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If you are suffering a Crohn’s or colitis flare, IBS, medication side effects, or stomach virus, you may find yourself unable to tolerate many of the foods you typically eat. The following foods and meal ideas are easy to digest, anti-inflammatory, and full of nutrients to help your body fight the flare. These foods are gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free, and most meals are specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) and autoimmune paleo (AIP) compliant. It is really important to stay hydrated, rest, and keep in contact with your doctor during a flare, especially if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms.
Every person is different, and no diet fits all. Finding a diet that works for you may be trial and error, and every flare may require tweaks in your diet. The foods and drinks below are compiled from several Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients for what works for them. Many of these patients follow a form of the SCD or AIP diet on a regular basis to keep their inflammation levels to a minimum, avoid flares, and heal. The beautiful thing about these diets is that one you start healing, you should be able to tolerate so many more foods than you could before. I hope this helps, and this list of foods and recipes will be constantly growing, so check back often for more tummy-friendly food inspiration!
Grocery List
Fluids
- Bone broth
- Coconut water
- Coconut milk
- Almond milk
- Tea (peach mango green tea, camomile, blueberry herbal)
- Kombucha (careful, sometimes fermented foods are bothersome during a flare)
- 100% juice (avoid tomato)
- Orgain Vegan Protein Shakes (healthiest alternative to Boost/Ensure I’ve seen)
Protein
- Ground chicken, turkey
- Organ meat (chicken liver)
- Collagen
- Fish (salmon, cod, haddock, shrimp, scallops, ect)
- Eggs
Fruits
- Banana
- Cantaloupe
- Apple
- Pear
- Honeydew
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Berries
- Avocado
- Lemons
- Plantain
Grains
- White rice (jasmine, basmati, ect.)
- Rice pasta (brown rice pasta, white rice pasta)
- Rice crackers
Vegetables
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Zucchini
- Squash (acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti,…)
- Rutabaga
- Onion
- Garlic
- Spinach (blend in soups/smoothies)
- Beets
- Green beans
Oils
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Ghee
Dairy Free Alternatives
- Coconut milk yogurt
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk
Snacks/Miscellaneous
- Fruit & Nut Bars (Larabar, Freedom Bar, homemade)
- Creamy nut butters
- Baby food pouches
- Coconut aminos (soy sauce alternative)
Meal Ideas
Many find it hard to tolerate fruits and vegetables during a flare, so be sure to avoid all raw veggies. Instead, peel your fruit and peel and cook your vegetables thoroughly. Red and fattier cuts of meat may cause discomfort, but ground turkey, soft chicken, and fish are easier to digest.
Liquids
- Strawberry banana smoothie
- ½ frozen banana, frozen berries, collagen peptides, dairy free milk, spinach
- ½ frozen banana, ½ avocado, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tbsp almond butter, dairy free milk
- Frozen bananas, collagen peptides, additional frozen fruit (banana n’ice cream)
- Homemade juices
- Gummies
The Ultimate Golden Milk from Girl in Healing
Soups
Easy Paleo & Vegan Butternut Squash Soup (AIP, SCD) from Sweetened By Nature
Meats/Eggs
- Whole chicken/turkey roasted
- Turkey patties
- Baked/grilled chicken, fish with garlic powder, sea salt, additional seasonings as tolerated
- Scrambled eggs
One-Pan Roasted Chicken & Veggies from Girl in Healing
Fruits & Veggies
- Steamed carrots, zucchini
- Roasted vegetables (cooked thoroughly)
- Cauliflower mash (boil cauliflower in bone broth, garlic, sea salt about 45 minutes, mash)
- Baked sweet potato/squash, mashed (delicious when you mix in a little coconut milk)
- Homemade applesauce (peel & chop apples, cook in pot with cinnamon on medium heat 25-30 minutes, blend until smooth)
- Coconut milk yogurt w/ peeled pear
- Baked apple/pear w/ cinnamon
- Baked sweet potato chips w/ guacamole
- Banana w/ almond butter
Paleo Rutabaga Fries (AIP, SCD) from Sweetened By Nature
Miscellaneous Meals
- White rice, mashed avocado, chicken/turkey
- Zucchini, onion, carrot, chicken/shrimp stir-fry w/ coconut aminos
- Turkey patty, avocado, steamed carrots
- Eggs, baked sweet potato (remove skin), steamed veggies
- Turkey patty & spaghetti squash w/ no-tomato sauce
I am vegan, can u shoe vegan meals.
The butternut squash soup, smoothies (minus the collagen), rutabaga fries, fruit and nut bars and more are all vegan. Most recipes on my site are vegan if you do not add meat to the meal.
People with Crohn’s and colitis can not eat seeds so how are you using strawberries in a smoothie?
The majority of people with Crohn’s and UC can eat seeds. The individual may choose to avoid seeds, such as in a bad flare, but there is no guideline that says people with IBD should avoid seeds. Same with diverticulitis – studies now conclude that seeds are okay
Hi my father has colitus ulcerosa but is also diabetic. Do you have any advice to stay fed properly.
He would do well with seeing a nutritionist who has access to his medical records. Maybe one of his doctors could recommend someone. That way the information is personalized to his needs. Best of luck!
This is awesome! Thank you!
thank you!!
Hello, can we use chia seeds?
There are no rules for how to eat in a flare. It’s a lot of trial and error and doing what feels right for your body.