What's good to eat if you have colitis? A dietary guide for flares and remission

October 19, 2025 •

4 min read

While diet doesn't cause colitis, certain foods can act as triggers, making it crucial for patients to understand what's good to eat if you have colitis? to manage symptoms effectively. The right nutritional choices can help reduce inflammation, provide essential nutrients, and support gut healing during both flare-ups and periods of remission.

Quick Summary

This guide provides comprehensive dietary strategies for managing colitis, covering optimal food choices during flare-ups and remission to reduce symptoms and support gut health. It details common trigger foods to avoid and offers practical tips for navigating meal planning and preparation with this inflammatory condition.

Key Points

Diet Varies by Disease State: What's good to eat if you have colitis depends on whether you're in a flare-up or remission, with different food goals for each phase.
Prioritize Gentle Foods During Flares: Opt for easily digestible, low-fiber options like white rice, lean proteins, and cooked, peeled fruits and vegetables during active symptom periods.
Reintroduce Fiber Gradually During Remission: Slowly add back soluble fiber from sources like oats and bananas once symptoms have subsided to support gut health.
Focus on Anti-Inflammatory and Probiotic Foods: During remission, incorporate anti-inflammatory omega-3s from fish and probiotics from fermented foods like yogurt to promote gut healing.
Identify and Avoid Personal Trigger Foods: Common triggers include high-fat foods, spicy items, caffeine, and alcohol, but keeping a food diary helps pinpoint your specific sensitivities.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Smaller Meals: Proper hydration is crucial, especially during diarrhea episodes, and eating smaller, more frequent meals can ease digestive strain.

Navigating your colitis diet: from flare to remission

For individuals with colitis, managing diet can be a complex and highly personal journey. No single diet works for everyone, and the best approach often involves adapting your food choices based on your current disease state, whether you're experiencing a flare-up or are in remission. Working with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian is vital to ensure you maintain adequate nutrition and identify your unique food triggers.

During a colitis flare-up: easy-to-digest foods

When your symptoms are active, the goal is to consume foods that are gentle on your inflamed digestive tract while providing essential nutrients. The focus is often on low-fiber, low-residue foods to give your colon a rest.

Easy-to-Digest Carbohydrates: Opt for refined grains that are easier on the gut. Examples include:
- White rice
- White bread
- Refined pasta or noodles
- Oatmeal (cooked)
Low-Fiber Fruits and Vegetables: Cooked, peeled, and seedless options are best during a flare. Consider:
- Bananas
- Applesauce
- Cantaloupe and honeydew melon
- Cooked carrots
- Pureed squash
Lean Proteins: Choose tender, well-cooked meats and other easily digestible protein sources to help repair inflamed tissues. Good options include:
- Skinless chicken and turkey
- Fish (salmon, tuna)
- Eggs
- Tofu
Smooth Nut and Seed Butters: Smooth varieties are easier to digest than crunchy ones with pieces of nuts. They offer a nutrient-dense source of protein and fat.
Hydrating Fluids: It is critical to stay hydrated, especially if you are experiencing diarrhea. Drink plenty of water, broth, or electrolyte solutions. Avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks.

Transitioning to and maintaining remission

Once a flare-up subsides, you can gradually reintroduce a wider variety of foods. This is the time to build up nutrient intake and explore a more diverse diet to support long-term gut health. Adding fiber back in slowly is key.

Gradual Fiber Reintroduction: Slowly incorporate well-tolerated fiber sources, focusing on soluble fiber first. Good sources include:
- Oats
- Barley
- Bananas
- Peeled, cooked apples
Anti-Inflammatory Foods: Research suggests that foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation. Incorporate:
- Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)
- Walnuts or walnut butter
- Chia and flax seeds
Probiotics and Prebiotics: Supporting your gut microbiome is important for long-term gut health. Fermented foods like yogurt and kefir provide beneficial probiotics, while prebiotic-rich foods like bananas can feed them.
Diverse Whole Foods: Many dietitians recommend a Mediterranean-style diet during remission, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats while limiting red and processed meats.

Foods to approach with caution

While personal triggers vary, certain foods are known to exacerbate symptoms in many individuals with colitis. Paying attention to your body's response to these items is important.

