It would seem challenging to make delicious meals when you have to alter your diet and avoid the consumption of some foods. The general advice on nutrition is, usually, to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, but people with ulcerative colitis need much more than that. High-fiber foods are hard to digest, especially during flare-ups of inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis. However, such people can learn how to incorporate vegetables and fruits into their diet safely. They can reap the maximum nutrition from healthy foods without aggravating the symptoms by planning and following a balanced diet. This article is a guide for ulcerative colitis patients to do this effectively:

• People with this condition find cooked fruits and veggies to be more easily digestible. Cooking methods of baking, roasting, or boiling food helps break down fiber and makes it easier to digest. One of the most effective dietary tips for ulcerative colitis is to peel fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, potatoes, and cucumbers, as the skin is high in fiber and is difficult to digest. Consuming fruits and vegetables in soups and smoothies can also lessen the abrasive effect on the gut. Having said that, smoothies need to be balanced with a protein base, like whey protein powder, or soy or rice protein powder.
• Certain fruits and vegetables cause gas in the gastrointestinal tract. To avoid this, such foods can be cooked in certain ways to make them easily digestible and to manage flare-ups. Patients can make veggie-centric recipes by omitting known food triggers to ensure that nutrition is not compromised and deficiencies are prevented.
• The symptoms of ulcerative colitis can be soothed by consuming salmon. Being rich in omega-3 fatty acids, it combats inflammation, and the protein content provides energy. This fish can be cooked by baking or broiling it for good results.
• Instant oatmeal sweetened with fruit puree is an ideal choice to manage ulcerative colitis. One can opt for low-sugar varieties. It is also beneficial as instant oatmeal has less fiber than steel-cut oats.
• Probiotics play an important role in promoting gut health, so they should be added to the daily diet through yogurt and fermented foods. Yogurt has live, active cultures that help improve gut health, and one can also add fruit or honey to enhance its sweetness.
• Ample amounts of nutrients are needed to manage ulcerative colitis and can be sourced through eggs. They are easy to digest and are a good source of healthy fats and proteins, and they can be had scrambled, as an omelet with veggies, or hard-boiled.
• Often, people who suffer from ulcerative colitis are malnourished, and avocados can help counter this condition if included in one’s regular diet. They are rich in monounsaturated fats, which fuel the body and promote heart health. Another helpful dietary tip for people with ulcerative colitis is to add chopped avocados to omelets or salads and replace mayonnaise with avocados for a delicious and healthy sandwich spread.
• Though apples are rich in vitamins and minerals, their high fiber content makes them difficult to digest. People with ulcerative colitis can, however, enjoy applesauce. For this, they simply need to peel and cook apples after deseeding them, but sugar should not be added.
• Saturated fat can be harmful to ulcerative colitis patients, so they should choose low-fat, skinless poultry, pork loin, beef top loin, sirloin, and ground low-fat beef or turkey.
• A very important dietary tip for people with ulcerative colitis is to choose the right cooking oil. Though olive oil is considered healthy, it is ideal to limit as it is rich in fiber.