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Encopresis and a High-fiber Diet
What is encopresis?
Which foods are high in fiber?
Encopresis [en-koh-PREE-sis] is a loss of bowel
control. It is a common problem in children. Solid or
liquid poop might leak into your child’s underwear.
This often occurs when a child has constipation
(hard, dry poops that are difficult to pass).
To help treat the problem, your child’s doctor may
suggest a change in diet. Your child may need to eat
more fiber, drink extra fluids and avoid certain foods.
You will find a range of high-fiber foods listed below.
Aim for 10 to 20 grams of fiber each day.
New high-fiber foods come out each week. Watch
for them! Check food labels to see how many grams
of fiber are in the foods you buy.
Fiber in Selected Foods
Food
Serving Size
Fiber (g)
6
3
1 slice
1 slice
1 slice
½ cup
1 slice
1 slice
2 squares
1 slice
2
2
2
2
2
1.5
1.2
1.2
1.1
0.8
Breads and crackers
Whole-wheat crackers
Rye crackers
Cracked wheat bread
Roman Meal Seven Grain bread
100% whole-wheat bread
Whole-wheat croutons
Rye bread
Roman Meal Split Top Butter Wheat bread
Graham crackers
White bread
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Food
Serving Size
Fiber (g)
½ cup
1 cup
1 cup
1/3 cup
1 cup
½ cup
1 cup
1¼ cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
¾ cup
1 cup
¾ cup
1 cup
1 cup
13
12
9.2
9
8.5
8.4
8
7
6.7
6.6
6.4
5.6
5
5
4
3.2
3
2.7
2.7
1.7
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
22
15.2
14.9
13.4
8
3.4
1 medium
4
1 medium
2
1 cup
1 cup
1 medium
6
¼ medium
4.3
4
3.9
3.5
3.5
2.5
3
2.5
2.5
Cereals
Fiber One
Cracklin’ Oat Bran
Multi-Bran Chex
All-Bran
Fruit ‘n Fiber
100% bran cereal
Corn bran
Multi-Bran Chex
Raisin Bran
Bran flakes
Granola
Wheat Chex
Raisin Nut Bran
Muselix
Shredded Wheat ‘N Bran
Ralston, cooked
Wheaties
Oatmeal, cooked (quick or old fashioned)
Crispy Wheat and Raisins
Cheerios
Flours
Bran, millers
100% whole wheat
100% rye
Cornmeal, whole grain
Rolled oats
All-purpose white flour
Fruits
Pear
Apricots, fresh with skin
Apple, with skin
Figs, dried
Strawberries
Blueberries
Orange
Dates, dried
Cantaloupe
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Food
Prunes, dried
Apricots, dried
Raisins
Plums
Banana
Serving Size
Fiber (g)
4
8 halves
¼ cup
2
1 medium
2.4
2.2
2
2
1.8
2 tablespoons
10
¼ cup
2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons
¼ cup
10
4
2.6
2.5
2
2
1.8
1.5
1.5
½ cup
4
1 medium
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
½ cup
1 medium
1 cup
4 leaves
1 stalk (7.5")
6.6
3.4
3.4
3
3
2.8
2
2
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.1
1.6
0.9
0.8
0.6
½ cup
½ cup
3 cups
½ cup
1/5 cup
2 tablespoons
6
3.4
3
2.9
1.7
1.4
Nuts and seeds
Sunflower seeds
Brazil nuts
Peanuts
Corn nuts
Peanut butter
Soy nuts
Walnuts
Almonds
Vegetables (cooked, unless otherwise indicated)
Baked beans
Brussels sprouts
Sweet potatoes
Peas
Corn
Garbanzo beans
Broccoli, chopped
Spinach
Carrots
Potatoes, baked with skin
Cauliflower
Green beans
Tomato (fresh)
Cabbage, shredded
Lettuce, iceberg (fresh)
Celery
Miscellaneous
Refried beans
Kidney beans
Popcorn
Winter squash
Brown rice
Coconut, shredded
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What can I do to increase my child’s fiber?
Nutrition Facts
Read food labels
Serving Size ½ cup (90g)
A food’s fiber content is listed on its
Nutrition Facts label. Reading this label
will help you see how much fiber
your child eats in a day.
Amount Per Serving
Total Fat 3g
5%
1. Check “serving size”
to see how large a serving is.
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Trans Fat 0g
2. Check “dietary fiber” to see the amount of fiber
per serving. In this sample, the food contains
3 grams of fiber per ½ cup serving.
Servings Per Container 4
Calories 100
Calories from Fat 30
% Daily Value
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 300 mg
13%
Total Carbohydrate 13g
4%
Dietary Fiber 3g
Pack a high-fiber lunch
Sugars 3g
Sandwiches: Use whole-grain breads, crackers, rolls
and muffins with a favorite filling. Whole-wheat
pocket bread adds variety, too.
