What to Eat for Breakfast if You Have Ulcerative Colitis
Breakfast ideas for people with ulcerative colitis.
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For people with ulcerative colitis (UC), starting off the morning with a nutritious breakfast may be easier said than done.
Many people with the condition experience nausea, vomiting, and an urgent need to run to the bathroom when they first wake up, says Ashwin Ananthakrishnan, MBBS, MPH, a gastroenterologist with the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center’s Crohn’s and Colitis Center in Boston. It can take some people two to three hours to finish their morning bathroom routine — and that’s before eating breakfast, which can trigger yet another trip to the toilet, he says.
Even so, Dr. Ananthakrishnan says nausea or vomiting shouldn’t prevent someone with UC from eating breakfast entirely, because missing meals can result in key vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
If you feel nauseated in the mornings, you may be able to tolerate a protein shake and cooked, pureed, or canned fruit. Soft, fleshy fruits, such as honeydew, banana, or apples made into applesauce, are other good options, says David Gardinier, RD, a registered dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition in Ohio and a member of the National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC) of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
“I always tell patients: Something is better than nothing, even if breakfast is as simple as a Greek yogurt, a banana, or a protein shake,” says Gardinier. “I would rather them get a small amount of nutrition compared to nothing at all.” Read on for breakfast ideas for UC that are easy to put together and gentle on the gut.
1. Sourdough English Muffin With Natural Peanut Butter and Banana Slices
Why this is a great option for people with UC: Sourdough bread, a fermented food, can be easier to digest than regular bread, bagels, or English muffins, says Gardinier. Bananas provide soluble fiber, which is gentler on the gut than insoluble fiber. Smooth, natural peanut butter offers healthy fats and some protein, which can help you feel full throughout the morning.
Plus, if you’re experiencing a flare, you need more protein, so this breakfast option can jump-start your protein intake for the day. But be careful with the type of peanut butter you choose. “Smooth peanut butter is preferred over crunchy as it is less likely to worsen symptoms during a flare-up,” says Gardinier.
2. Scrambled Eggs and Applesauce
If you prefer something warm in the morning, try two well-cooked scrambled eggs, which also offer a protein punch. As a side, add half a cup of unsweetened applesauce. “Simple, light, and filling, these two foods are both very easy on the gut and provide a good balance of micronutrients and protein,” says Gardinier.
3. Oatmeal With Gut-Friendly Mix-Ins
Another breakfast option Gardinier recommends is oatmeal. “Quick oats are preferred for somebody in a flare, but rolled or old-fashioned can be used if tolerated. I’d avoid steel-cut oats while flaring,” says Gardinier, who adds that overnight oats can also be a good option, especially if you don’t have much time for breakfast prep.
For flavor and extra nutrition, Gardinier suggests adding gut-friendly ingredients like unsweetened cinnamon applesauce, ground flaxseed, sliced banana, dark chocolate chips, peanut butter, or canned pumpkin.
4. Greek Yogurt and Fruit Smoothie
Smoothies are an easy-to-eat option for when larger meals feel like too much. Something to keep in mind, though: “Any smoothie used as a meal replacement should contain all the components of a balanced meal: protein, carbohydrates, and fats,” says Gardinier. As an example, he suggests blending together a smoothie with:
1 cup of low-fat Greek yogurt (if you can tolerate dairy that contains lactose)
1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
1 cup of frozen peaches
Half a banana
UC can often cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies because it affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, which are important for bone health. (Decreased bone strength and osteoporosis are common UC complications.) The dairy in these smoothies can help replace nutrients like these.
Dairy also offers probiotics and prebiotics, which keep the bacteria in your gut (your gut microbiome) healthy and balanced. That’s important for helping keep UC symptoms in check.
If you’d like to vary your smoothies, try adding avocado, ground flaxseed, or nut butter for extra calories, he says.
5. Banana and Egg Pancakes
According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, you can make these simple pancakes with two ingredients: bananas and eggs. To make them, peel and mash two bananas, then mix in two eggs. Heat a griddle or skillet on medium heat and coat lightly with canola oil. Once the pan is hot, place 2 tablespoons (tbsp) of the mixture onto the pan. Once the bottom is browned and golden, flip the pancake to the other side.
Beyond protein, eggs offer vitamin B12, which also plays an important role in bone health and osteoporosis prevention.
Looking for extra flavor? “You can add dark chocolate chips, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or applesauce for additional flavor and gut health benefits,” says Gardinier. You could also top pancakes with honey, pure maple syrup, canned peaches, applesauce, or nut butter, he says.
Foods to Limit or Avoid if You Have Ulcerative Colitis
When choosing a UC-friendly breakfast, limit or avoid any foods that cause symptoms for you, especially during a flare. The foods that trigger symptoms may vary from person to person, but some common offenders are:
People with ulcerative colitis (UC) may find eating breakfast particularly tough due to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
It’s important not to miss breakfast, though, because missing meals can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which are already common among people with UC. Even if it’s a small meal, something is better than nothing.
To ease into the day, consider gut-friendly options such as well-cooked eggs, a sourdough English muffin, or smoothies.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Ratajczak AE et al. Do Only Calcium and Vitamin D Matter? Micronutrients in the Diet of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Patients and the Risk of Osteoporosis. Nutrients. February 2021.
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.
Tami Swartz is a Boston-based freelance writer. Tami has been editing books and developing other training materials for healthcare professionals for more than eight years. A graduate of Boston University, she now writes content for Homecare DIRECTION, a newsletter for stakeholders in the Medicare-certified and private duty home health and hospice fields. When she’s not reading through new government regulations, she is at the gym lifting weights to great music or in the kitchen attempting to create low-calorie meals.
Abby McCoy is an experienced registered nurse who has worked with adults and pediatric patients encompassing trauma, orthopedics, home care, transplant, and case management. She is a married mother of four and loves the circus — that is her home! She has family all over the world, and loves to travel as much as possible.
McCoy has written for publications like Remedy Health Media, Sleepopolis, and Expectful. She is passionate about health education and loves using her experience and knowledge in her writing.
