Diet Plan for Colitis

Colitis, which is also known as ulcerative colitis, is an IBD, or irritable bowel disorder. Irritable bowel disorders occur when the intestinal tract swells and becomes irritated. IBD requires a special diet and medication to keep it at bay. If you are suffering with colitis, your doctor will give you diet ideas of what foods you can and cannot eat, but only you will be able to determine which foods bother you and which ones are OK to eat, both during a flare-up and when you are feeling fine.

Breakfast

When you are feeling healthy, you should eat high-fiber foods to build up your immune system, like whole-grain toast, bran cereal or oatmeal. Supplement your breakfast with fruit and vegetables, like fruit juices, blueberries and strawberries. If you are having a flare-up, eat only a very small amount of food for breakfast and eat a very low-fiber diet. Preferably, you should eat a piece of plain, white bread or toast with a soft-boiled egg. Drink three glasses of water before lunch.

Lunch

If you are feeling healthy, eat a high-fiber lunch with steamed vegetables and lean protein. If your doctor feels you are OK to eat dairy, eat a cup of yogurt with fruit or a few slices of cheese. If your doctor determines it would be better if you did not eat dairy, soy cheese or tofu yogurt is also an option. If you are experiencing a flare-up, eat very small amounts of food throughout the afternoon, rather than sitting down to a big lunch. Eat lean, plain proteins like poached chicken breast, lean turkey slices or lean pork with white bread. Eat steamed vegetables that are low in fiber, like squash, peppers (not hot) and potatoes without the skin. Drink three glasses of water before dinner.

Dinner

For dinner, if you are feeling healthy, eat high-fiber foods like whole-grain rice or pasta. If you are experiencing a flare-up, your dinner choices will be more limited. Eat only low-fiber foods, like avocado, quinoa, steamed fish like salmon or cod, steamed zucchini and kim chee, which contains a healthy bacteria that will soothe your intestinal troubles. For dessert, fruit is a safe option for both healthy and flare-up patients. Drink three glasses of water before bedtime.