How to eat when you have inflammatory bowel disease

No one diet is right for everyone with an inflammatory bowel disease. Foods that bother one person may not bother another. Your diet has to be tailored for you. But the following basic ideas can help you feel better and get the nutrition you need.

Find your problem foods

For many people, common problem foods include:

• Dairy products for people who are lactose-intolerant.
• High-fiber foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Often people have the most problems with gas-producing foods. These include beans, cabbage, broccoli, and onions, and foods with hulls, such as seeds, nuts, and corn.
• High-fat foods, such as fried foods, butter and margarine, mayonnaise, peanut butter, nuts, ice cream, and fatty cuts of red meat.
• Spicy foods.
• Foods with caffeine, such as chocolate and coffee.
• Carbonated drinks.
• Alcohol.

Find out your problem foods by keeping a food diary. As soon as you know what foods make your symptoms worse, your doctor or dietitian can help you plan a diet that avoids problem foods but gives you plenty of nutrients and enough calories to keep you at a healthy weight.

To make a food diary, get a small notebook and keep it with you. Make notes after each meal or snack.

• On the left side of the page, write down what you ate, about how much of each food you had, and what time you ate. Be honest—write down everything.
• On the right side of the page, note any symptoms you had and what time they occurred.

If you notice certain foods make your symptoms worse, talk to your doctor about these foods at your next visit.

Make smart food choices

During a flare-up, avoid or reduce foods that make symptoms worse. But instead of cutting out a whole group of high-nutrient foods, try replacing them with healthy choices.

• Choose dairy products that are low in lactose, such as yogurt or hard cheeses like cheddar. Or try drinking lactose-reduced milk.
• If you are having fat in your stools, choose low-fat foods instead of high-fat ones. For instance, some cuts of red meat have a lot of fat. A low-fat choice would be lean beef (such as sirloin, top and bottom round, chuck or diet lean hamburger), poultry, or fish, such as cod. Instead of frying foods, try baking or broiling them.
• Cook fruits and vegetables without hulls, skins, or seeds. Try different ways of preparing them, such as steaming, stewing, or baking. Peel and seed fresh fruits and vegetables if these bother you, or choose canned varieties.

Get the calories and nutrients you need

Your body may not be able to absorb all the nutrients it needs from the food you eat. To stay as healthy as you can:

• Eat a varied, nutritious diet that is high in calories and protein.
• Try eating 3 meals plus 2 or 3 snacks a day. It may be easier to get more calories if you spread your food intake throughout the day.
• Take vitamin and mineral supplements if your doctor recommends them.
• Try adding high-calorie liquid supplements, such as Ensure Plus or Boost Plus, if you have trouble keeping your weight up.
• Drink plenty of fluids. This can help you avoid dehydration, kidney problems, and gallstones.
• See your doctor or dietitian if your diet feels too limited or you are losing weight.