What shouldn't you eat if you have gastroparesis? An Essential Diet Guide

October 14, 2025 •

4 min read

Affecting up to 5 million people in the U.S., gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach empties food too slowly, causing significant discomfort. Navigating a diet can be challenging, so it is essential to understand what shouldn't you eat if you have gastroparesis? to effectively manage your symptoms.

Quick Summary

Patients with gastroparesis must limit or avoid high-fat and high-fiber solid foods, including fried items, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and raw produce. Modifying food texture and consistency is crucial for managing symptoms like nausea and bloating.

Key Points

Avoid high-fat solids: Fried foods, fatty meats, and full-fat dairy are difficult to digest and slow down stomach emptying.
Limit high-fiber foods: Insoluble fiber from whole grains, nuts, seeds, and raw produce can cause blockages (bezoars).
Choose cooked over raw: Cooked, peeled, and pureed fruits and vegetables are significantly easier for the stomach to process.
Eliminate carbonated drinks: Fizzy beverages introduce excess gas, which can worsen bloating and discomfort.
Minimize or eliminate alcohol: Alcohol impairs gastric emptying and should be avoided to prevent further slowing of digestion.
Eat small, frequent meals: Large meals can overwhelm the stomach; smaller portions several times a day are easier to handle.
Focus on liquids and soft foods: Pureed meals, smoothies, and soups can be easier to tolerate, especially during symptom flare-ups.
Chew food thoroughly: Even soft foods should be chewed well to a mashed-potato consistency to aid digestion.

The Gastroparesis Diet: Limiting High-Fat and High-Fiber Foods

Gastroparesis is a chronic condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying, meaning the stomach takes too long to move food into the small intestine. While there is no single "gastroparesis diet" that works for everyone, certain dietary adjustments are widely recommended to reduce symptoms such as nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, and early satiety. The most critical changes involve limiting or eliminating foods that are high in fat and insoluble fiber, as these are the two main culprits that further slow digestion.

Why High-Fat Foods Are a Problem

Fat, in its solid form, is known to significantly slow down stomach emptying, even in healthy individuals. For someone with gastroparesis, consuming high-fat solid foods can exacerbate symptoms and lead to prolonged periods of discomfort. While liquid fats, such as those found in some nutritional shakes, may be better tolerated and can be a good source of calories for those struggling with weight loss, high-fat solid foods should be avoided.

The Dangers of High-Fiber Foods

Dietary fiber is an indigestible part of plant foods. While beneficial for a healthy digestive system, it can be problematic for gastroparesis patients. Fiber adds bulk and can further delay the passage of food through the stomach. In severe cases, insoluble fiber can clump together with other undigested food and form a blockage known as a bezoar, which requires medical intervention.

Specific Foods to Strictly Avoid

Based on medical guidelines and clinical experiences, the following foods are often problematic for individuals with gastroparesis:

High-Fat Foods: Fried foods (like french fries, fried chicken), high-fat meats (sausage, bacon, hot dogs, tough cuts of steak), and full-fat dairy products (whole milk, heavy cream, full-fat cheeses).
High-Fiber Foods: Whole grains (whole wheat bread, brown rice, bran cereal, whole wheat pasta, oats), raw fruits and vegetables, fruits with skins and seeds (apples, oranges, berries, figs), legumes (beans, lentils), nuts, seeds, and popcorn.
Hard-to-Chew Foods: Tough meats and anything with skin (like chicken skin) or gristle.
Carbonated Beverages and Alcohol: Fizzy drinks can increase bloating and gas, while alcohol can further delay stomach emptying and impair motility.

Modifying Food Texture for Better Tolerance

One of the most effective strategies for managing gastroparesis symptoms is modifying the consistency of food. In contrast to solids, liquids tend to empty from the stomach much faster. Patients may find it easier to tolerate a liquid or pureed diet, especially during flare-ups or periods of severe symptoms.

