I see a lot of people write in who struggle with what to eat when you have Crohn's Disease. This has been a big challenge for me also. After a lot of trial and error, I think I have something that works. I am still learning, because sometimes what I used to tolerate before, I can't tolerate now or just in smaller amounts and less frequently. I am hoping that if I share what works for me, that it may help someone out. I know that what works for me may not work for you.
Let me inform you that I have moderate Crohn's disease and I am currently not in remission. I take entocort, pentasa, and Humira. I have been diagnosed since July of 2007. I also have developed Type 2 diabetes and become lactose intolerant. There is definitely a genetic predisposition in my family for both diseases.
Currently, I cannot tolerate beef, pork, shellfish, peanut butter (or any nuts or nut by-products) raw vegetables, high fiber foods, popcorn, crunchy snacks (like pretzels or tortilla chips), fruits with skin and this includes dried fruits which usually contain the skin - think raisins, acidic foods, citrus fruits, eggs, heavily spiced foods, fried foods, anything with MSG or aspartame (Nutra Sweet), or too much caffeine.
Here is what I typically can do for food choices:
Breakfast - cheerios with lactose free milk (or another low-fiber cereal), vegetarian sausage or bacon for protein, low carb (for the diabetes) toast with butter and sugar free seedless jam, juice - usually something low-acid (not orange juice), pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, cream of wheat. Basically I cannot tolerate fried eggs. I used to be able to eat a hard-boiled egg or a poached egg, but only one of them and not very often. However, the last time I ate one, it bothered me, so I have cut them out.
Lunch - soup is great as all the vegetables (must be peeled) are cooked soft and it is nutritous. Gotta watch the sodium and I avoid the celery, since it is stringy even when cooked. Also, I avoid too many beans as the fiber can bother me. Generally I stick with chicken noodle or potato soup and I try to make homemade, since many commercial soups have MSG and who knows what else. I also do turkey and chicken lunch meat on a pita bread. Watch the lunch meats - look for ones out there that do not have MSG or a lot of fillers or weird things you can't pronounce. Look for the all natural types if you can find them. Applesauce or canned fruits in their own juice are good. Basically, chips or junk food are out. They're not healthy, are fried, have MSG, and many times made from corn so they don't digest well for me.
Supper - casseroles work well. I make a mean turkey noodle casserole (with low carb noodles for the diabetes), tukey or veggie burgers are good, grilled chicken (or baked, poached, whatever - just not fried), grilled salmon, tuna. I like to steam my veggies in those steam bags for the microwave - so fast. Just have to peel the veggies and chop up. Zucchini, green beans, carrots, hash brown potatoes (just don't fry them), etc. I just avoid the higher fiber and gas causing veggies - like cauliflower, broccoli, greens, brussels sprouts, cabbage. Rice is good, just steam it and don't buy the prepared mixes - MSG. Pasta is good (low carb for me).
Snacks - low-fat cottage cheese (I take a Lactaid usually), crackers with soy butter - since I can't have peanut butter, string cheese, rice cakes, yogurt.
Desserts - this is a bit harder since I have diabetes, but for those of you who don't, just avoid the stuff with nuts, deep fried doughnuts or pies, chocolate (actually I can eat a small amount once a week and get by with it, but not every day), or the processed stuff loaded with preservatives and who knows what else.
I also avoid decaf coffee, since coffee just doesn't like me anymore. Decaf ginger tea or apple cinnamon herbal tea soothe my stomach. I also don't drink much soda and always caffeine free and not diet since most diets have aspartame. Diet Rite is about the only brand I can handle. No liquor - doesn't mix with the meds. It's water or Propel fitness water, non-acidic juice, and lactose free milk.
Well, my diet isn't ideal, but it's what works for me. I hope this might help someone who is struggling.