Crohn's Disease-Friendly Recipes (2024)

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One of the best ways to manage Crohn’s disease is to understand how food affects you. Nutrition not only impacts Crohn’s disease symptoms but can also help prevent serious complications like weight loss and malnutrition.

That’s why learning how to cook Crohn’s disease-friendly recipes can go a long way in your care plan. While no single diet works the same way for everyone, certain foods and cooking techniques tend to be easier on the gut for those living with Crohn’s disease.

Cooking should be simple (and fun), regardless of your dietary needs.

Here are six Crohn’s disease-friendly recipes that are easy to make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They’re sure to keep you satisfied and feeling your best all day long.

These recipes are intended to be used when you are NOT in a flare. Keep in mind that you may need to substitute any ingredients that may be triggers for you.

Banana overnight oats

Oatmeal is often an easy-to-eat food for people with Crohn’s disease, and it’s a healthy (and filling) option for breakfast. One of the easiest ways to make oatmeal is via overnight oats — you simply combine all the ingredients in a mason jar and refrigerate the mixture overnight.

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Because dairy can be a trigger for flares or symptoms, consider using a lactose free milk like Lactaid or Fairlife, or soy milk, which may be easier on your stomach. Bananas are also low FODMAP and Crohn’s-friendly.

“FODMAP” is an acronym for:

  • Fermentable: can be broken down by gut bacteria to produce gas
  • Oligosaccharides: a type of carbohydrate found in wheat, rye, onions, legumes, and pulses
  • Disaccharides: lactose (found in dairy)
  • Monosaccharides: fructose (found in honey, apples, and high fructose corn syrup)
  • Polyols: sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol

The aim of a low FODMAP diet is to cut out a group of sugars that may not be well absorbed by your GI tract.

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup milk of choice (like soy milk or lactose-free dairy milk)
  • 2 teaspoons stevia
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 banana, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)

Instructions

  1. Combine oats, milk, stevia, and vanilla in a small bowl and whisk together.
  2. Divide mixture evenly between two mason jars.
  3. Top each jar with sliced banana and drizzle peanut butter over the top.
  4. Refrigerate for 4 or more hours. Enjoy hot or cold.

Avocado toast topped with scrambled eggs

For a more savory option, consider easy avocado toast with a twist — adding scrambled eggs on top for a boost of protein and nutrition. Eggs are high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D, and E.

To make this dish super friendly for Crohn’s disease, opt for sourdough or gluten-free bread, both of which are great when it comes to managing flare-ups or keeping symptoms at bay.

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Start to finish: 15 minutes

Makes: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 ripe avocado
  • Pinch of salt and black pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 slices sourdough or gluten-free bread, toasted

Instructions

  1. Grease a frying pan with a bit of olive oil or cooking spray. When it’s hot, scramble eggs for 1–2 minutes, or until fully cooked. (For an easier and more even scramble, you can crack the eggs into a bowl, mix them, and then pour them into the pan when it’s hot.)
  2. Mash avocado in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper, then add lemon juice and mix with a fork or spoon.
  3. Divide avocado mash between toast slices and spread evenly.
  4. Top toast with scrambled eggs.

Strawberry, cucumber, and feta salad

This strawberry, cucumber, and feta salad is super refreshing and nutritious, and it takes less than 10 minutes to make — a great option for when you’re on the go.

You may want to substitute canned pears for strawberries if you are sensitive to the seeds or peel the cucumber if either of these are triggers for you.

For extra protein, we recommend topping the salad with sliced grilled chicken breast.

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Start to finish: 10 minutes

Makes: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup sliced cucumber
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 grilled chicken breast (suggested)

Instructions

  1. Add strawberries and cucumber to a salad bowl.
  2. Top with feta.
  3. Drizzle oil and vinegar over salad and toss gently.
  4. Slice chicken breast, if using, and add to top of salad.

Meat and vegetable roll-ups

Meat and veggie roll-ups are another easy lunch you can throw together in less than 10 minutes.

These fun finger foods use low FODMAP vegetables to help you manage symptoms of Crohn’s disease. You can make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge overnight, or you can enjoy them immediately after assembling them.

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Thanks to its minimal ingredients, this dish can be particularly helpful for managing flare-ups. You may want to peel the veggies or substitute for any of these if they are triggers for you.

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Makes: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • low FODMAP vegetables (such as cucumbers, celery, carrots, or bell peppers)
  • deli-sliced ham or turkey breast

Instructions

  1. Slice vegetables into matchsticks or small pieces.
  2. Place a handful of vegetable slices onto 1–2 slices of deli meat, then roll into a burrito shape.
  3. You can add toothpicks to hold the rolls together or eat them as they are.

Baked lemon chicken and sweet potatoes

This no-fuss dish comes together in just one pan and is easy on your stomach but full of flavor.

Lean proteins like chicken are generally well-tolerated by people with Crohn’s disease. Plus, sweet potatoes are full of vitamin A. The turmeric in this dish adds anti-inflammatory properties, which can be helpful for settling down a flare-up.

