Nutrition with IBD
Eating well with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis — general principles, and why individual advice matters most.
There's no single “IBD diet”
Inflammatory bowel disease is very individual — what settles one person can bother another. The most important step is working with your gastroenterologist and an Accredited Practising Dietitian on a plan for you. The general ideas below are background for that conversation, not a treatment.
Flares and remission
Many people find that during a flare, gentler, lower-fibre and easy-to-digest foods are more comfortable for a while, and that variety can be broadened again as things settle. This differs a lot from person to person — which is exactly why an individual plan beats any general rule.
Keeping your nutrition strong
Living with IBD can make it easy to over-restrict, which risks missing nutrition you need. A dietitian helps you eat as broadly and as well as your gut allows, and keeps an eye on things like iron and other nutrients.
Sources: Crohn's & Colitis Australia · Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) · Dietitians Australia
Reviewed by Dr Sivasuthan, 6 July 2026
General gut-health education from your care team. It doesn't replace advice from your doctor or an Accredited Practising Dietitian — please talk to them about your own situation.