Eating Out When You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease

If you have IBD, you can still enjoy eating out. It just takes a little preparation. Here are some tips to help you enjoy your meal.

First, check in with yourself. Is your IBD under control?

If you’re in remission or your symptoms are mild, you might not need to worry about what to order at a restaurant.

If your IBD is flaring, you may want to:

• Keep a journal of foods that tend to irritate you, and avoid those triggers when you’re eating in public.

• Focus on foods that are low in FODMAPs if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) along with IBD. FODMAPs are sugars that can cause digestive problems because the gut can’t absorb them properly.

Low FODMAP foods include:

• Eggs and meat
• Grains like rice and quinoa
• Vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes and zucchini
• Almond milk
• Some types of cheese (such as cheddar and feta)

• Avoid foods that are high in fiber, like raw vegetables and fruit, as well as processed foods.

Do your research

Call the restaurant or check out its menu ahead of time. If you like to cook, you may even want to try making restaurant recipes at home so you can see how your body reacts.

Don’t be afraid to speak up

Have questions about what’s in a dish? Want to request a substitution? Most restaurants are happy to meet your health needs, so don’t be shy about asking.

Skip sugary beverages

Avoid sweet sodas and consider limiting your alcohol intake if your IBD is flaring — sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup and alcohol can make symptoms worse.

Turn an invite into an opportunity

An invitation to eat at a restaurant could be a chance to have an honest conversation with your friend or date about your IBD and how it affects your social life.

This resource was created with support from Amgen.