Opt for tomato puree, tomato paste, or passata, as these are already smooth and strained. Whole peeled canned tomatoes are also suitable, but check for whole seeds if you are particularly sensitive.
Read the Label: Scan the ingredients list to ensure no high-fiber additives, such as garlic or onion chunks, have been included, especially if you have a condition like IBS. A good low-fiber option will list just tomatoes, salt, and possibly citric acid.
Purée Further (Optional): For those with extreme gut sensitivity, even a small number of seeds can cause irritation. To be completely sure, you can run canned diced tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes through a food mill or blender and then strain them.
Incorporate in Cooked Meals: The best way to use canned tomatoes on a low-fiber diet is by cooking them thoroughly into sauces, soups, or stews. Cooking further breaks down any remaining tough vegetable components, making them even easier to digest.

Best Canned Tomato Options for Low-Fiber Diets

Tomato Paste: This is a highly concentrated, smooth product made from cooked tomatoes with the skins and seeds removed. It is very low in fiber and a great addition for rich flavor.
Tomato Purée: Thinner than paste, this is also a smooth product free of skins and seeds, perfect for sauces and soups.
Passata: A sieved, uncooked tomato purée, passata offers a fresh-tasting flavor with a smooth texture ideal for sauces.
Whole Peeled Tomatoes: While the skins are removed, these may contain seeds. For many, this is fine, but those with extreme sensitivity should check for seeds or blend the tomatoes before use.
Tomato Sauce: Pre-made sauces can work, but always check the label to ensure they are free of high-fiber ingredients like chunky vegetables, seeds, or excessive spices.

Important Considerations for Digestive Conditions

While canned tomatoes are often safe for low-fiber diets, individuals with specific conditions should take extra precautions. For those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), some tomatoes may trigger symptoms due to their fructose and other naturally occurring chemicals, like salicylates and glutamates. The Monash University FODMAP guidelines, for example, recommend specific serving sizes for various tomato products. It is crucial to test your individual tolerance and be mindful of portion sizes. Similarly, while older advice suggested avoiding seeds for diverticulitis, modern research indicates that seeds are generally safe and don't contribute to flare-ups. Still, some individuals may find them irritating and should listen to their body.

Foods to Avoid When on a Low-Fiber Diet

To ensure your diet remains low-fiber and doesn't trigger symptoms, it's essential to know what to avoid. Here's a list of high-fiber foods that should be limited or avoided:

Whole Grains: Brown rice, whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and oatmeal.
Nuts and Seeds: All nuts, seeds (including sesame and sunflower), and crunchy nut butters.
Legumes: Beans, lentils, and peas.
Raw Vegetables: Except for lettuce, most raw vegetables should be avoided, especially those with skins or seeds.
Fruits with Skin or Seeds: Most berries, figs, dates, and dried fruit.
Fibrous Meats: Tough, fibrous meats with gristle.

Conclusion

For individuals needing to follow a low-fiber diet, canned tomatoes are a readily available and convenient option. By choosing smooth, processed varieties like paste or puree, you can enjoy the robust flavor of tomatoes without the high-fiber skins and seeds that can be irritating to the digestive tract. With some awareness of potential sensitivities related to specific conditions like IBS, canned tomatoes can be safely integrated into a diet designed to promote gut rest and healing. Always consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian for personalized dietary guidance to best manage your health. For additional resources on low-fiber eating, the Mayo Clinic offers extensive do's and don'ts for those following this diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canned tomatoes, particularly purée and paste, are processed to remove the most fibrous parts (skins and seeds), making them much lower in fiber than a whole, uncooked tomato. A typical canned diced tomato serving can contain as little as 1 gram of fiber, well within low-fiber guidelines.

Yes, but with caution. Most canned diced tomatoes have the skins removed, but they contain seeds, which can be irritating for some. If you are very sensitive, consider blending and straining them further or opting for a smoother purée or paste instead.

You must check the ingredients list. Many jarred sauces include high-fiber additions like onion, garlic, or chunky vegetables. For a low-fiber diet, choose a very plain, smooth tomato sauce or stick to purée or paste and season it yourself.

Yes, tomato paste is one of the safest canned tomato products for a low-fiber diet. It is highly concentrated and completely free of skins and seeds, providing deep flavor without the fiber.

Cooking doesn't remove the fiber but makes the vegetable material softer and easier to digest. Since canned tomatoes are already cooked, they are generally softer than fresh ones, and further cooking only helps break down any remaining texture.

While some vitamins can be lost in the canning process, canned tomatoes actually have higher levels of the antioxidant lycopene than fresh tomatoes. The heat treatment makes the lycopene more bioavailable for your body to absorb.

During a flare-up, you may need to avoid all fibrous foods, including canned tomatoes, as part of a temporary liquid diet. However, once symptoms subside and you reintroduce solid foods, cooked or canned tomatoes without skins and seeds are generally considered safe, and modern research suggests seeds do not cause flares.