Crohn's and Food

The general consensus is that a low-fibre diet is best during a Crohn’s flare and I have found it beneficial to stick to this during remission as well. However, it can be quite frustrating explaining yourself to people. Here in the UK we are constantly told we do not eat enough fibre, so when you tell people you eat a low-fibre diet for your health, they often think you’re either stupid or just plain fussy. Furthermore, If you are on an exclusion diet or you have already identified trigger foods, eating out can seem like a daunting task and for a time I preferred to avoid it all together!

For me, one of the few benefits of developing Crohn’s Disease has been the astronomical change in my diet and overall approach to food. Had I not developed the condition, there is a strong likelihood that I would have been overweight in the end, which in itself is known to contribute to a wide range of ailments.

Handy Tips For A Cheap And Healthy Crohn's Diet

If you are concerned that your weight is dropping, or that something in your diet may be worsening your symptoms, you can ask your GP or consultant to refer you to a dietician. Your diet is not something you should self-prescribe. When starting the LOFFLEX diet, one of my biggest problems was a lack of knowledge. I was forced to learn new cooking methods and because of the bland nature of the diet I learnt to appreciate the natural flavour of foods.

1. Personal - While you should take advantage of the wealth of advice available on the subject of Crohn's and diet, remember that the condition is very individual in nature and the most important thing is finding what works for you.

2. Variety - it may seem easy to have the same food week in week out because you know it's good for you. It may work if you are trying to drop a few pounds in time for the holidays, but it is difficult to maintain and with Crohn's you should aim for longevity. Trying new things once or twice a week can really help.

3. Planning - if you are on a budget, it might seem too expensive to eat nutritious fresh food, but if you shop sensibly and plan ahead you can achieve so much on a budget. Having a plan will also help you stay motivated. Choose dishes you will look forward to.

4. Relax - success is not final, failure is not fatal. If you slip up and have a treat, don't beat yourself up - you are just human - and get straight back on the wagon. It's about changing your mentality towards food, which can only be achieved over time.
5.. Technology - If you are struggling to maintain your weight or stick to your plan, download a diet app like MyFitnessPal. You can enter your plan and modify it with ease if your appetite changes. It will calculate your total intake on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and, if you select your food items accurately, you can ensure you are getting a nutritionally balanced diet (this should be interpreted with caution as not all food items available will have the full nutritional content included).

By knowing what is in your food, you will be able to cope better with fluctuations in appetite. On days when I'm not very hungry, I enjoy a high calorie steak for dinner, whereas, on a day that I've been good and hungry I can treat myself to a low calorie tuna steak.

My Diet

Growing up, I do not remember seeing salad or vegetables on my plate. There were occasionally oranges and bananas in the house, and when we had grapes it was a massive treat. My Mum tells me I was a fussy eater, I tell her all children are, but that doesn’t mean you completely give up trying! To be fair to her, she worked extremely long hours and we lived hand to mouth, therefore wasting time and money preparing food that I didn’t eat would seem nonsensical.

As I entered my teens I was aware that my diet was unhealthy, but being very physically active I didn’t have to worry about putting on too much weight. Even at that age, it is difficult to change the habits of a lifetime without some sort of motivation. Although the subject is still very much up for scientific debate, I do believe that diet played an important role in triggering my Crohn’s Disease.

By my late teens I was making a conscious effort to introduce vegetables in to my life, but it had only a minimal impact on my overall diet. At uni, beer, burgers, pizza and curly fries were the order of the day and most of the colour on my plate came from obscene amounts of ketchup!

The biggest change has been in my awareness. In the old days, food was just something I put in to my mouth but I am now aware of everything I consume and I am no longer afraid of trying new things. For example, pre-Crohn’s the only fish I consumed was battered or tinned (despite living my entire life in a famous fishing town!). In contrast, sea bass and tuna steak are now two of my favourite meals. Although expensive, I remind myself it is cheaper than a takeaway and much better for me!

Breakfast

As my symptoms are generally at their most prominent in the morning, I tend not to eat breakfast until late morning - at home I make a smoothie and at work typically have a banana or peeled apple and a rice krispie bar. I have tried many cereal bars, but these are the only ones I can eat long-term without suffering adverse effects. However, sitting at my desk eating a child’s cereal bar is not exactly the impression I would like to make on my colleagues!

Lunch

As yeast is my main trigger food, gone are the days when I could grab a quick sandwich for lunch. Instead, I take either a simple high-protein salad or fruit to work. If I am at home I have a couple of home-made fishcakes or a mini-dinner. 

Dinner

In the UK, the major supermarkets all offer 3for£10 on a wide range of fresh meat, fish and poultry – at 2-portions each that’s less than £2 per serving. Instead of chips, these days I combine it with either rice, new potatoes, potato & carrot mash, or simple home-made potato wedges for a delicious and cheap dinner.