High Insoluble Fiber: Roughage, found in raw vegetables, whole nuts, seeds, and popcorn, can be irritating to an inflamed gut.
High-Fat and Fried Foods: These can be hard to digest and may promote inflammation.
Dairy: Lactose intolerance is more common among people with IBD. If dairy is a trigger, consider lactose-free alternatives.
Sugar and Sugar Substitutes: High sugar content can draw water into the colon, worsening diarrhea. Artificial sweeteners can also be problematic.
Caffeine and Alcohol: Both can act as stimulants and irritate the GI tract.
Spicy Foods: Spices can create a burning sensation and increase urgency for many.

Food comparison: flares versus remission

This table outlines the general differences in food recommendations based on your disease state.


Food Category	During Flare-Up (Easy to Digest)	During Remission (Support Gut Health)
Grains	White rice, white bread, refined pasta, oatmeal	Whole grains, whole wheat bread, brown rice, barley
Fruits	Bananas, applesauce, cooked or canned fruit, peeled melon	A wider variety, including fresh, whole fruits with skins (if tolerated)
Vegetables	Cooked, peeled carrots, squash, potatoes, asparagus tips	A wide variety, including raw vegetables and leafy greens (reintroduce slowly)
Protein	Lean, tender, well-cooked chicken, fish, eggs, tofu	A wider variety, including lean meats, poultry, and fish
Fats	Olive oil, avocado, smooth nut/seed butters	All of the above, plus an increased focus on omega-3 sources
Dairy	Lactose-free alternatives, hard cheeses (low lactose)	Probiotic yogurt, kefir, and other dairy (if tolerated)

Practical tips for managing your diet

Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals: Instead of three large meals, try eating five or six smaller ones throughout the day. This can reduce the burden on your digestive system.
Keep a Food Diary: Tracking your food intake and symptoms is a powerful tool for identifying personal triggers. Everyone's body is different, and a food diary can help you personalize your diet.
Focus on Food Preparation: Steaming, poaching, and boiling foods can make them easier to digest compared to frying or grilling. Cooking vegetables until tender is especially helpful during a flare.
Don’t Restrict Excessively: While it's important to avoid triggers, excessive restriction can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Work with a healthcare professional to ensure your diet is balanced and provides the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Hydration is Key: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day to replace lost fluids and prevent dehydration.

Conclusion: Finding your best path forward

Managing colitis with diet is a personalized and adaptive process. Understanding the general guidelines for what's good to eat if you have colitis—prioritizing gentle foods during flares and reintroducing a diverse, high-fiber diet during remission—is the first step. By learning to listen to your body, keeping track of your triggers, and consulting with a healthcare professional, you can develop a sustainable dietary plan that supports your gut health and enhances your quality of life. For more support and information, you can also explore resources from organizations like the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dairy affects people with colitis differently. Some individuals, especially those with lactose intolerance, may find dairy products trigger symptoms like bloating and diarrhea. During a flare-up, lactose-free or low-lactose products like hard cheeses may be better tolerated. Pay attention to how your body reacts and discuss alternatives with a healthcare provider.

Fiber's effect depends on your disease state. During a flare-up, high insoluble fiber (from raw vegetables, nuts, seeds) can be irritating. However, during remission, increasing soluble fiber (from oats, bananas) and slowly reintroducing insoluble fiber is beneficial for long-term gut health and can help maintain remission.

Cooking methods that make foods easier to digest are often recommended. Steaming, boiling, roasting, and poaching are better options than frying. For vegetables, cook them until fork-tender and remove skins and seeds during flares.

Whole nuts and seeds can be difficult to digest and may irritate the gut, especially during a flare-up. However, smooth nut and seed butters (like almond butter or tahini) are often tolerated better. You can try reintroducing whole versions cautiously during remission.

During a flare, opt for gentle, low-fiber snacks. Good options include applesauce, ripe bananas, Greek yogurt (if tolerated), scrambled eggs, and refined grain crackers.

Both caffeine and alcohol can stimulate bowel motility and irritate the digestive tract, potentially worsening diarrhea and urgency. It's often recommended to limit or avoid them, especially during a flare-up. Herbal teas can be a soothing alternative to coffee.

The most effective method is to keep a food diary. Record what you eat and drink, noting any resulting symptoms. This allows you to identify patterns and pinpoint specific triggers that might be unique to you.