Beyond a Bland Diet
![Eat healthy foods to aid your recovery from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s1-beyond-a-bland-diet.jpg?resize=650px:*&output-quality=75)
You can still enjoy what you eat if you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bland foods may help when you have a flare. But as you recover, eat a well-balanced variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. Staying on a bland diet, eating only foods like applesauce and saltines, can slow your recovery. You need calories, protein, and other nutrients for your body to heal.
Recipe: Orange Cranberry Chicken
![Orange cranberry chicken is an IBD-friendly recipe.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s2-recipe-orange-cranberry-chicken.jpg)
Looking for a zesty main dish that's IBD-friendly? Try orange cranberry chicken. With 25 grams of protein, it's dairy-free and low in fat. Pair it with brown rice, a healthy whole grain that won't give you too much fiber.
Keep a Food Diary
![Keep a food diary to gauge which foods may trigger your IBD symptoms.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s3-keep-a-food-diary.jpg)
Do some foods seem to set off your symptoms? Take note.
Apps make easy. Use your smartphone to record what you ate and how you felt afterward. After a few weeks, you'll know your triggers.
Add Probiotics
![Eating yogurt supplies your GI tract with healthy bacteria.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s4-add-probiotics.jpg)
IBD can put the natural, healthy bacteria living in your GI tract out of balance. Get a natural boost with the probiotics found in many yogurts -- check the label. Or try kefir, a tangy fermented drink that's also full of probiotics.
During a Flare
![Cut out trigger foods when you have an IBD flare.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s5-during-a-flare.jpg)
Cut out any of your usual triggers. You may want to avoid beans, whole-grain or multigrain breads, fruits, vegetables like cabbage or broccoli, and fatty or fried foods. Peel vegetables and fruits before you eat them; it may help. In addition to safe foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, you need protein, too, like chicken, ground beef, or tofu. It will keep your strength up and help you heal. Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and juices may upset your stomach.
Eat Smaller Meals
![It's better to eat five small meals rather than three large meals a day if you have IBD.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s6-eat-smaller-meals.jpg)
For a lot of people with IBD, meal size matters. If you eat too much at once, it can trigger symptoms. Instead of three big meals a day, go for five smaller ones: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. Keep portions about the size of your fist. Small meals also help with cramping, a common problem if you have IBD.
Eating Out
![Ask questions when you eat out and study the menu so you can minimize the risk of IBS symptoms.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s7-eating-out.jpg)
You can still have fun dining out with friends despite your IBD. Even though you're not in the kitchen, you still have control. Ask the waiter or chef specific questions about how your food is prepared. You can also call a restaurant ahead of time to check, or look at the menu online, so you know what to expect. It's good to carry snacks with you for times when you can't find anything on the menu that fits the bill.
Roasted Veggies
![Roasted veggies are easier to digest than raw ones.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s8-roasted-veggies.jpg)
Raw fruits and vegetables can irritate your stomach. If IBD symptoms are acting up, avoid them. You can lightly roast these foods to break down the fiber. Your meal will be easier to digest, and you'll still get loads of healthy nutrients from the sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, and other veggies.
Milk Substitutes
![Milk substitutes are often fortified with calcium and vitamin D.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s9-milk-substitutes.jpg)
A lot of people with IBD are lactose intolerant -- their bodies can't break down protein in milk products. But they still need key nutrients in dairy, such as calcium. Soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and other options may be easier to digest. Most are fortified with calcium and vitamin D.
Recipe: Deviled Eggs
![Modified deviled eggs are an ulcerative-colitis friendly appetizer.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s10-recipe-deviled-eggs.jpg)
Try this ulcerative colitis-friendly version of a favorite appetizer, deviled eggs. Eggs have protein and iron and are easy to digest. To cut down on fat, this version swaps cottage cheese for some of the yolk.
Add One New Food a Day
![When coming out of a flare, eat one new food a day to see how you react.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s11-add-one-new-food-a-day.jpg)
After a flare, you may want to stick only to your "safe" foods. That's understandable. But don't get stuck. Once you feel well, add one new food a day. See how it goes. If you don't react well to a food, cross it off your list. But you may be happily surprised. There are probably a lot more foods that you can handle than foods you can't.
Stay Hydrated
![You're more likely to get dehydrated if you have IBD, so drink plenty of fluids.](https://images.emedicinehealth.com/images/slideshow/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd/delicious-not-dull-tasty-tips-for-ibd-s12-stay-hydrated.jpg)
If you have IBD, you may be more likely to get dehydrated, especially when you have symptoms. Stay hydrated. Sip your drinks. Gulping them down can cause uncomfortable gas. Be careful with alcohol and caffeinated or carbonated drinks. All three can make you dehydrated or trigger symptoms of the disease.
Delicious, Not Dull: Tasty Diet Tips for IBD
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