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Modified fibre diet for the prevention of bowel obstruction

What is fibre? • Bananas

Fibre is the part of the plant that humans • Oats and oat bran
cannot digest. It passes through the • Barley
bowels mostly undigested, giving bulk to • Chia seeds
the stool. It can also act as a sponge to • Legumes and pulses (e.g. kidney
help absorb fluid and soften the stool. beans, chickpeas)
• Okra, eggplant
Why modify fibre intake?
For most people, a high fibre diet is good 2. Insoluble fibre: found in the rough,
for keeping the bowels healthy. However, hard part of the plant, for example skins,
in people who have areas in their bowel grains and seeds. It does not dissolve in
that have become narrowed from water and adds bulk to the stool.
strictures or other causes, a high fibre Examples include:
diet (particularly insoluble fibre) increases My • Fruit (skin and seeds have the most
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bulk in the bowel and can fibre)
makeNutrition
symptoms worse. Reducing the amount • Vegetables (skin and seeds)
of fibre passing through narrowed parts of • Whole-grain products e.g. breads,
the bowel may help reduce the risk of pasta, brown rice, quinoa
food causing a bowel obstruction and • Nuts and seeds
improve symptoms such as pain, • Wheat and rice bran
abdominal cramping, gas or feeling of
fullness. How to modify fibre intake?

• Remove stalks, stems, pips, seeds

Different types of fibre
and skins from fruit and vegetables.
1. Soluble fibre: dissolves in water to
• Chop and cook vegetables well.
form a thick gel in your bowels and
• Reduce tough, fibrous fruit and
softens the stool.
vegetables – chop these foods finely
Examples include:
where possible (e.g. celery, mango).
This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/disclaimer Reviewed: May 2020
Copyright: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/copyright-statement Due for review: May 2022
• Avoid dried fruits, nuts & seeds. • Avoid any food that is tough or stringy
• Strain fruit and vegetable juices and (e.g. tough gristly meat).
soups. • Some people find they need to have
• Avoid wholegrain, high fibre breads soft/puree foods to limit symptoms.
and cereals. Use white varieties • During times when symptoms
where possible. increase, resting the bowel by taking
fluids for a short period of time may
How to prevent constipation on a help improve symptoms.
modified fibre diet? • Read food labels and avoid foods
stating they are high in fibre.
• Have fruit and vegetables with stalks,
stems, pips, seeds and skins • Eat small and regular meals.

removed. Pureed or soft/well-cooked • It is still important to have a variety of

fruit and vegetables may be better foods in your diet. Aim to maintain a

tolerated. balanced diet by including food from

• Drink plenty of water. Ask your the following groups:

dietitian how much you should be  Refined breads, cereals, rice

and pasta
drinking a day. Most people need My
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around 8-10 glasses of fluids per day.  Vegetables
Nutrition  Fruit
• If still constipated, discuss with your
 Dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese)
doctor regarding use of laxatives (e.g.
 Meat, fish, poultry, eggs
Coloxyl or Lactulose).

General hints
• Follow a diet low in fibre, particularly
low insoluble fibre.
• Chew all food well. If a food cannot be
chewed thoroughly, it should be
avoided.
• Eat slowly in a relaxed setting.
• Cook your food well – this can make
some foods easier to chew.

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/disclaimer Reviewed: May 2020
Copyright: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/copyright-statement Due for review: May 2022
 FOOD INCLUDE INCLUDE MODERATE LIMIT
GROUP AMOUNTS of soluble
(low in total fibre) (high insoluble and total
fibre as desired
fibre)
Bread, • White bread, crumpets, • Oats/oatmeal, instant, • Wholemeal or wholegrain
cereals, scones, English muffins ½ cup cooked bread
rice, pasta, • White pita bread • Breakfast biscuits e.g. • Bread containing intact
noodles • Refined breakfast cereals 2 BelVita grains, nuts, seeds,
e.g. Rice Bubbles, • Barley, ¼ cup cooked coconut or dried fruit
Cornflakes • Chia seeds,1 teaspoon • Oat bran - unprocessed,
• White rice, pasta, sago, • Sourdough bread, 2 raw
tapioca, semolina slices • Wholegrain breakfast
• White flour, cornflour • Light rye bread, 1 slice cereals or any with dried
• Plain sweet and savoury fruit, nuts or coconut
biscuits or cakes e.g. Muesli, All-Bran,
Weetbix
• Wild rice, brown rice,
brown pasta
• Wholemeal flour,
wheatgerm
• Sweet and savoury
biscuits or cakes made
with seeds, nuts, dried
fruit or coconut
Dairy • All varieties of milk • Desserts containing • Desserts containing dried
foods • Plain yoghurt, custard, peeled and stewed fruit fruit, chunky fruit pieces,
vanilla Fruche, plain cheese, • Nutritional supplements nuts, seeds or coconut
plain or flavoured ice cream with fibres • Milkshakes made with
whole fruits, seeds and
high fibre cereals

