10 of the Best Foods for Crohn’s Disease

Your Crohn’s nutrition plan should be highly individualized, but these easy-to-digest foods may be a good place to start.
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Updated on April 30, 2025
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grilled salmon, vegetable juice and sliced avocado
Crohn’s disease affects everyone differently, which means there are no hard-and-fast rules about what foods to eat or avoid. The best way to shore up your Crohn’s diet is by evaluating your own experience with certain foods.

To identify foods that can trigger your Crohn’s symptoms, keep track of your meals in a food diary and then start eliminating the ones you can’t tolerate. Next, find nutrient-rich foods that you can digest easily.

Looking for suggestions? Consider these 10 easy-to-digest foods for Crohn’s disease.

1

Oatmeal

oatmeal with milk in a bowl

Oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber, a type of fiber that dissolves in water. Eating oatmeal may help reduce diarrhea by absorbing water in the gut and delaying emptying of the intestines, says Keren Gilbert, RD, founder and president of Decision Nutrition.

Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, can irritate the intestines.

 Found in some vegetables, wheat bran, and nuts and seeds, insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve in water. It is more difficult to digest because it goes through the body faster and may mean frequent visits to the bathroom.

2

Salmon Fillets

grilled salmon with asparagus

“Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation,” Gilbert says. This fatty fish also contains potassium, which helps your body maintain fluid balance when you have a flare, she adds.

Salmon is also easy to make and can be prepared in a variety of ways, including broiled, poached, grilled, or baked. Just be mindful when adding sauces that may contain ingredients that can cause irritation, such as sugar or certain spices.

3

Mashed Potatoes

mashed potatoes in a bowl
Another good source of potassium? Potatoes. Mashed potatoes may be an easy food to introduce during or after a flare.

 You can also try baking or boiling potatoes, but make sure you avoid the skins, which are more difficult to digest because they contain insoluble fiber.

 Try pairing skinless potatoes with salmon for dinner.
4

Avocados

Half an avocado with slices on a white plate
Avocados are filled with healthy fat, B vitamins, and vitamin E, Gilbert says. They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, and they can aid in digestion.

To prepare, cut the fruit in half lengthwise and twist the two halves apart. Remove the pit, score the fruit, scoop the avocado out of the skin, and cut into slices. Top white bread or fat-free saltine crackers with the avocado slices.

5

Fresh Vegetable Juices

fresh vegetable juice
Vegetables are an important source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. But many vegetables, especially raw vegetables, have insoluble fiber, which makes them difficult to digest.

You can still get most of the nutritional benefits of veggies by making fresh vegetable juice at home, Gilbert says. The tough, indigestible fiber is removed, but the vitamins and minerals remain.

Try juicing carrots, beets, apples, leafy greens, and other fresh produce.

6

Smoothies With Pineapple Juice

pineapple smoothie in a cup

Smoothies are another great way to enjoy the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables. Unlike juices, which are liquid extractions of fruits and vegetables, smoothies are made using the whole fruit.

To make a smoothie, opt for fleshy fruits likes papaya and bananas.

 Gilbert also recommends adding pineapple juice; the fruit contains bromelain, a mixture of enzymes that digest protein, which has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties.

7

Eggs

fresh eggs in a bowl
When you have inflammation or are recovering from a flare, you may need extra protein.

 Animal proteins contain amino acids, which are used by the body to perform a number of functions, including making hormones, repairing tissue, and supporting the immune system.

Gilbert recommends eggs because they’re an easily digested form of protein.

 Eggs can be prepared many ways — poached, scrambled, boiled — and unless you’re adding extra ingredients to the pan, any of these methods should be easy on your gut. Experiment until you find what you like, she says.
8

Chicken Breasts

Sliced grilled chicken
Another good protein choice is skinless chicken. Other proteins, such as red meat, are higher in linoleic acid, a hard-to-digest type of fat, and can increase inflammation and make symptoms worse.

 When preparing chicken, be mindful of marinades that may have spices or sugars that can cause uncomfortable symptoms.

Portion size is also important. A standard portion size for chicken is 3 ounces, about the size of a deck of cards.

9

Yogurt

plain yogurt in a bowl
Calcium deficiency is a common concern for people with Crohn’s disease.

 To meet the recommended daily value (about 1,000 milligrams for most adults), aim to eat several servings of calcium-rich foods like yogurt, milk, and cheese.

 If you can’t tolerate lactose, nondairy sources of calcium include leafy greens, fortified orange juice and plant-based milks, and tofu.

Other nondairy sources of calcium include beans, nuts, and seeds; however, these foods may trigger uncomfortable symptoms. Consider avoiding these foods during a flare.

If you can tolerate lactose-containing dairy, Gilbert recommends live-culture yogurt. It has the added benefit of probiotics, or good bacteria, which can aid in the recovery of the intestines.

10

Baked Apples

baked apple on a green plate
Sometimes you just want something sweet. Baked apples make for a healthy dessert while providing an easier-to-digest source of fiber when prepared without the skins. Once apples are peeled, the remaining fiber is soluble, so it is gentler on your digestive system.

Raw fruits can be difficult to digest, Gilbert says, but peeling the skin and baking or cooking the fruit makes them softer. Unsweetened applesauce is another good option.

The Takeaway

  • Foods that are high in soluble fiber, such as oatmeal, tend to be gentler on the digestive system than insoluble fiber. They absorb water and may take longer to process, reducing the risk of diarrhea.
  • To soothe a flare, consume foods that are high in other minerals and nutrients, such as potassium, calcium, and protein, in addition to soluble fiber.
  • Removing the skins from certain fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes and apples, can make them easier to digest. Skins are typically high in insoluble fiber, which can trigger uncomfortable symptoms.
  • Changing the texture of raw fruits and vegetables, such as blending them into a juice or smoothie, can remove the insoluble fiber while preserving the important vitamins and minerals.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
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  5. Holesh JE et al. Physiology, Carbohydrates. StatPearls. May 12, 2023.
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  8. Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
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  10. Zeratsky K. Is Juicing Healthier Than Eating Whole Fruits or Vegetables? Mayo Clinic. August 23, 2023.
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  16. What Is a Serving? American Heart Association. March 26, 2024.
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Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDCES

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Lynn Grieger is a registered dietitian-nutritionist, certified diabetes care and education specialist, certified personal trainer, and certified health and wellness coach. She completed requirements to become a registered dietitian at Valparaiso University in 1987 and completed a dietetic internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, in 1988. 

Lynn brings her expertise in nutrition, exercise, and behavior change to her work in helping people reach their individual health and fitness goals. In addition to writing for Everyday Health, she has also written for websites and publications like Food and Health Communications, Today's Dietitian, iVillage.com, and Rodale Press. She has a passion for healthy, nutrient-dense, great-tasting food and for being outdoors as much as possible — she can often be found running or hiking, and has completed a marathon in every state.

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