Health Conditions A-Z Digestive Disorders Crohn's Disease Eating a Low-Fiber Diet for a Crohn's Disease Flare While it may seem the opposite of a healthy diet, low-fiber foods may help people with Crohn's disease during a flare-up. By Tammy Worth Tammy Worth Tammy Worth is a freelance healthcare reporter with over 20 years of experience. Her work appears across several publications including The Economist, Bloomberg, Health, Leader’s Edge, WebMD, and KCPT, Kansas City’s public television station. health's editorial guidelines Updated on January 9, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, RDN Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, RDN Jamie Johnson, RDN, is the owner of the nutrition communications practice Ingraining Nutrition. learn more Share Tweet Pin Email Roughage is fiber, which stimulates the bowels—which is great for most people but not those with cramps and diarrhea due to a Crohn's disease flare-up. Following a diet low in fiber and residue (the indigestible portion of food, including fiber, skins, seeds, and hulls) may ease symptoms of Crohn's disease. If you're wondering what you can eat on a low-fiber diet, here are several tips to help you get started. Please note that a healthcare provider may recommend seeing a registered dietitian who can tailor a nutrition plan to your specific needs. What Is a Low Fiber Diet? Fiber is a type of carbohydrate—found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds—that is not digestible, so it doesn't get broken down or absorbed as it passes through the body. A low-fiber diet is made up of foods that have very little fiber, such as: Fruits and vegetables without seeds or skins (bananas, melon, potatoes, beets, string beans)Cooked or canned fruits and vegetablesRefined grains (bread, crackers, and pasta made from white flour; white rice)Lean protein (fish, chicken breast, lean ground turkey, eggs, tofu) Sometimes a low-fiber diet is called a low-residue diet, and fiber is one of the residues. But there isn't a specific definition for either diet, and in practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. How Long Do You Follow a Low-fiber Diet? The low-fiber diet is usually recommended to help decrease diarrhea and the number of stools during a flare-up. It's not recommended as a long-term food plan because it can be challenging to get all the nutrients you need on a low-fiber diet, so it should only be used during a flare-up. Once symptoms have improved and you're feeling better, it's best to gradually return to normal eating patterns with variety and nutrient-rich foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats. With digestive issues, what works best for one person can be different than what works for someone else, so some trial and error is often needed. These tips can guide you toward healthier eating during a flare-up. Food Preparation Tips Being mindful of how foods are prepared and incorporating some healthy habits can help reduce the chances of Crohn's disease flare-ups. Cook Your Veggies On this diet, most raw fruits and vegetables are off-limits. One way to fit in more fruits and vegetables is by eating cooked or canned versions. "With many of these [vegetables], when they are cooked, there will still be fiber, but not as much residue," said Jeannie Gazzaniga-Moloo, PhD, RD, a registered dietitian, and professor at California State University in Sacramento, CA. Vegetables like spinach, butternut squash, pumpkin, parsnips, and carrots should be fine if eaten this way. Potatoes can be eaten without skin (the skins contain most of the fiber), and broccoli and kale are okay, too, if cooked very soft. Daily Habits Certain daily habits may help reduce flare-up symptoms and are generally healthy habits to maintain long-term, such as: Eat four to six small meals instead of three large mealsStay hydrated by drinking water, broth, tomato juice, or electrolyte drinks regularly throughout the dayIf gas in the gut is an issue, drink slowly and consider using a straw to decrease the chance of ingesting air.Prepare meals in advance to have foods you tolerate on handKeep a food journal to track the foods you eat and any symptoms you may experience Foods To Choose Many people with Crohn's disease have discovered certain foods that are best for them to avoid to help prevent flare-ups. And it's also helpful to know which foods are best to include because they provide valuable nutrition and are less likely to cause symptoms. Lean Protein Fatty foods can sometimes worsen symptoms, especially during a Crohn's flare, so low-fat protein choices are healthier and low in fiber. Remove the skin and select lean red meats, like ground sirloin—if you eat beef and can tolerate it. Other healthy protein sources include: FishChicken breast93% lean ground chicken and turkeyEggsTofu