Most people with ulcerative colitis find the right diet plan by eliminating certain foods that aggravate their symptoms. Some foods are known to be common triggers for ulcerative colitis. A low fiber diet or low residue diet is such a diet. If you are experiencing a flare-up of symptoms, this diet would be ideal for you. Low fiber diets are easy to digest — they help in slowing your bowel movements and restrict the occurrence of diarrhea. This diet allows you to eat a lot of foods. At the same time, it would keep your fiber consumption to around 10 to 15 grams a day. This low fiber diet also includes the necessary amount of proteins and minerals that the body needs along with fluids and salt as well.

One should consume these foods if they are on a low residue diet:

• Dairy products: You can consume up to 2 cups of milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, or pudding per day.
• Grains: Foods like refined white bread, crackers, dry cereals, and pasta are recommended if they have less than half a gram of fiber per serving.
• Vegetable: Cucumbers, zucchini, raw lettuce, cooked spinach, pumpkin, seedless yellow squash, carrots, potatoes, eggplant, green beans, and onion.
• Fruits: Fruit juices with no pulp are ideal for this diet. Canned fruits other than pineapple and apple sauce can also be consumed. Try eating ripe bananas raw, watermelon, cantaloupe, melon peaches, plums, and apricots.
• Protein foods and meat: Tender cooked meats and soft meats like poultry, eggs, fish, and pork are recommended. Nut butter and smooth peanut butter can also be consumed.
• Fats and sauces: Margarine, butter, mayonnaise, oils, smooth sauces, and dressings other than tomato, condiments, and whipped cream.

Following are the foods that you should not eat while on a low residue diet:

• Raw vegetables that have not been mentioned in the above list
• Dry fruits, berries, figs, prunes, and prune juice
• Dressings, pickles, spicy sauces, and relishes with chunks
• Alcohol, foods, and beverages that contain cocoa and caffeine
• Deli meats
• Popcorn, seeds, and nuts

While on a low fiber diet, you can still enjoy dessert. But, only if there are plain cakes, cookies, pies, and Jell-O. What is more important is to stay hydrated. You should maintain an adequate fluid intake as chronic diarrhea leads to dehydration. Judging by the look of the color of urine and the volume every day you can find out if you are dehydrated. Dark-colored urine in small quantities would suggest that the intake of water is not adequate.

You do not have to sacrifice your taste buds to boring or bland foods as a low residue diet allows you to eat most of the foods that you are accustomed to. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends the following eating practices that are advisable for people with ulcerative colitis:

• Eating meals after breaks of 3 to 4 hours
• Avoiding dehydration by drinking at least 8 cups of water a day
• Including foods that contain added prebiotics and probiotics which encourage good gut health.