What foods should you avoid on a low-residue diet?

December 21, 2025 •

4 min read

According to studies, a low-residue diet can be critical for individuals with certain digestive conditions to reduce stool volume and frequency. Understanding what foods should you avoid on a low-residue diet is essential for preparing for medical procedures like a colonoscopy or managing conditions like Crohn's disease. This dietary approach minimizes the amount of undigested material, or 'residue,' that passes through the large intestine.

Quick Summary

A low-residue diet restricts high-fiber foods, tough meats, and certain dairy to minimize intestinal residue. It is used for conditions like IBD flare-ups or colonoscopy prep to reduce stool bulk. Key exclusions include whole grains, raw vegetables, dried fruits, seeds, and nuts.

Key Points

Restrict High-Fiber Grains: Avoid whole grains like whole-wheat bread and brown rice, opting for refined grains like white bread and white rice instead.
Eliminate Raw and Bulky Vegetables: Most raw vegetables, legumes, and certain cooked vegetables like broccoli and corn should be avoided due to high fiber content.
Skip Fruits with Seeds, Skins, or Pulp: Steer clear of all berries, dried fruits, and juices with pulp, choosing peeled, canned fruits and strained juices instead.
Avoid Nuts, Seeds, and Tough Meats: Nuts, seeds, crunchy peanut butter, and meats with gristle are prohibited; favor lean, tender protein sources instead.
Limit Dairy if Needed: Intake of milk products should be limited to 2 cups per day, and items with fruit or seeds like some yogurts and cheeses are restricted.

Understanding the Low-Residue Diet

A low-residue diet is designed to reduce the amount of undigested food that passes into your large intestine. The goal is to limit the bulk of your stool, giving your bowel a rest and helping to manage symptoms of certain digestive issues. Medical professionals often prescribe this diet temporarily before a colonoscopy or during flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. The defining characteristic of foods to avoid is their high fiber content or indigestible parts like seeds and skins.

High-Fiber Grains and Carbohydrates

One of the most important categories of foods to avoid on a low-residue diet is high-fiber grains and carbohydrates. These foods are a primary source of dietary fiber, which, while healthy in a normal diet, produces excess bulk in the stool that a low-residue diet aims to minimize. The primary guideline is to choose refined grains over whole grains.

Whole Grains: This includes whole-wheat bread, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, oatmeal, and whole-grain cereals like bran flakes.
Other Grains and Seeds: Popcorn, granola, quinoa, couscous, and cereals containing nuts, seeds, or dried fruit are also off-limits.
Allowed Alternatives: Instead, focus on refined white bread, white rice, white pasta, and low-fiber cereals like Corn Flakes or Rice Krispies.

Raw and High-Fiber Vegetables

Most raw vegetables are poorly digested and are therefore restricted on a low-residue diet. Additionally, certain cooked vegetables are also high in fiber and should be avoided.

Raw Vegetables and Salad Greens: All raw vegetables, including lettuce, spinach, bell peppers, celery, and onions, should be avoided.
Cruciferous and Leguminous Vegetables: Cooked or raw broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, corn, peas, and legumes like dried beans and lentils are also prohibited.
Vegetables with Skins and Seeds: Potatoes should be peeled, and vegetables like tomatoes, cucumber, and winter squash must have their skins and seeds removed before cooking and consumption.
Allowed Alternatives: Opt for well-cooked, peeled, and seedless vegetables such as canned or cooked carrots, beets, green beans, and peeled potatoes.

Fruits with Skins, Seeds, and High Fiber

Similar to vegetables, most fruits must be processed to remove the fibrous elements that contribute to residue. The skins, seeds, and high-fiber content of many fruits make them unsuitable for this diet.

Dried and Berried Fruits: This includes raisins, prunes, dates, and all types of berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries).
Raw Fruits: With very few exceptions like ripe bananas, most raw fruits should be avoided.
Juices with Pulp: Avoid fruit juices that contain pulp or seeds, such as orange juice with pulp or prune juice.
Allowed Alternatives: Acceptable fruit choices include strained fruit juices without pulp, canned fruits like peaches or pears, and applesauce.

Nuts, Seeds, and Tough Proteins

Foods with tough, indigestible parts like nuts, seeds, and specific types of meat must be eliminated entirely from a low-residue diet.

Nuts and Seeds: All nuts and seeds, including sunflower, sesame, flax seeds, and crunchy nut butters, should be avoided.
Tough and Processed Meats: Tough meats with gristle, tough skin, and highly processed or seasoned meats, including some deli meats, are off-limits.
Beans and Legumes: Lentils, peas, and dried beans are high in fiber and should be strictly avoided.
Allowed Alternatives: Stick to lean, tender, and well-cooked proteins like poultry, fish, and ground beef. Creamy nut butters without chunks are also acceptable.

Comparison of Foods: Avoid vs. Include


Food Category	Foods to AVOID (High-Residue)	Foods to INCLUDE (Low-Residue)
Grains	Whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, popcorn	Refined white bread, white rice, Rice Krispies, saltine crackers
Vegetables	Raw vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, corn, potato skins	Well-cooked, peeled carrots, beets, peeled potatoes without skin
Fruits	All berries, dried fruits, fruits with skin/seeds, prune juice	Bananas, cantaloupe, canned peaches, strained fruit juices
Protein	Nuts, seeds, tough meats, crunchy nut butters, legumes	Lean, tender meat/fish, eggs, smooth peanut butter, tofu
Dairy	Yogurt with fruit/nuts, cheese with seeds	Milk, smooth yogurt, cottage cheese (limit dairy to 2 cups/day)

Conclusion

Adhering to a low-residue diet requires careful attention to food choices, prioritizing items that are easily digested and limiting those with high fiber, seeds, and tough textures. By avoiding whole grains, raw or high-fiber vegetables, certain fruits, and tough proteins, you can effectively reduce stool bulk. This diet is a temporary but powerful tool for managing specific medical conditions or preparing for procedures. It is always important to follow your doctor's instructions for the duration of the diet, and to reintroduce higher fiber foods slowly and gradually. For more information, the National Institutes of Health provides further details on the purpose and clinical uses of a low-residue diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary goal is to reduce the amount of undigested material, or residue, that remains in the large intestine. This helps to decrease the bulk and frequency of stool.

Fruits and vegetables often contain high amounts of fiber, seeds, and skins, which are not fully digested and can add bulk to the stool. Peeling and cooking some vegetables and choosing seedless or canned fruits are necessary adaptations.

No, brown rice is considered a high-residue food and should be avoided. White rice is the appropriate low-residue alternative.

Refined breads made with white flour are acceptable. Whole-grain breads, crackers with seeds, and other high-fiber bread products should be avoided.

No, all nuts and seeds, including those found in bread and cereal, are restricted. Smooth nut butters are typically the only acceptable alternative.

While similar, a low-residue diet is generally more restrictive than a low-fiber diet. It not only limits fiber but also tough, indigestible foods like certain meats, nuts, and specific dairy products.

A low-residue diet is typically used as a temporary measure. The duration depends on the specific medical condition or procedure and should always be determined by a doctor.