12 Tips for Eating at a Family-Style Restaurant with IBD

Eating at a family-style restaurant when you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can be challenging, but it's definitely manageable with some careful planning and strategies. Here are 12 tips that might be helpful to keep in mind:

12 tips for eating at a family-style restaurant

1. Plan Ahead: Check the restaurant’s menu online in advance to see if there are options that are safe for you. 
2. Eat Before:  Eat a snack or meal before you go so that you’re not as hungry during the meal. That way, if you can’t eat anything, you won’t be as hungry. 
3. Know Your Triggers: Before you go, it’s helpful to learn which foods typically trigger your symptoms. Common triggers might include spicy foods, high-fiber foods, fatty foods, dairy, or alcohol. If you need help finding your trigger foods, work with an IBD focused RD, like us!
4. Listen to Hunger Cues: Sometimes with Crohn’s or colitis you may experience decreased appetite, but it’s still important to eat anyways. If you have a good appetite, listen to your hunger cues throughout the day so that you’re not starving before this meal. When we’re starving, we tend to eat quickly and eat to the point of uncomfortable fullness, both of which can lead to GI symptoms. 
5. Choose Simple Dishes: Opt for simple dish options. Grilled or baked lean meats or fish, steamed or roasted vegetables, and plain rice are often easier on the gut than heavily seasoned or fried items.
6. Choose Safe Dishes: With family style dining there’s usually an expectation that everyone at the table will share their food, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If there’s only 1-2 dishes that will work for you, let your group know that that’s all you can eat and let them know you’ll mainly be eating those dishes so if others are interested, you should get more than one. 
7. Be Strategic: For the dishes that you know or assume won’t be well tolerated, but really want to try, have a few bites and savor each bite. That way, you’ll still get to taste them, but it hopefully won’t be enough to cause severe symptoms. 
8. Advocate for Yourself: Don’t hesitate to explain your dietary restrictions to the server. They can help you identify suitable dishes or request modifications to menu items (like having sauces or dressings on the side).
9. Pack Essentials: Take OTC medications or digestive enzymes ahead of time to help decrease symptoms.
10. Prepare for the Unexpected: Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might eat something that triggers your symptoms. Have a plan in place for how you'll handle a flare-up if it occurs.
11. Enjoy the Experience: Remember, dining out is as much about the social experience as it is about the food. Focus on the company and the enjoyment of being out.
12. Back-Up Option: Be flexible and have a backup option. If the menu doesn’t have suitable options, it’s okay to suggest another restaurant. 

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Dining out at a family-style restaurant with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis may come with its challenges, but with thoughtful planning and communication, you can still enjoy the experience. By knowing your triggers, advocating for your needs, and making certain food choices, you can focus more on the company and less on your symptoms.

With these tips in mind, hopefully you’ll feel better equipped to enjoy a meal out with family and friends without the fear of symptoms.