Meat, fish, • Any tender, soft meat, • Smooth nut butters, 1 • Nuts & seeds
poultry, chicken and fish tablespoon • Crunchy nuts or seed
eggs, • Tofu • Legumes e.g. baked butters (e.g. peanut butter,
nuts, • Eggs and soy products beans, kidney beans, 2 tahini)
legumes tablespoons

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/disclaimer Reviewed: May 2020
Copyright: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/copyright-statement Due for review: May 2022
 FOOD INCLUDE INCLUDE MODERATE LIMIT
GROUP AMOUNTS of soluble
(low in total fibre) (high insoluble and total
fibre as desired
fibre)
Vegetables Ensure vegetables are peeled • Eggplant, 1 cup • Raw vegetables
and well-cooked where able: • Sweet potato, no skin, • Vegetables with small
• Potato ¼ cup seeds (e.g. cucumber)
• Pumpkin • Carrot, peeled, ¼ cup • Stringy vegetables (e.g.
• Zucchini • Turnip, cooked, 3 slices celery, broccoli stems,
• Cauliflower and broccoli • Spring onion/onion, bean sprouts, asparagus)
florets cooked, ½ cup • Vegetables with tough
• Mushrooms • Okra, cooked, ½ cup skins (e.g. peas, corn)
• Avoid all other vegetables
Suitable salad vegetables are: not listed in foods to
• Tomato and cucumber with include.
skins and seeds removed
• Shredded lettuce
• Capsicum, 1 cup cooked
• Well strained vegetable juice
• Tomato puree or paste
Fruit • Melons (no seeds) • Banana, 1 small • Fruit with skin, pips or of a
• Seedless grapes • Apple, no skin, 1 small very “fibrous” texture - e.g.
• Well-cooked fruit no • Cherries, 1 cup pears, pineapple
skin/pips • My
Oranges, pip removed, • Dried fruit
• Canned fruits except My
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1 small • Fruit with small seeds
pineapple • Nutrition
Pawpaw/papaya, 2/3 (e.g. kiwi fruit, figs, dates,
• Fruit juice – no pulp cup pomegranate)
• Grapefruit, 1 small • Raspberries
• Peeled peaches & • Blackberries
nectarine, 1 medium • Juice with pulp
• Blueberries, ½ cup
Other • All fats including butter, • Popcorn
margarine, mayonnaise, oils • Coconut
• Sugar, honey, syrups • Chocolate with nuts and
• Boiled lollies, jubes, fruit
chocolate with no fruit, nuts • Chutney and pickles
or coconut • Jams or pastes with nuts
• Spreads without seeds or and seeds
skin
• Soup made from allowed
ingredients, Bonox
• Desserts made from allowed
foods (jelly, ice-cream,
custard)
• Gravy, salt, pepper, dried
herbs & spices

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/disclaimer Reviewed: May 2020
Copyright: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/copyright-statement Due for review: May 2022
Suggested meal plan

BREAKFAST
1 Glass strained fruit juice
Rice bubbles / 1/2 cup cooked oats with milk
White toast / sourdough bread / crumpets with margarine / butter / honey / jam (no
seeds) / vegemite
Egg / cheese if desired
LUNCH
Tender meat / chicken / fish / egg / cheese
White bread with margarine / butter
Tinned fruit / 1x fresh banana / 1x peeled peach / 1/2 cup blueberries with custard or
yoghurt
Cup of tea / coffee
DINNER
Soup (made with allowed ingredients)
Tender meat / chicken / fish / egg / cheese
Potato (peeled) / white rice / pasta / 1/4 cup cooked barley / 1 tsp of chia seeds sprinkled
Allowed vegetables – peeled and well cooked
Bowl of plain ice cream
Cup of tea / coffee
SNACKS
Melons, tinned fruit, 1x small banana, ½ cup Myblueberries, 1x peeled nectarine, 1x peeled
peach, yoghurt, milk, cheese & low-fibre My
crackers
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For further information contact your dietitian: _____________________

This is a consensus document from Dietitian/ Nutritionists from the Nutrition Education Materials Online, "NEMO", team.
Disclaimer: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/disclaimer Reviewed: May 2020
Copyright: www.health.qld.gov.au/global/copyright-statement Due for review: May 2022