Low fibre vegetarian diet 7 days before colonoscopy/gastroscopy?

[HeathisWealth]

White carbs, eggs, cheese, butter, processed cereals, milk, well cooked carrots and strained tomatoes (but staining?).

This is my idea of food hell.

White bread egg/cheese sarnies?

Pasta with butter and cheese?

Usual diet is rich in fruit, berries, seeds and nuts with my yoghurt, veggies (skin on!), beans, pulses, salads, seeds and nuts- and wholemeal, brown and whole grain.

Please can I ask for your help with better ideas as honestly, if I didn't need one before, I'll definitely need one with that diet!

Rice pudding, yoghurt, mushroom risotto, macaroni cheese, jacket potato, rice stir fry with egg, spaghetti carbonara, white pizza.

It would help more if you change your mindset from what you can’t have to what is possible, and look forward to returning to a full menu.

Tofu's a good idea. White rice. Are sweet potato, butternut squash allowed? Could do a sort of curry.

It's not the softness of the food that's the problem. It's whether it leaves residue in the gut.

She's been given the right advice & those are the foods she needs to stick to.

No she can't have tofu or pureed veg!

White rice is the only one of those that would be okay.

I think you’ll just have to suck it up OP just for a brief time. Obviously without chicken or fish if you’re veggie there are already limitations.
It’s weird how the gut works, you can’t have lettuce but you can have spaghetti with cheese sauce .

Good list on here: https://theibsdietitian.com/blog/the-low-residue-diet-for-colonoscopy-ultimate-guide

Says tofu, butternut squash is fine

Oh right, I didn't realise AIBU was a battering board 🤣. It's a busy board with lots of people and a diverse range of diets and probably a large number of people who have been through these procedures - most vegetarians are more likely to have a similar diet to me.

Thanks for your understanding, though. You're right, I didn't come here asking for cutting answers and snipes. Just a few ideas during a worrying and anxious time.

French toast with the egg and bread.

Get some nice cheese and crackers OP and feel better soon !

Lots of people do wonderful once they cut out the fibre, total myth that we need it.

I assume you’re not a meat eater? This would give you a lot to base things around.

But if not then eggs with mayo is very satiating and tasty. Add some butter for more calories or avocado / olive oil or maybe some cheese.

Omelettes are a good shout loaded with cheese.

Lots of Greek yoghurt for breakfast or snacks will work.

Don’t be afraid of butter, eat as much as you want and your gut will thank you.

The obvious question, however, is why do you need a colonoscopy in the first place? Is this just routine?

This is exactly the help I needed, thank you. As I'm sure most people can imagine, you don't have a procedure like this for fun and it comes as a result of some worrying times. Therefore your head isn't working as it usually should- hence me asking for some ideas. These are great ideas. I LOVE rice pudding. I could do a Mac n Cheese for work lunches.

Thanks for your kindness.

My partner is currently in hospital following surgery for bowel cancer picked up by a colonscopy. It's a life saving procedure

Oooo yes with cinnamon and yoghurt? Great idea. Thank you ☺️

Pasta sauce from ‘strained tomatoes’ with chilli oil / garlic oil / herb infused oil

Rice pudding flavoured with cardamom, cinnamon etc

Pasta with cheese - yes but use blue cheese, goat cheese etc to add flavour variety

Get your fruit and berry flavours by juicing (not blending, so that the fibre is out) , , drink with lots of ice and strained lime

Omlette and mash - black pepper, flavoured oils.

Boiled egg and soldiers

For a week you will just need to change your relationship with food to ‘calories to keep me alive’

Thank you! A cheese board sounds lovely. Thank you ☺️

Be careful with mushrooms, don't have them whole/sliced/diced, they often go straight through the gut. Cream of mushroom soup might be ok but I'd look at a can, and check the fibre content.

I'm so glad they picked it up and I hope his recovery is straightforward and he will be well for many years to come.

I also hope you speak to him and others with a little more kindness and empathy than you have shown here this morning, especially as you know first hand what a difficult time this is for someone- I was only asking for some ideas.

I wish you both a healthy and positive future. Thank God for such health care.

‘Pureed’ as suggested above still contains the fibre, doesn’t it? So soup would need to be of the consommé type.

Veggie jelly and cream or yogurt

Yogurt and honey

Thank you for all your ideas and support. I can't help but hope that your user name is a sign of my 'prep' to come. 😉

You've been a great help. Thank you.

Have they said why it is for a week before? I had low residue for 48 hours before the horrible drink, but not a week. Put me off white bread for life!

Near to the time things like tomatoes and berry juices / squash are out as they can stain your innards. Also, make sure to chill the drink and have a straw so you can taste as little as possible. Some people say having lemonade in between and strong mints can also help. Good luck!

Are you sure its gor 7 days? I had one recently and only had to follow low fibre for 3 days prior.

You are so, so right. These are fantastic ideas and the thought of dippy egg and soldiers didn't cross my mind. That's a real, comforting treat! My head has been such a mess for the last while that I have literally not been able to think about how and what to eat- the permitted ingredients seem so restrictive and my tummy hurts just thinking about it! You've reminded me that I can use the same ingredients in lots of different ways. I was so stuck. Anxiety does funny things to us. Thank you!

How about lots of herbs & spices on the bland food ?

I will double check but I'm pretty sure it said 7 days.

Thank you for your advice and kindness. I'll double check but I'm pretty sure it says 7 days. No idea why. Yes, just the idea of white bread/pasta gives me tummy ache (and wind!)