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IBD: Tips and Information
Take the best advantage of your meal plan with the information below
With our Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Meal Plans, you stack the odds in your favour. To take maximum advantage of our meal plans, take the time to read the information below.
Important Advice and Useful Tips
What you SHOULD do
- Continue to take your medication as prescribed by your health provider team. Same goes for any supplements or vitamins that were prescribed to you.
- Make sure to hydrate well all day, including when you have diarrhea
- Practice a relaxation activity help with stress management
- Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night
- Eat slowly, in a well-seated position, and chew your food well
- Record your meals and symptoms in a food and symptoms journal. The goal is have a varied and balanced diet as much as possible.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Modify the texture as needed.
- Eat foods high in soluble fiber and in prebiotics to reduce symptoms of diarrhea and inflammation in the colon and optimize gut health. For more information, read the following article: Is your fibre intake optimal?
- Take a vitamin D supplement
- Eat foods rich in omega-3s, including fatty fish 3 times a week (salmon, trout, tuna, etc.). If you don’t eat fish, ask your doctor if you would benefit from taking an omega-3 supplement.
- Cook more with fresh, whole, unprocessed foods
What you should watch out for
- Limit added sugars to less than 25g per day
- Limit red meats, processed meats and foods high in saturated or trans fats, including fried foods, processed baked products and sweets, high-fat dairy products, palm oil and coconut oil
- During the active period of the disease (flares), it may be more difficult to tolerate foods high insoluble fiber (roughage), such as raw fruits and vegetables, lettuce, the peels of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as popcorn. If this is your case, choose high fiber foods that have a softer or liquid consistency such as smoothies, soups and broths, cooked and peeled vegetables, fruit and vegetable purees, nut butters, etc.
- During the active period of the disease (flares), it is possible to develop temporary lactose intolerance. If this is your case, choose lactose free dairy products. Other foods that can potentially trigger symptoms are fatty foods, spicy foods, foods high in sugar, foods high in FODMAPs, coffee, and alcohol.
- During active period of the disease (flares), the absorption of vitamins and minerals may be reduced and it is possible to develop deficiencies, the most common being iron deficiency. Contact your doctor to have blood work done to determine if you need vitamin and mineral supplements.
- During active period of the disease (flares), eating smaller meals more often may be helpful in reducing symptoms.
- Before starting taking a supplement that was not prescribed by a health professional, make sure to talk to your medical team.
What you should NOT do
- Avoid artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose, xylitol, stevia, etc., which are found in sugar free drinks, foods and gum)
- Avoid processed foods, including those containing the following additives: carrageenan, emulsifiers, titanium dioxide and maltodextrin
- Avoid restricting your diet unnecessarily. A food and symptoms journal as well as a registered dietitian can help you figure out which foods are problematic.
FAQ: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (IBD)
Who are the IBD menus for?
These menus are indicated for people suffering from Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis who do not have any bowel resections or strictures.
What is the diet for IBD?
IBD menus aim to satisfy your nutritional needs (energy, protein, omega 3, vitamins and minerals: Mg, Se, Zn, Na, Fe, Ca, vitamines A, B9, B3, and B12, D, E, and K).
They aim to reduce digestive symptoms, which is why meals are split into several smaller food intakes. They aim to reduce inflammation, which is why they’re high in omega-3s, soluble fiber, fruits, vegetables, and low in saturated fat and added sugars.
Why is this diet recommended for people suffering from Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis?
Our menus are based on the Mediterranean diet. This is a balanced diet that reduces the risk of dysbiosis and therefore inflammation. Several studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet is effective in reducing inflammation and promoting symptom remission in people with IBD. The menus include a very wide variety of foods. However, since tolerance to certain foods is very personal, our service allows each user to eliminate foods or groups of foods that would trigger their symptoms (ex: lactose, etc.).
What is the difference between your program and the information I can find on the internet or in books about diets for IBD?
Our menus provide you peace of mind. No need to rack your brains for what to eat! With these menus, it will be much easier for you to adopt a varied and balanced diet. In addition, the menus ensure you eat the right foods to reduce your symptoms and meet all your nutritional needs. Our team has already done all the work for you!
Do I have to buy specific foods to follow the program?
Absolutely not! Our menus are made with natural foods that you can easily find in supermarkets, all-natural/organic food stores, or from your local merchants and grocers.
If I have questions, is your team there to respond?
Of course! We want you to reduce your symptoms and regain good health and we are here to help you. As a subscriber to the IBD program, you can ask your questions to our nutritionists who will respond as soon as possible. If you need a more complete support, we offer the VIP Dietitian service, which provides, among other things, three individual consultations.
Info Nutrition: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (IBD)
The most recent recommendations (references) for IBD consist of 50 nutritional targets that must be attained day after day, so as to optimize diet in remission periods of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis..
These 50 targets can be grouped as follows:
- Proper daily calorie intake, to promote the achievement and maintenance of a healthy weight. We currently offer 2 caloric levels to best meet your needs: 1,700 and 2,100 calories per day.
- Optimal intakes of vitamins and minerals, especially magnesium, selenium, zinc, sodium, iron, calcium, vitamins A, B3, B9, B12, D, E and K
- Optimal intakes of carbs (including fiber and added sugars), fats and proteins
- Optimal intakes of good fats (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated) and the optimal omega-6 / omega-3 ratio
- No trans fat, and limited amounts of saturated fats and added/concentrated sugars
- Optimal number and size of meals and snacks, to facilitate nutrient absorption
- The recommended proportions of the various food groups
- Vegetables and Fruits, including the essential dark green and orange vegetables
- Protein foods
- Whole grain foods
- Optimal composition of snacks in terms of carbohydrates and lean proteins
- Adequate intake of foods that are specifically recommended (sources of lean proteins, etc.)
- Adequate intake of foods that need to be limited, with the option to eliminate foods that may cause you problems.
Articles: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IMPORTANT: The information provided on this website does not replace a medical consultation and is not intended for self diagnosis. We recommend that you seek the advice of your doctor or healthcare professional before undertaking a change to your diet or lifestyle. See Terms & Conditions.