Foods to eat and avoid with Crohn’s disease
There’s no single Crohn’s diet that suits everyone, and trigger foods vary from person to person. But some foods are much more often easy on the gut, and others are common culprits, especially during a flare. Use this list as a starting point, then personalise it.
The food list at a glance
| Food group | ✓ Usually easier to tolerate | ✕ Common triggers to limit |
|---|---|---|
| Grains | White rice, white pasta, white or sourdough bread, porridge oats, refined cereals | During flares: whole grains, bran, brown rice, popcorn |
| Vegetables | Well-cooked, peeled and seedless vegetables; potatoes without skin; blended soups | Raw vegetables and salads during flares; gas-producing vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli |
| Fruit | Bananas, melon, applesauce, tinned or stewed peeled fruit | Skins, seeds and pips; dried fruit; high-fibre fruit such as oranges and pineapple during flares |
| Protein | Eggs, fish (especially oily fish like salmon), tender chicken or turkey, tofu, smooth nut butter | Fried or fatty meats, processed meats; beans and lentils during flares |
| Dairy | Lactose-free milk, yogurt and kefir if tolerated, hard cheese | Milk, cream, ice cream and custard if you’re lactose intolerant |
| Fats | Olive oil and other oils in moderate amounts | Fried and greasy foods, heavy cream sauces |
| Drinks | Water, oral rehydration drinks, broth, weak tea | Caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks |
| Other | Simple, home-cooked meals with few ingredients | Very spicy food; sugar-free sweets with sorbitol or mannitol; ultra-processed foods with emulsifiers |
The “limit” column matters most during flares, or all the time if you have a stricture.
Flares vs remission: eating changes
During a flare, most people do better with soft, low-fibre food: refined grains, peeled and well-cooked vegetables, soft proteins and plenty of fluids. Small, frequent meals are often easier than three large ones. See the low-residue food list and our flare-up guide.
Between flares, the aim is variety. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics advises including whole grains and a range of fruit and vegetables when you don’t have symptoms, introducing new foods one at a time in small amounts. Diets with trial evidence, such as the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet and the Mediterranean diet, are good frameworks.
With a stricture, fibrous foods can cause a blockage, so a longer-term low-residue approach is common. Follow your care team’s advice.
Finding your own triggers
- Keep a simple food and symptom diary for two to four weeks: what you ate, when, and how you felt afterwards.
- Look for patterns that repeat, rather than reacting to a single bad day.
- Remove a suspected trigger for a few weeks, then reintroduce it on its own to confirm.
- Avoid cutting out whole food groups long term without a dietitian; people with Crohn’s are already prone to nutrient gaps.
Ready to plan meals? See our 7-day Crohn’s meal plan.
Common questions
What foods should you avoid with Crohn’s disease?
There’s no single list that applies to everyone, and triggers vary a lot between people. The foods most commonly limited, especially during flares, are high-fibre and raw foods, fried and fatty foods, very spicy food, caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks and, for people who are lactose intolerant, regular dairy. Keeping a food and symptom diary is the best way to find your own triggers.
What are the worst foods for Crohn’s?
The foods people most often report as problems are fried and greasy foods, popcorn, nuts and seeds, raw vegetables, spicy food, alcohol and fizzy drinks. If you have a stricture, tough, fibrous foods are the main concern because they can cause a blockage.
What can you eat with Crohn’s disease?
Most people can eat a varied diet between flares. Foods that are usually easier on the gut include white rice and pasta, oats, eggs, fish, chicken, tofu, bananas, cooked peeled vegetables, and yogurt or kefir if dairy is tolerated.
Can food cause a Crohn’s flare?
According to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, no specific foods have been shown to cause or worsen Crohn’s disease, but diet can help you manage symptoms and stay well nourished. Research is also exploring how ultra-processed foods and additives may affect the gut, which is the idea behind the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet.
Is dairy bad for Crohn’s?
Not for everyone. Dairy causes problems mainly for people who are lactose intolerant, which is more common with small-bowel Crohn’s. Lactose-free milk, yogurt, kefir and hard cheese are often better tolerated, and they help you get enough calcium.
Sources
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Eating, diet, & nutrition for Crohn’s disease
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · NIDDK (NIH)
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Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics · EatRight.org
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Crohn’s disease: my diet during a flare up
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · UCLH
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First line dietary advice for Crohn’s disease
Milton Keynes University Hospital · MKUH NHS
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Diet, nutrition, and inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation · Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
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