The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation recommends boiling, grilling, steaming, and poaching your food to keep things simple and easier to digest. Low Fiber Fruits and Vegetables Fruits and vegetables that don't have skin or seeds and ones that are well-cooked, canned, or pureed are recommended during a flare. Fruit juice without pulp or flavored water might also be fine (sometimes watering down the juice can help). Some examples include: ApplesauceBananasCantaloupeHoneydew melonCanned peaches and pearsPeeled cucumbersAsparagusPotatoes without the skinSquashCanned green beans Use Caution With Lettuce Almost all raw vegetables are best to be avoided during a flare-up. However, if you're craving a salad, iceberg lettuce is tolerated by many people if eaten in small quantities. Try a salad with iceberg lettuce, chicken, peeled and sliced cucumbers, and low-fat dressing without seeds. Low-fat Dairy or Dairy Substitutes Due to lactose intolerance, many people with Crohn's don't tolerate dairy even when in remission. If this is the case, lactose-free milk, soy milk, or almond milk may be your best bet. Because foods higher in fat can also be more difficult to digest, it's best to stick with low-fat varieties of your favorite ice cream, milk, or yogurt. Foods To Avoid Some foods may be best to avoid entirely if they frequently cause symptoms, while others might need to be avoided only during a flare-up. Whole Grains Because whole-grain foods are a good source of fiber, it's a good rule to stick to refined, white grains during a flare-up. The best options are foods that don't contain whole wheat flour, like: Rice crackersSourdough or gluten-free breadCereals made with rice flour or are gluten-freeOatmealWhite pastaWhite rice Oatmeal contains fiber, but it's the soluble kind of fiber, meaning it absorbs water and passes through the digestive tract more slowly than the insoluble type you're trying to avoid. Look for grains with less than one-half gram of fiber per serving, and avoid whole grains of all kinds during a flare. Raw Fruit, Vegetables, and Nuts In general, raw fruit should be avoided during a Crohn's flare. Berries, oranges, and fruits with seeds and more fiber—like prunes, raisins, and figs—can be particularly difficult to digest. Raw vegetables, vegetables with a peel, and cruciferous vegetables—broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, bok choy, and arugula—should be avoided during a flare because some of them can cause gas and they're harder to digest compared to cooked vegetables. Whole nuts should be avoided, but creamy peanut butter may be ok—just check with a healthcare provider to be sure. High Fat Foods These foods can sometimes be difficult to digest even in remission, so may need to be avoided most of the time, but definitely during a flare-up. High-fat foods include: ButterCreamCoconut and coconut oilMayonnaiseFatty meatsFried and greasy foodsSmoked meats like hot dogs, bacon, deli meat, sausage, and bolognaIce CreamCakes, pastries, cookies Other Things To Consider Along with finding which foods are best for you to include or avoid, there are a few other factors worth knowing about. Trial and Error A low-fiber diet is very individualized—you may be able to tolerate some foods and not others, said Gazzaniga-Moloo. And what one person with Crohn's disease tolerates may be very different for another person. You may also need to avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and spicy foods. "If someone finds a food that bothers them, they can try to cook it, choose a lower fat option, or with dairy, go for a lactose-free version," Gazzaniga-Moloo said. Vitamin Supplements If you eat a wide variety of foods on this diet, you should be able to get most of the vitamins and minerals you need each day. But Gazzaniga-Moloo said it could be difficult to get vitamin B12, calcium, folic acid, and iron, so you may need to take a vitamin-mineral supplement. This diet will also slow down your bowel movements, so drinking more water and other liquids that you tolerate can help to prevent constipation. A Quick Review When it comes to treating a Crohn's disease flare-up, the food plan that works best is often unique to each person, and some trial and error may be necessary. In general, a low-fiber diet can help in the short term with the plan to add more variety and nutrient-rich foods as symptoms resolve. It may be helpful to talk with a healthcare provider and a registered dietitian, when possible, who can tailor your food plan to meet your individual health and nutrition needs. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. What should I eat? Medline Plus. Fiber. Vanhauwaert E, Matthys C, Verdonck L, De Preter V. Low-residue and low-fiber diets in gastrointestinal disease management. Adv Nutr. 2015;6(6):820-827. Published 2015 Nov 13. doi:10.3945/an.115.009688