25 well-tolerated foods for Crohn’s and colitis

‍Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnose, or treat medical diseases. It is strictly for informational purposes. Prior to undertaking any change in treatment or diet seek the advice of your physician.This blog post does not replace individualized medical nutrition therapy or medical advice.

Do you experience symptoms when consuming certain foods? If so, you’re not alone. Nearly all of the patients we see here at Romanwell have at least some trigger foods that result in the onset of symptoms. 

If you’re experiencing symptoms after eating certain foods, you may find yourself avoiding or restricting those foods or food groups entirely to help yourself feel better. While restriction is a completely normal response to symptoms, it’s important not to normalize this because it can increase your risk for malnutrition and negatively impact your relationship with food. 

Below is a list of 25 foods that tend to be well tolerated by most of our clients with IBD, including those with active disease and active symptoms. If you feel restricted on your current diet or you’re only eating a few foods, you may consider slowly introducing some of the foods below into your diet to increase the variety and enjoyment in eating. 

If a particular food causes symptoms for you, try adjusting the type, texture, or portion size to improve tolerability. If you’re unsure which foods or ingredients trigger your symptoms, it may be helpful to work with an IBD-specialized registered dietitian to reduce your symptoms without restricting your diet. 

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25 well-tolerated foods for people with Crohn’s and colitis

Important note: we don’t recommend using this food list as a diet plan as that would be too restrictive. Instead, if there are foods on this list that you’re not currently consuming, consider reintroducing them into your diet as they tend to be well tolerated by people with IBD. 

• Lean chicken breast & ground chicken breast
• Lean turkey breast & ground chicken breast
• Fish (such as cod, tilapia, & bass)
• Fatty fish (such as salmon, halibut, & tuna)
• Firm tofu
• Nut/seed butters
• Nut/seed meals
• Potatoes (especially cooked then cooled),rainbow potatoes
• Rice
• Rice-based pasta
• Gluten free oats
• Carrots, rainbow carrots
• Sweet potatoes/yams
• Peeled & thinly sliced cucumbers
• Blended or cooked spinach
• Cooked Zucchini
• Cooked Yellow squash
• Butternut squash
• Spaghetti squash
• Fork tender cooked green beans 
• Bananas
• Unsweetened applesauce or peeled & baked apples
• Blended blueberries
• Olive oil
• Avocados

Get professional support

If you feel restricted on your current diet or feel like your diet isn’t sustainable for the long haul, we can help. Our IBD registered dietitians can help you quickly identify your trigger foods and safely expand your diet to include the foods you love without triggering symptoms. 

Request a call to learn if our IBD nutrition program is right for you. 

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