High-Protein Low-Fiber Foods

A low-fiber, high-protein diet may be recommended to treat some health conditions and symptoms of diarrhea or digestive discomfort as well as to prepare for or recover from certain surgeries, like gastric banding. The low-fiber, high-protein content promotes healing while reducing the amount of stool you make, ultimately allowing your stomach and intestines to rest. Unless your doctor instructs you to do otherwise, make sure to consume plenty of fluids while on this type of diet to prevent constipation.

Eggs are an easily digested, high-quality protein, offering 6 grams per egg, with 4 of those grams coming from the white itself. Another breakfast food, yogurt, offers 14 grams of protein in one cup of the fat-free plain type and 26 grams in its Greek counterpart. Cheese also has high-quality protein, with the best sources including Parmesan, Romano, cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Monterey, goat, Gruyere, ricotta and cottage cheese. An 8-ounce glass of milk will provide you 8 grams of protein.

Skinless, boneless chicken breast is a high-protein eater's go-to food, with 27 grams per 3-ounce serving. Turkey breast and pork loins come close, with about 26 grams per 3-ounce serving. The less fat on the cut of beef, the more protein per ounce. Round and chuck cuts, with fat trimmed, provide around 30 grams of protein in a 3-ounce serving.

Tuna, while also providing omega fatty acid benefits, is among the highest sources of protein in the seafood category, offering 25 grams in a 3-ounce serving. Salmon, tilapia and mackerel are also high on the list in terms of protein content and don't contain fiber. Among the mollusks, whelk, with 40 grams per 3-ounce serving, cuttlefish, with 28 grams, and octopus, with 25 grams, offer the greatest amounts of protein.

A high-protein, low-fiber diet may be more difficult to follow if you're avoiding animal products, because the protein sources you may be used to, like nuts, beans and seeds, often contain lots of fiber. But cashews, English walnuts and pumpkin or squash seed kernels have at least 4 grams of protein and less than 2 grams of fiber in a 1-ounce serving. One-half cup of firm tofu cubes contains 10 grams of protein and just 1 gram of dietary fiber, making this an excellent choice as well.

Since you can't make all of your meals out of 100 percent protein foods without missing out on nutrients, make sure to add lower-fiber foods from different food groups. For example, you could enjoy a side dish like enriched white bread, white rice or white pasta tossed with butter or oil. Low-fiber veggie options include peeled cucumber, watercress, seaweed, potatoes, tomatoes and pumpkin. Some canned foods complement these proteins as well, such as fruits without the skins or seeds or a low-fiber soup like chicken noodle or tomato soup.