10 Crohn's Disease Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the best food to eat with Crohn's disease? ›

During a flare-up, try to eat healthy foods that are gentle on your gut. Start with soft, bland foods like applesauce, bananas, potatoes, and cooked vegetables. Yogurt, fish, cereals, and low-fiber foods can also help you get the nutrition you need on a Crohn's disease diet without causing irritation.

Dinner: One Pot Chicken and Rice

This meal makes for a cozy and comforting weeknight dinner that can be cooked and served in a single pot for easy clean-up. Plus, according to a 2020 study in 233 people with IBD, chicken and rice were among the most commonly identified foods associated with a reduction of symptoms.

Other trigger foods and drink may include the following: Corn and snack foods made with corn like nacho chips. Whole nuts and seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin. Raw vegetables including tomatoes and bell peppers.

Crohn's Life Expectancy: What's the Cap to It? According to research, the average life expectancy of an individual with Crohn's is shorter compared to those who do not have Crohn's. The average life expectancy for females is 78.4 years and for males, it is 75.5 years.

Since protein needs increase during active disease, it's also helpful to focus on consuming protein-containing foods throughout the day. Some examples of foods containing protein are chicken, tofu, fish, turkey, eggs, yogurt, beans, chia seeds, and nut butters.

Doctors often recommend that people with Crohn's disease keep a food journal of everything they eat and in what amounts. A person can list the symptoms — if any — they experience after eating certain foods. Common foods that may worsen symptoms include spicy foods, dairy products, alcohol, and high fiber grains.

Older evidence suggests that prebiotics and probiotics, which include fermented foods, may be beneficial for Crohn's disease. The following meals include prebiotic and probiotic food sources: Breakfast: Greek yogurt with cooked oats, mashed banana or applesauce, and walnut butter.

“It's all about helping people feel better through food,” says Lippman. When Lippman isn't working, there's a good chance he's cooking. There are still foods he avoids to keep his Crohn's in check, including popcorn, beef, tomatoes, alcohol, and, yes, pizza. “Pizza is kind of my white whale,” he says.

Grains give us carbs and energy, and while the healthier option is usually whole grains, but high fiber foods aren't an excellent choice for Crohn's disease diets. Instead, supplement with white bread, white rice, and pasta. These choices have “low-residue” meaning there's less “scrap” to irritate the bowels.

Iceberg and butter lettuce — These soft, light green lettuces are considered safe in small amounts for most people with Crohn's. They are low in fiber and high in water content. When you are in remission, slowly introduce butter lettuce or other soft greens into your diet for valuable nutrition.

What spices are bad for Crohn's? ›

Spicy food can be irritating for some people with Crohn's and worsen their symptoms. Some spices to avoid are cayenne pepper, onions, jalapeños, paprika, garlic, black pepper, wasabi, and chili powder.

Fruits and vegetables

If raw fruits make your flare-ups worse, try applesauce and bananas. Both are good for you and can fulfill a craving for sweets. In addition to these, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation recommends raspberries, squashes, green beans, and cooked and blended fruits and vegetables.

Remission is a stage of Crohn's when your disease is no longer active. That means inflammation stops causing painful damage to your bowel and colon because your immune system is working like it should. If your disease is in remission, you'll likely notice these signs: No more symptoms like pain, diarrhea, or fatigue.

Over time, Crohn's disease can lead to other complications, including bowel obstruction, ulcers, fistulas, anal fissures, malnutrition, and other health problems. It can also increase your risk for blood clots and colon cancer. Having these symptoms doesn't automatically mean you have Crohn's.

Does Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis get worse with age? Both conditions can change as you age, but not necessarily for the worse. For some people, their condition may improve over time due to a treatment plan that works for them. For others, it may worsen or stay the same.

Try taking OTC medications

Several over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help reduce GI symptoms of Crohn's disease, such as diarrhea, gas, and bloating. These may include: loperamide (Imodium A-D) bismuth-subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)

Some research suggests that stress, including the stress of living with Crohn's disease, can make symptoms worse. Also, some people may find that certain foods can trigger or worsen their symptoms.