Your doctor may prescribe a low-roughage, or low-fiber, diet after intestinal surgery or an intestinal illness. The soft foods in this diet move through your digestive system with little friction, allowing your bowels to heal. If you suffer from a bowel disease such as ileitis or Crohn's disease, a low-roughage diet is less irritating and may reduce flare-ups of your illness. Choose a variety of foods on your diet in order to get the nutrition you need.
Foods to Eat
Soft foods such as puddings, milk, eggs, soft cheeses, fish, chicken, meat and smooth peanut butter, in addition to well-cooked vegetables, are good choices for a low-roughage diet. You can eat smoothies, as long as they're made with juice or soft fruit without seeds. Choose white rice and white bread over whole-grain varieties. Eat soft fruits such as ripe peaches, bananas and melon. Drink fruit juices without pulp. Peel vegetables such as potatoes and carrots and cook until soft.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid anything with peeling, such as mashed potatoes with the peel; seeds, such as strawberries and tomatoes; chunks, such as chunky pickle relish or chunky peanut butter; or nuts, such as banana nut bread or ice cream with nuts. If you're on a low-roughage diet you should stay away from whole-grain cereals and breads and skip nuts, beans and peas. Avoid firm fruits such as apples and pears, and don't eat berries or figs. Consult your doctor before you eat any spicy sauces or hot seasonings, as these may irritate your digestive system.
Fiber
Fiber is the "rough" in roughage. While fiber helps prevent constipation in a healthy person, it can irritate a sensitive colon. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises that a low- roughage diet should contain no more than 10 to 15 g of fiber a day. Ask your doctor what limit she advises. When you're shopping, avoid anything labeled "high-fiber," and look for cereals and other items that contain less than 1/2 g of fiber per serving.
Other Considerations
Ask your doctor for a list of specific foods to avoid. He may advise you to refrain from drinking alcohol on a low-roughage diet. You may also need to take dietary supplements to replace nutrients missing from this diet. You'll probably have fewer bowel movements on a low-roughage diet, but that's part of the goal of this diet. Drink eight to 10 cups of fluid a day.
