Liquid Diet

People with Crohn's disease often struggle to digest food, particularly when symptoms flare up. Sometimes a liquid diet is the answer. "If you have a hard time maintaining your weight with regular food, whether it's because you have diarrhea or a poor appetite, I absolutely recommend drinking calories, sort of in combination with food," says Tamara Duker Freuman, a registered dietitian in New York who specializes in digestive disorders. However, check in with a doctor or dietitian before going on a solely liquid diet (anything more than a meal or two). ensure-boost 2 of 11 Getty Images Commercial drinks Even if your Crohn’s disease symptoms are under control, you may still have trouble keeping on weight. If so, have a bottle of Ensure or Boost along with meals or make yourself a drink that has 200 to 300 calories, Freuman says. She adds that Ensure and Boost, which deliver about 250 calories per serving, would probably be your first choice if you tolerate them because they are relatively inexpensive, sold everywhere, and nutritious. Liquid can help a flare Liquid meals can be lifesavers during flare-ups, when symptoms like diarrhea, cramping, and constipation are at their worst. “You’re going to see improvements in symptoms…your bad days will be easier with liquid meals,” says Martha Rosenau, a registered dietitian and owner of Peak Nutrition, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rosenau recommends consuming as many calories, either as liquids or solids, as you can tolerate during flares.