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Start to finish: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Makes: 3 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 large sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Peel sweet potatoes to reduce their fiber content, if you’d like. Cut sweet potatoes into cubes.
  3. Combine broth, lemon juice, oil, turmeric, oregano, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl and whisk together.
  4. Arrange sweet potatoes in a 9 x 13 baking pan. Place chicken breasts over sweet potatoes. Pour lemon mixture over chicken and sweet potatoes.
  5. Roast in oven for 1 hour.

Crispy baked peanut tofu

With minimal prep required, this largely hands-off recipe is easy to make and friendly to those on vegetarian diets as well as those with Crohn’s disease.

It also allows you to enjoy crispy foods without frying, since fatty or greasy food can be a trigger for flare-ups or symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Start to finish: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces extra-firm tofu
  • 3 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
  • 2 tablespoons stevia (with no erythritol or inulin added)
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 zucchini

Instructions

  1. Press tofu to get rid of water (you can do this by wrapping it in paper towels and placing a heavy bowl or pan on top of it for about 30 minutes). Cut tofu into 1-inch cubes.
  2. Combine coconut aminos, water, peanut butter, maple syrup, and ginger in a mixing bowl and whisk together.
  3. Pour mixture over tofu cubes. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  4. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  5. Slice zucchini.
  6. Spread marinated tofu and sliced zucchini on a sheet pan. Spray with cooking spray for extra crispiness.
  7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until tofu and zucchini are crispy around edges.

If you’re looking to add some carbs to any of the above meals, try oats, brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, or other gluten-free products.

Crohn's Disease-Friendly Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a safe dinner for 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.

What foods soothe Crohn's? ›

Potatoes: skinless potatoes are a great source of potassium and can help your body maintain its balance of fluids while you're managing a flare-up. Fatty fish: tuna, sardines, and salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids, which combat inflammation and may help reduce the irritation that causes your symptoms to worsen.

Can I have pasta with Crohn's? ›

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.

Are potatoes good for Crohn's disease? ›

Carrots are nutrient-rich and contain Crohn's-fighting antioxidants. Plus, tender cooked carrots are much easier to digest than raw vegetables. Avoid the fiber-packed skins, but enjoy the potassium-rich, soft insides of potatoes to help your body keep its fluids balanced.

Are eggs bad for Crohn's? ›

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.

Can you eat pizza with Crohn's? ›

“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.

Can you eat salad with Crohn's disease? ›

Raw or unpeeled veggies aren't a good choice. Whether you're using them for dip or in a salad, these tough, fiber-rich plant foods can make you poop even more. They could make a Crohn's flare feel worse. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage can also cause gas.

Is peanut butter good for Crohn's? ›

Nut or seed butters are a better way to consume seeds without irritating your digestive tract. “Sometimes people with Crohn's disease struggle with the amount of fiber that's in whole nuts, but that doesn't mean that you have to cut out nuts altogether.

Is rice ok for Crohn's? ›

When it comes to starches, rice is typically a good option for Crohn's because it's low in fiber and easy to digest. It's also a source of resistant starch, which may play a role in improving Crohn's disease and overall gut health.

Can I eat mac and cheese with Crohn's? ›

Foods such as milk, cheese, and butter can exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms because they contain lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in dairy foods, notes the Cleveland Clinic. You're more likely to have difficulty with dairy when you have Crohn's disease that involves the small intestine.

Are bananas good for Crohn's? ›

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.

Can I eat french fries with Crohn's? ›

Foods to limit

fruits and vegetables with skins and seeds. cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower. high fat foods, such as french fries, heavy cream, and bacon.

How to lose belly fat with Crohn's disease? ›

Drink plenty of water throughout the day (in relatively small portions). Eat small portions regularly throughout the day. Minimize or eliminate foods that are high in fiber, including beans, nuts, seeds, raw vegetables, and popcorn. Avoid fatty foods, including fried foods, and heavy cream or butter-laden sauces.

Is avocado ok for Crohn's? ›

They're also one of the only fruits that contain digestion-friendly soluble fiber along with the insoluble type. Consuming avocado is good news for someone with Crohn's, as it's an easily digestible, good-for-you fruit loaded with vitamins. These green fruits don't have to be reserved for guacamole and salads.

Can you eat cucumbers with Crohn's disease? ›

The foods best to incorporate into a Crohn disease diet include lean protein (e.g., fish, poultry, soy, eggs, nuts, tofu) and non-cruciferous vegetables (e.g., asparagus tips, cucumbers, potatoes, and squash). An individual may remove the peels of vegetables and the seeds and cook them to make them easier to digest.

Can I eat a hamburger with Crohn's? ›

Beef, pork products, and other high-fat, fried, or cured meats could make your symptoms worse. Fatty, spicy foods often trigger diarrhea and gas. That's because Crohn's makes it harder for you to digest excess fat.

What meat is good for Crohn's disease? ›

Focus on lean meats like chicken and turkey (and eat only a little red meat), fish, eggs, and tofu. Avoid processed and high-fat meats like sausage, bacon, hot dogs, bologna, and cold cuts which can irritate the digestive tract and potentially trigger a flare.

How many meals a day for Crohn's disease? ›

You may also want to work with your doctor or dietitian to work through an elimination diet. Generally, you should try to: Take your time when you eat. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation recommends eating 4-6 smaller meals per day.

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