Diet to Avoid Fiber

Fiber is a beneficial substance in your diet, but if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), your doctor may have told you to avoid eating much of it, at least during flare-ups. According to the Mayo Clinic, eating fiber can make gas and cramping worse for IBS sufferers (see Reference 1). Cutting fiber out of your diet is easy, but make sure you aren't cutting out nutrients at the same time.

Breakfast

• Eat a bowl of fortified cereal with milk. Choose a cereal that has little to no fiber, such as crispy rice.

  Another low-fiber breakfast is pancakes with a side of eggs and sausage or bacon. None of these foods have fiber, and the protein in the eggs and bacon will help keep you going.

  Breakfast beverages such as coffee, tea and most juices are fine on a low-fiber diet. If you drink orange juice, buy the low-pulp variety. Don't drink prune juice.

Lunch

• Make a sandwich on white bread. Add meat and cheese. Meat does not have fiber, nor do dairy products, unless the fiber has been added during processing. You can make a wide variety of sandwiches by rotating the types of meat and cheese you eat. Add some vegetables for added nutrition. Cucumber and avocado slices are delicious on sandwiches and add very little fiber to your diet (see Reference 2).

  Canned soup is another good lunch choice. Choose one that is low in sodium, as eating lots of canned soup will dramatically increase your sodium intake. Add some saltine crackers or croutons, and sprinkle with a bit of cheese if it is a good accompaniment for that soup.

Dinner

• Go to any fast-food restaurant and eat whatever you want without worrying about fiber, unless you are eating a bean burrito. This strategy can backfire, because the greasy foods can aggravate IBS symptoms (see Reference 1). Cook something healthy at home, instead.

  A healthy low-fiber dinner is a meat, a low-fiber vegetable and bread. Try grilling a chicken breast or pork chop and serving it with a baked potato. Don't eat the skin of the potato, as that is where the fiber is in that vegetable.

  Another delicious dinner is noodles with Alfredo sauce. Add some diced chicken and a few slices of red bell pepper and you've got a substantial low-fiber meal. Add a side of garlic bread for additional scrumptiousness.