Foods to avoid with diverticulitis, day by day
The list changes: low fiber during a flare, more fiber once it settles.
What foods should you avoid with diverticulitis?
There is no single list to avoid. NHS says there are no specific foods you need to avoid, and NIDDK says nuts, seeds and popcorn are not harmful. In a flare, Cleveland Clinic suggests 8 to 12 g of fiber a day until it settles.3
Built from NIDDK, Cleveland Clinic and NHS advice. Reviewed November 13, 2026.Eat more
Eat more of these
Whole grains
Oats, brown rice or whole wheat bread most days.
3 servingsof whole grains a day, Cleveland Clinic2
Ease off
Ease off these
Beans and popcorn
Cleveland Clinic keeps these off the plate in a flare only.
8 to 12 gfiber a day in a flare, Cleveland Clinic2
Bran and cereal
Cleveland Clinic suggests white toast and refined cereal for now.
14 gfiber in 1/2 cup high-fiber cereal, NIDDK1
Fruit and vegetable skins
Peel fruit and cook vegetables while it settles.
4.8 gfiber in a medium apple with skin, NIDDK1
Red and processed meat
NHS: if you eat over 90 g a day, cut down to 70 g.
70 ga day on average, cooked weight, NHS4
Alma turns these foods into meals that fit your numbers.
Build my planGet Alma on AndroidGet the appA sample day
One day, once it settles
BreakfastOatmeal with pearOatmeal cooked with milk, with a ripe pear on the side.
LunchLentil and vegetable soupLentil soup and a slice of whole grain toast.
SnackYogurt with soft fruitPlain Greek yogurt with canned peaches.
DinnerBaked fish and potatoesBaked white fish, potatoes and green beans.
What people ask
What foods to eat with diverticulitis?
Once a flare has passed, Cleveland Clinic suggests a high-fiber diet of 25 to 35 g a day from whole grains, fruit, vegetables, beans and lentils. NIDDK lists 1/2 cup of cooked lentils at 7.8 g of fiber and 1 cup of cooked green peas at 8.8 g.
What is the best diet for diverticulitis?
The sources point to a high-fiber diet with plenty of water. NIDDK gives 14 g of fiber per 1,000 calories, or 28 g on 2,000 calories. Cleveland Clinic says 25 to 35 g. NIDDK and NHS both say to raise fiber a little at a time. Ask your clinician what suits you.
What to eat with diverticulitis in a flare?
Cleveland Clinic suggests keeping fiber low for a few days, at 8 to 12 g, with white bread, white rice, white pasta, eggs, tender chicken, canned fruit and yogurt. It then adds fiber back over several days to weeks. Your clinician sets the plan for a flare.
Do you need to avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn?
NIDDK says most people with diverticular disease do not need to avoid specific foods, and says nuts, popcorn and seeds are not harmful. Cleveland Clinic agrees for everyday eating, but lists them among high-fiber foods to skip during a flare.
How do you add fiber back after a flare?
Slowly. NIDDK says health care professionals may suggest raising fiber a little at a time so your body gets used to it. Cleveland Clinic says to increase it over several days to weeks, to avoid constipation and bloating. NHS adds drinking plenty of water.
This guide is general education. Talk with your clinician before changing your diet or medicines.