Vitamin A 80%
Vitamin C Calcium Iron Fruits and vegetables:
Carrot sticks or green pepper strips
Celery stuffed with chunky peanut butter
and raisins
Pickles or cucumber slices
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh oranges, quartered
Cut-up fruit (include a toothpick)
Special treats:
Box of raisins
Popcorn
Granola bars
Sunflower seeds
Graham crackers
Oatmeal raisin cookies
12%
Protein 3g
4%
60%
4%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values
may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
Calories: 2,0002,500
Total Fat
Less than
65g
80g
Sat Fat
Less than
20g
25g
Cholesterol
Less than
300mg
300mg
Sodium
Less than
2,400mg
2,400mg
300g
375g
25g
30g
Total Carbohydrate
Dietary Fiber
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Serve healthy, high-fiber meals and snacks
The meal plan below contains about 25 to 35 grams
of fiber, depending on portion size. Portions will
vary with the age of the child.
You may add unprocessed bran to increase your
child’s total fiber.
High-fiber snack ideas
Rye crackers with nut butter, sunflower seeds
and fresh fruit
Apricot bread and fruit
Bran muffin, kale chips and pumpkin seeds
Limit fruit juice to 1/2 cup per day.
Orange sections and raisin bread
Breakfast: Fresh fruit and water
Peanut butter cookies”
Whole-grain cooked or dry cereal
Milk or milk alternative (soy milk,
almond milk, rice milk)
Egg
Whole-grain toast or muffin with
jam and butter or margarine
Snack:
Water, fruit and wheat crackers
Lunch:
Homemade soup with wheat crackers
or meat or other protein on wholewheat bread
Raw fruit or vegetable salad
Water
Snack:
Dinner:
Whole-grain muffin
Pumpkin bran bread and cucumber sticks
Nachos with corn, bean and tomato salsa
Date nut bread
Granola and carrot sticks
Zucchini bread and sliced pear
Peanut butter with honey on wheat bread
Whole-wheat cinnamon toast
and mandarin oranges
Trail mix”
Fruit juice or fresh fruit
Smoothie with lettuce or other greens
and frozen fruit with water or 1/2 cup juice
Fish, meat or other protein (such as
beans and a grain)
Crispy rye crackers and pineapple chunks
Potato or other starch
Vegetable
Raw fruit or vegetable salad
Whole-grain bread or roll
Dessert made with whole grains, fruits
or nuts
Snack:
Wheat crackers
and celery stuffed with peanut butter
Fresh fruit or whole-grain cereal
Aim for at least 4 to 5 servings of vegetables and
fewer grains. Include beans and 2 to 3 servings of
fruit.
Cracked wheat bread with strawberry jam
and orange frosty
1 oatmeal raisin cookie and peach slices
1 molasses oatmeal cookie and cantaloupe balls
Graham crackers with almond butter
and 1/2 cup cranberry juice
Hard-cooked egg slices on sesame crackers
and strawberries
Whole-wheat breadsticks and fruit cup
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Other tips
How can I help my child get enough calcium?
• Experiment with whole grains such as brown rice,
bulgur, barley and whole-wheat pasta. Use these
in soups, casseroles and other meals.
• Use dried beans, peas and lentils in main dishes,
soups and salads.
• Use whole-grain breads for sandwiches.
• Make homemade soups from dried peas, barley
and lots of vegetables.
• Make cookies, cakes, pies and other desserts with
dried fruits, nuts or rolled oats whenever you can.
• Have raw vegetables cut up for snacking.
Don’t forget the dip!
• Try baked or fried potato skins.
• Buy a whole-grain or high-fiber cookbook.
Should my child avoid milk products?
Some foods, such as those made with milk, may
make your child’s constipation worse. Your child
may need to follow a special diet for 6 to 8 weeks. If
so, your doctor will tell you which foods to avoid.
These may include:
Yogurt
Cream cheese
Cheese
Ice cream
Cottage cheese
Ice milk
If your child must limit milk:
• Offer other calcium-rich foods such as sardines
and salmon (with bones), collard greens, kale,
bok choy, Chinese cabbage, black strap molasses,
turnip greens and some enriched flours.
• It may help to have a few recipes to fill in for old
favorites. Many of these products are fortified
with calcium:
ȤȤ Non-dairy creamer can be found in the freezer
section of the grocery store. Use this on cereal
and to make cream sauces, puddings, etc.
ȤȤ Watch for other non-dairy products such as
whipped toppings, sorbets and soy cheese.
ȤȤ Your library is a good place to find milk-free
recipes. Look in the food allergy section.
• Cook food in a small amount of water for the
shortest possible time to keep more calcium in
the foods.
• Be careful about what you eat with calcium rich
foods. Certain fibers, like wheat bran and foods
with oxalic acid (spinach and rhubarb) can bind
with calcium and keep it from being absorbed.
Calcium needs for children and teens by age
1 to 3 years: 7,000 mg/day
CustardsPuddings
4 to 8 years: 1,000 mg/day
Because your child is growing, the doctor will
make sure your child is still getting enough calcium
and other nutrients. In time, you and your doctor
will work together to add foods back to your child’s
diet.
9 to 18 years: 1,300 mg/day
Small amounts of milk used in cooking and baking
should not make constipation worse.
Your health care provider can help you choose the
best sources of calcium.
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Day of
the week
Poop
(time, amount,
consistency,
color)
Pot-sitting
after breakfast
Pot-sitting
after lunch
Pot-sitting
after dinner
Pot-sitting
after bedtime
snack
Your child should start sitting 20 minutes after the meal ends . . .
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
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For informational purposes only. Not to replace the advice of your health care provider.
Copyright © 2008 Fairview Health Services. All rights reserved. SMARTworks 520861 – REV 04/16