BREAKFAST
• High fibre cereals and porridge can be tolerated with a milk of your choice
• Most cereals are fortified with iron, calcium and other vitamins
• Having a glass of fresh fruit juice will contribute to one of your ‘5 a day’
What should I eat?
Every IBD patient is different and no one diet plan will suit everyone. A healthy balanced diet should be eaten as much as possible. However when your disease is active and symptoms return you may find it difficult to do this.
Where able a healthy balanced diet should always be followed. The Eatwell Guide can help direct you towards achieving this.
Where able a healthy balanced diet should always be followed. The Eatwell Guide can help direct you towards achieving this.
The pictures below give you examples of meals you could eat during and not during active disease. There is also additional links to fact sheets below. 'Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) symptom control with diet'
What to eat when not with active disease
Bran flakes and fresh Orange Juice
LUNCH
• Brown or granary bread can be tolerated well and should be included where possible
• Soup and a sandwich with salad will contribute to your ‘5 a day’
• The ‘Eatwell Guide’ provides you with information on portion sizes
• Brown or granary bread can be tolerated well and should be included where possible
• Soup and a sandwich with salad will contribute to your ‘5 a day’
• The ‘Eatwell Guide’ provides you with information on portion sizes
Vegetable soup & a tuna salad sandwich (brown bread)
EVENING MEAL
• Skins of potatoes and vegetables can remain and a much larger variety of vegetables can be tolerated
• Tougher meats can be eaten and food is often not needed to be mashed
• Larger portions sizes can also be tolerated
• Skins of potatoes and vegetables can remain and a much larger variety of vegetables can be tolerated
• Tougher meats can be eaten and food is often not needed to be mashed
• Larger portions sizes can also be tolerated
Beef and vegetable stew, boiled potatoes and green vegetables
What to eat during active disease
BREAKFAST
• Choose reduced fibre cereals such as Cornflakes or Rice Crispies
• Use full fat milk to provide you with extra calories
• Smaller portion sizes are often better tolerated. Aim for three small meals and three snacks a day
• A smaller glass of orange juice can be taken. Choose the ‘smooth/no bits’ option as this will have less fibre
• Choose reduced fibre cereals such as Cornflakes or Rice Crispies
• Use full fat milk to provide you with extra calories
• Smaller portion sizes are often better tolerated. Aim for three small meals and three snacks a day
• A smaller glass of orange juice can be taken. Choose the ‘smooth/no bits’ option as this will have less fibre
Cornflakes & full fat milk
LUNCH
• Using white bread reduces the fibre content in your diet
• Having a glass of milk with your meal will provide you with extra calories
• Having eggs and cheese provides you with calories and protein to help with healing and maintaining muscle mass
• Using white bread reduces the fibre content in your diet
• Having a glass of milk with your meal will provide you with extra calories
• Having eggs and cheese provides you with calories and protein to help with healing and maintaining muscle mass
Scrambled eggs on toast with cheese and butter
EVENING MEAL
• Removing the peels and skins from your potatoes and vegetables makes digestion easier
• Opting for soft, mashed foods also helps with easier digestion
• Adding white or cheese sauce or gravy to your meal will improve digestion and increase calories
• Removing the peels and skins from your potatoes and vegetables makes digestion easier
• Opting for soft, mashed foods also helps with easier digestion
• Adding white or cheese sauce or gravy to your meal will improve digestion and increase calories
White fish with a white sauce, mashed carrots and potato
Snacks
A 'Little and often' approach is often better tolerated in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. For example eating 3 small meals a day with snacks in between can reduce unwanted symptoms.
When fit and well various fruit or vegetables are good snack choices. High calorie snacks should be eaten in moderation.
During active disease it is of more importance to eat snacks of a high calorie and high protein value to prevent nutritional losses. The picture below gives some examples of nutritious snacks. Aim for 2-3 per day.
When fit and well various fruit or vegetables are good snack choices. High calorie snacks should be eaten in moderation.
During active disease it is of more importance to eat snacks of a high calorie and high protein value to prevent nutritional losses. The picture below gives some examples of nutritious snacks. Aim for 2-3 per day.
