What to eat during a flare

When you're having an IBD flare, eating can sometimes feel difficult.

Your tummy might hurt.

You might have diarrhoea.

You might not feel hungry.

And you might start wondering:

“What am I actually supposed to eat?”

You may have heard that certain foods are “bad for IBD” or that you need to follow a special diet during a flare.

But here's something important to know:

There isn't one flare diet that works for everyone with IBD.

What feels comfortable for you might be completely different from what works for someone else.

The goal during a flare is usually to keep getting enough food and fluids while making eating as comfortable as possible.

🍌 Choose foods that feel easier for you

When your gut is irritated, you might find some foods easier to tolerate than others.

Depending on your symptoms, you might prefer simple, familiar foods such as:

• Rice

• Pasta

• Bread or toast

• Potatoes without the skin

• Bananas

• Applesauce or stewed fruit

• Eggs

• Chicken

• Fish

• Smooth nut butter, if tolerated

• Yoghurt or other dairy foods, if you tolerate them

• Dairy-free alternatives if needed

• Soups

• Smooth foods

These aren't special “IBD foods”.

They're simply examples of foods some people find easier to eat when their gut isn't feeling great.

You don't have to eat from this list if these foods don't work for you.

🍽️ Smaller meals might feel easier

A huge plate of food can feel overwhelming when you're having tummy pain or don't have much appetite.

You might find it easier to have:

Smaller meals + regular snacks

instead of trying to eat three large meals.

For example:

Breakfast → snack → lunch → snack → dinner → evening snack.

This can help you keep getting energy and nutrients without having to eat a large amount at once.

💧 Don't forget about fluids

If you're having frequent diarrhoea, you can lose a lot of fluid.

Keep drinking regularly throughout the day rather than waiting until you're extremely thirsty.

Water is usually a good choice.

If you're losing a lot of fluid through diarrhoea or vomiting, your healthcare team may recommend an oral rehydration solution, which contains water, salts and glucose in the right amounts to help replace what you've lost.

Follow the advice you've been given by your healthcare team.

If you can't keep fluids down or you're showing signs of dehydration, tell an adult and get medical advice.

🌽 What about fibre?

Fibre is normally an important part of a healthy diet.

But during a flare, some high-fibre foods may make symptoms such as diarrhoea, cramping or urgency feel worse for some people.

You might temporarily find foods such as these harder to tolerate:

• Raw vegetables

• Fruit skins

• Large salads

• Wholegrain breads and cereals

• Nuts

• Seeds

• Popcorn

• Corn

• Beans and legumes

  
  

That doesn't mean these foods are bad for IBD.

And it doesn't mean you should stop eating them forever.

If your healthcare team or dietitian recommends reducing fibre during a flare, they can help you work out what to eat instead and when to start adding foods back.

If you have a narrowing in your bowel called a stricture, you may have specific advice about fibre from your IBD team. Follow your individual plan.

🌶️ What about spicy or fatty foods?

Some people notice that certain foods make their symptoms feel worse during a flare.

These might include:

• Very spicy foods

• Fried or greasy foods

• Very fatty meals

• Large amounts of caffeine

• Fizzy drinks

But these foods don't affect everyone in the same way.

If something clearly makes your diarrhoea, urgency or tummy pain worse, you might choose to have less of it while you're unwell.

That doesn't necessarily mean the food caused your flare.

🥛 Do I need to stop dairy?

Not automatically.

Some people find dairy harder to tolerate when their gut is inflamed, particularly if it causes more bloating, diarrhoea or discomfort.

Other people with IBD can eat dairy without any problems.

Dairy foods can also provide important nutrients such as calcium, protein and vitamin D.

So don't cut out dairy just because you have IBD.

If dairy seems to be causing problems, talk to your parent, carer, IBD team or dietitian about alternatives so you're still getting the nutrition you need.

🚫 Foods aren't “good” or “bad”

It can be tempting to think:

“I ate something bad and caused my flare.”

Try not to blame yourself.

IBD is an inflammatory disease, and flares are complicated.

Eating pizza, chocolate or something spicy doesn't mean you caused your IBD to become active.

A particular food might make your symptoms feel worse, but that's different from saying it caused the inflammation.

Learning the difference can help you avoid becoming frightened of food.

🥤 What if I don't feel like eating?

Losing your appetite can happen during a flare.

But your body still needs energy and nutrients — especially while you're growing.

If full meals feel impossible, you might find it easier to try:

• Small snacks

• Smoothies, if tolerated

• Soups

• Soft foods

• Nourishing drinks recommended by your healthcare team

• Smaller portions more often

If you're hardly eating, losing weight or struggling to get enough nutrition, tell your parent, carer or IBD team.

Don't wait until you've lost a lot of weight to mention it.

🧃 What about nutrition drinks?

Sometimes children and teenagers with IBD need extra nutrition.

Your dietitian or IBD team might recommend special nutritional drinks or, for some people with Crohn's disease, a treatment called exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN).

EEN is a special liquid nutrition treatment that may be used to help treat active Crohn's disease.

It's very different from simply drinking a supermarket protein shake.

If your healthcare team recommends nutritional treatment, they'll explain exactly what you need and how long you'll need it.

📱 Should I track what I'm eating?

Sometimes it can help to notice patterns.

You could write down:

What I ate: ______

How I felt afterwards: ______

Symptoms: ______

But don't become obsessed with tracking every bite.

Your symptoms can change for lots of reasons, and feeling worse after eating something once doesn't automatically mean you can never eat it again.

If you're starting to become worried or frightened about food, tell someone.

⚠️ Don't cut out lots of foods on your own

This is especially important when you're still growing.

Removing lots of foods from your diet can make it harder to get enough:

• Energy

• Protein

• Iron

• Calcium

• Vitamins

• Minerals

If you think certain foods are causing problems, talk to your IBD team or an IBD/paediatric dietitian.

They can help you make changes without missing out on important nutrition.

🧑‍🍳 Make your own “flare foods” list

Over time, you might learn which foods feel easiest for your body when you're having symptoms.

Your list might look something like:

Foods I usually tolerate well:

Foods that sometimes make my symptoms worse during a flare:

You can keep this list somewhere handy or share it with your parent or carer.

Remember, your list can change.

Something you don't tolerate during a flare might be completely fine again when you're feeling well.

🌱 When you're starting to feel better

As your flare settles, you may be able to gradually return to your usual foods.

You don't necessarily need to stay on a restricted diet once you're feeling better.

Your IBD team or dietitian can help if you're unsure about adding foods back.

The goal isn't to eat the smallest number of foods possible.

The goal is to have a varied, nourishing diet that supports your health and growth whenever you can.

💛 Remember

Food during an IBD flare doesn't need to be perfect.

Focus on:

Eating what you can tolerate.

Drinking enough.

Having smaller meals if they're easier.

Getting enough nutrition to support your body.

Talking to your healthcare team if eating becomes difficult.

And most importantly:

Don't blame yourself or your food for having a flare.

Your body is dealing with inflammation, and it may need a little extra care while things settle down.

Your IBD team and dietitian can help you find what works best for you. 💛