Eating right when you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be a real challenge. For some people with IBD, it's obvious if a food is contributing to the discomfort of the disease, but for others it's more difficult to tell. To complicate matters more, a food that's just fine today may cause problems tomorrow.
There is no diet that is recommended for IBD. It's up to you to determine what works best. There are a few guidelines that may help:
- High fiber foods may be difficult to digest.
- Fried foods or foods high in fat may contribute to diarrhea.
- Dairy products may cause gas and bloating if lactose intolerance is a problem.
- Raw fruits and vegetables -- while a part of a healthful diet -- may cause discomfort during a flare-up.
- Carbonated beverages may contribute to gas and bloating.
There are many recipes developed for people with IBD that may be helpful. Be sure to read the ingredient list carefully -- we're all different, and what works for some may not work for all.
Breakfast
- Carol's Coffee Cake
- Citrus Biscotti: Makes 24 cookies to pair with decaf tea or coffee.
- Rice Flour Pancakes: Pancakes made with rice or soy milk and rice flour.
Cookies
- Tart Lemon Squares: Makes 6 lemony squares.
- Peanut Butter Cookies: No diary and no fiber. What else could we look for in a cookie?
- Rasberry Sauvaroff Cookies: This recipe is a little more involved, but promises to be well worth the work.
Chilled Desserts
- Pink Grapefruit Sorbet: Requires an ice cream maker.
Snacks
- Soft Pretzels: Get your pretzel without any fiber.
Side Dishes
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- Herbed Poultry Stuffing: Stuffing for your Thanksgiving dinner or any time of year.
- 'Hope & Joy' Potato Latkes: Potato latkes to add a little bit of variety to your meals.
Soups
- New England Clam Chowder: Made with rice milk instead of cow's milk.
Main Dishes
- Shepherd's Pie: Made with turkey instead of beef, this recipe is an old-fashioned favorite.
- Shrimp Scampi With Linguine: Shrimp cooked in garlic and white wine--what could be better?
- Steamed Oriental Dumplings: This recipe made with ground pork or turkey takes some time to prepare.
- Turkey Burgers & Grilled Onions: Turkey burgers cook up just like beef patties, and are healthier.
