The IBD Holiday Eating Guide: 8 Tips for Your Next Gathering

Holiday meals and parties may feel more fraught than festive when you live with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), because they often center around rich food, large portions, and plenty of alcohol. It can be especially difficult to find IBD-friendly food and drink when someone else is in control of the menu.

But you can still join the fun when you go in with a plan. “The holiday season is a time for celebration, and patients with IBD should enjoy it. Sampling small, controlled portions of holiday treats is generally fine, provided patients stay within their comfort zone,” says Mitali Agarwal, MD, a gastroenterologist at the Orlando Health Digestive Health Institute Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Orlando, Florida.

If you’re wondering what that might look like in practice when you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, here are eight smart food strategies for adding more joy and reducing stress at your next holiday gathering.

1. Set Yourself Up for Success

First and foremost: Try to stick with your usual healthy habits as much as possible throughout the holiday season. Following your typical eating pattern, getting enough sleep, managing your stress levels, and generally staying on top of your IBD treatment plan will help ensure that you go into holiday celebrations feeling your best, Dr. Agarwal says.

2. Check in With the Host Ahead of Time

Heading to a meal that’s being made by someone else? Reach out a few days beforehand to find out what’ll be served. “It’s okay to say, ‘I follow a special diet because of a health condition. Can you tell me what you’re planning to serve?’” says Sherry Coleman Collins, RDN, an Atlanta-based registered dietitian and fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who frequently counsels people with IBD.

If you know the host well and feel comfortable, you can talk about whether there are any simple accommodations the host can make for you — like setting aside some cooked veggies or pasta for you before adding a rich sauce or cheese, Agarwal says.

You can also offer to bring an IBD-friendly dish to share with the group. Chances are your host will appreciate the gesture, and you’ll feel good knowing you have safe, reliable food to enjoy, Coleman Collins says.

3. Have a Snack Beforehand (and Bring Some Extra)

You can also bring along some extra food if you’re unsure about what will be served at the party and are nervous about getting too hungry.

4. Look for IBD-Friendly Dishes

• Well-cooked vegetables, like carrots, green beans, squash, or sweet potatoes
• Broth-based soups
• Lean proteins, like baked or roasted turkey, chicken, tofu, or fish
• Cooked fruit-based desserts, like baked apples with cinnamon, minus the skins
• White pasta or rice dishes that don’t contain a lot of cream or cheese

• Rich, fatty, or skin-on meats
• Vegetable, casserole dishes, or soups with lots of cream or cheese
• Fibrous veggies like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, or raw kale
• Sugary or creamy treats
• Spicy dishes

5. Pay Attention to What You’re Drinking

If you want to play it safe, stick with water, water with a splash of fruit juice, or decaf coffee or tea, she says.

6. Stick With Moderate-Sized Portions, and Eat Slowly

7. Have Just a Taste of Foods You’re Unsure About

8. Take Extra Care When You’re Flaring

It’s understandable to not want to miss out on holiday gatherings. But you may want to keep party food out of the equation altogether when you’re flaring. “If you choose to attend, consider eating your trusted, safe foods at home before you leave for the party. Arriving with a full belly prevents temptation to gamble on triggering foods or unknown ingredients,” Agarwal says.

On the other hand, if you’re just not up for socializing, it’s okay to stay home, says Agarwal. Even during the holidays, your health comes first.