Diet may not be to blame for ulcerative colitis, but it still plays a role. Dig into these 4 healthy dinners for an ulcerative colitis–friendly meal.
Reyna Franco, RDN courtesy of American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Updated on December 26, 2023
The ideal weeknight dinner is healthy, easy, and fast. But this kind of meal planning can be tough, especially if you’re trying to map out dinner recipes when you have ulcerative colitis (UC). And when ulcerative colitis symptoms flare, you may have to avoid many otherwise nutritious foods. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice nutrients, convenience, or flavor. “What we eat doesn’t cause gut inflammation in ulcerative colitis, but certain foods can worsen the symptoms of a flare,” says Torey Armul, RDN, a nutrition consultant in Lewis Center, Ohio. While bothersome foods vary widely among people with ulcerative colitis, fiber-rich foods can be troublesome during a flare, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. If you’re having a flare, Armul first suggests working with a registered dietitian who will analyze how your diet affects your symptoms and potentially identify foods you can’t tolerate. “People with ulcerative colitis have different food intolerances, so an elimination diet can help determine problematic foods,” she says. “The most common culprits are lactose, high-fat, and raw, fibrous foods,” she says, although these same foods may be more easily tolerated when you’re feeling well.
