What to Eat When You Don’t Feel Like Eating
If you’re worried about triggering a flare, eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. And avoid foods that contain sugar alcohols, which can stimulate your intestines and make diarrhea worse, according to Mayo Clinic.
If you feel nauseated in the mornings, you may be able to tolerate a protein shake and cooked, pureed, or canned fruit. Soft, fleshy fruits, such as watermelon and applesauce, are other good options.
A few stomach-friendly breakfast ideas:
- 1 English muffin with peanut butter and banana slices
- 2 scrambled eggs with ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup of oatmeal with a peeled peach
- Smoothie made with 1 cup of low-fat Greek yogurt, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 cup of frozen peaches, and half of a banana
- 2 hard-boiled eggs with 1 cup of cooked grains
Foods to Avoid
The foods that trigger your symptoms may be different from the foods that trigger someone else’s. Still, some common offenders are:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Beans
- Green, leafy vegetables
- Wheat bran
Avoid lactose if you notice that it aggravates your gastrointestinal symptoms, says Ananthakrishnan. You may also want to avoid the drive-thru: High-fat, greasy foods like bacon or fried potatoes may aggravate your stomach.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation recommends keeping a food journal to document which foods you cannot tolerate during a flare-up.
When to Reconsider Your Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
If you’re experiencing frequent morning flare-ups, there’s a good chance your disease isn’t under control, says Ananthakrishnan. Talk to your doctor about whether you should try other treatments, he advises.
