Cooking Tips From Chefs With Crohn’s Disease Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch Taking Control of Crohn’s Crohn's Disease 7 Cooking Tips From Home Chefs With Crohn s Disease Cooking your own meals is the best way to avoid food triggers. Use these food-prep tips from home cooks who have Crohn’s. By Jennifer Acosta ScottMedically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD Reviewed: August 5, 2020 Medically Reviewed Making Crohn' s-friendly meals doesn' t have to be a hassle Getty Images Whether you love to cook or consider it a chore, one thing remains true: Cooking your own meals can be the difference between a great evening and one that’s full of discomfort.Knowing exactly what’s in your food is a surefire way to avoid ingredients that disagree with your digestive system. “The upside of cooking at home is that you have control,” says Christine Lothen-Kline, RD, of Health Promotion On Call in Columbia, Maryland, who has On Trend: Cooking for Crohn’s Disease Try these twists on the latest food trends and recipes, all of which were created specifically for a Crohn’s-friendly diet. Watch now 441 Cook Around Your Personal Triggers Yulka Popkova/iStock 442 Keep It Simple Ali Harper/Stocksy You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to make nutritious, 443 Blend It Up Jacob Blund/iStock As nutritious as fruits and vegetables are, their high fiber content can cause trouble for some people with Crohn’s disease. Gardner, for one, 444 Cook Your Produce Victoria Heydt/iStock Some people with Crohn’s disease find that fruits and vegetables cause fewer unpleasant symptoms when they’re baked, boiled, or stewed. Dietary fiber, which is found in foods such as nuts and green, leafy vegetables, can be very disturbing to an already irritated digestive tract, says the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Most of the vegetables Choueiry consumes are cooked, and she eats only a limited amount of raw fruit. “I make a conscious effort to chew really well and use the rules of mindful eating when I do eat raw vegetables,” she says. 445 Make Creative Substitutions Carolyn Lagattuta/Stocksy If a particular food doesn’t agree with your digestive system, a little creativity can usually help you find a good substitute. For example, Gardner uses rice noodles or pasta made with arrowroot rather than wheat pasta and almond or coconut milk in place of cow’s milk. Choueiry makes “noodles” from long strips of zucchini or sweet potatoes and eats them in place of traditional pasta. 446 Be Extra Gentle During Flares Getty Images If you’re experiencing a 447 Plan Ahead for Meal Prep Cameron Whitman/Stocksy With family, work, and other obligations, life can get so busy that pulling into the nearest drive-thru may seem like the easiest option, but the high-fat fare typically offered isn’t a good idea for many people with Crohn’s disease. With a little planning, you can prep easy-to-digest meals in minimal time. “I pack my lunch the night before,” Choueiry says. “If I’m going to be really busy during the week, I’ll cook dinners on Sunday and put them in the freezer.” Also consider buying dinners made at meal-prep stores or using delivery services where you can put together several family-size dinners at once. All ingredients are prepped and precut for maximum time saving. Pop them in the freezer and you’ve got healthy meals ready to go when you need them, Lothen-Kline says. More in Crohn' s Disease 19 Ways to Live Happier and Healthier If You Have Crohn s Disease Will Crohn s Disease Shorten My Life Span Unexpected Signs That Your Crohn s Is Getting Worse The Best Smoothies for People With Crohn s NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Crohn' s Disease Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wellness inspired Wellness enabled FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYoutubeTikTok About Us Careers Editorial Policy Newsletters Meet Our Health Expert Network Privacy Policy Health News Accessibility Statement Terms of Use Contact Us Feedback Do Not Sell My Personal Information Popular Topics AdChoices NEWSLETTERS Get the best in health and wellness SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. A PROPERTY OF EHGLogo More From Everyday Health: Castle Connolly Top Doctors DailyOM Diabetes Daily Everyday Health Care Migraine Again 1996-2022 Everyday Health, Inc. Everyday Health is among the federally registered trademarks of Everyday Health, Inc. and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Badges Badges Badges