Tips for modifying food texture include:

Puree solids: Use a blender or food processor to turn meals into a smooth consistency. This can be done for meats (blended with broth), cooked vegetables, and fruits.
Choose liquids: Include nutritional supplements, broth-based soups, and strained fruit and vegetable juices. Blended smoothies with low-fat yogurt and peeled fruit are also good options.
Cook fruits and vegetables: Cooking breaks down tough fibers, making them easier to digest. Canned fruits and well-cooked, soft vegetables (peeled and seedless) are generally well-tolerated.

High-Fat vs. High-Fiber Foods in Gastroparesis


Feature	High-Fat Foods	High-Fiber Foods
Mechanism	Slows stomach emptying by delaying gastric contractions.	Can form indigestible clumps (bezoars), causing blockages.
Impact on Symptoms	Worsens symptoms like nausea, fullness, and bloating.	Exacerbates bloating, fullness, and potential pain from obstructions.
Examples to Avoid	Fried foods, fatty meats (sausage), whole-fat dairy, butter, lard.	Whole grains, nuts, seeds, raw vegetables, dried fruits, legumes.
Recommended Alternatives	Choose low-fat or fat-free proteins, skim milk, and use liquid oils in moderation.	Opt for refined grains, well-cooked and peeled vegetables, and canned or pureed fruits.
Preparation Tips	Bake, grill, or poach instead of frying. Use lean meats.	Cook, mash, or puree vegetables. Peel fruits and remove seeds.

The Role of Professional Guidance

Every case of gastroparesis is unique, and dietary tolerance varies widely among individuals. It is crucial to work with a doctor or a registered dietitian to develop a personalized nutrition plan. A dietitian can help you experiment with different food textures and portions to determine what works best for you. They can also ensure that despite dietary restrictions, you are still meeting your nutritional needs and avoiding malnutrition, a potential risk when eliminating entire food groups. Keeping a food journal can help you and your healthcare team identify specific trigger foods that worsen your symptoms.

Conclusion: Making Informed Dietary Choices

In summary, if you have gastroparesis, a strategic approach to your diet is the cornerstone of managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life. The primary focus should be on limiting or avoiding high-fat and high-fiber solid foods, which are known to delay gastric emptying and cause discomfort. By modifying your food texture, opting for smaller, more frequent meals, and working closely with a healthcare professional, you can create a sustainable eating plan that provides adequate nutrition without exacerbating your symptoms. Being mindful of what you shouldn't eat if you have gastroparesis is the first, most powerful step toward better digestive health.

For more detailed information on managing gastroparesis, including treatment options and support, you can visit the AGA GI Patient Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Raw, fibrous vegetables like broccoli and salads are difficult to digest and should generally be avoided. Cooked, soft, and pureed vegetables (without the skin) are better options, as cooking breaks down the fibers, making them easier on the stomach.

No, not all dairy is off-limits. Full-fat dairy, such as whole milk and heavy cream, should be avoided. Many patients can tolerate low-fat or fat-free options, like skim milk, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheeses, especially if they are lactose-free.

You do not need to avoid all fruits. High-fiber raw fruits with skins and seeds, like berries and apples, are difficult to digest. Instead, opt for canned fruits (in their own juice), applesauce, or cooked fruits with the skin and seeds removed. Bananas and melons are often well-tolerated.

Yes, but focus on lean, tender meats that are well-cooked and finely chopped or ground. Examples include chicken, fish, and lean ground beef. Avoid tough cuts of meat, fatty options like sausage and bacon, and fried preparations.

A bezoar is a hard mass of undigested food, hair, or fiber that gets trapped in the stomach. For gastroparesis patients, high-fiber foods, especially insoluble fiber, can clump together and form these dangerous blockages, which is why a low-fiber diet is crucial.

A permanent liquid diet is usually not necessary unless symptoms are severe or during specific flare-ups. The goal is to progress to soft, pureed foods and then to solid foods as tolerated, under the guidance of a healthcare professional. A long-term liquid diet without supervision can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

No, alcohol is generally not recommended if you have gastroparesis. It can slow down stomach emptying and may interfere with medications. Carbonated drinks should also be avoided, as they can increase bloating.

Chewing food thoroughly is very important. Chewing food to a mashed-potato consistency aids the stomach in breaking it down, making it easier for it to empty and reducing symptoms.