7-Day Crohn’s Flare Meal Plan + Grocery List (Printable)

Flares can make eating feel complicated, especially when appetite is low and the gut is sensitive. This Crohn’s flare meal plan is a simple, low-effort template built around commonly tolerated, low-fiber (sometimes called low-residue) foods. It is meant for short-term symptom-friendly eating and can be adjusted based on personal triggers, allergies, and clinician guidance.

How this flare-friendly plan works (and when to adjust it)

There is no single “Crohn’s diet” that works for everyone, and food does not cause or cure inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). What often helps during symptoms is focusing on foods that are easier to digest, then widening variety again as symptoms settle, with support from a gastroenterology team or registered dietitian. Keeping a food and symptom journal can help spot patterns over time. [1]

This plan leans “low residue,” meaning lower in rough, bulky fiber that can be harder to tolerate during active symptoms. Many people temporarily limit items like nuts, seeds, popcorn, beans, and raw fruits and vegetables, while choosing softer options like white rice, refined grains, peeled fruits, and well-cooked vegetables. Smaller, more frequent meals and plenty of fluids are also commonly suggested, and some people limit dairy if lactose intolerance is suspected. [2]

Important note: flare needs vary a lot depending on disease location, past surgeries, strictures (narrowing), and current treatment. This template is educational, not medical advice. Ongoing vomiting, dehydration, severe pain, fever, or rapid weight loss should be discussed with a clinician promptly.

7-day Crohn’s flare meal plan + printable grocery list (template)

Mix-and-match “flare safe meals” (choose what fits appetite):

Breakfast (pick 1):
- B1 Scrambled eggs + white toast
- B2 Instant oatmeal made with water (or lactose-free milk) + banana
- B3 Cream of rice or grits + a little maple syrup

Lunch (pick 1):
- L1 Chicken and white rice soup (or turkey rice soup)
- L2 Turkey sandwich on white bread + applesauce
- L3 Tuna (or egg salad) on white bread + peeled cucumber slices (if tolerated)

Dinner (pick 1):
- D1 Baked/poached fish + mashed potatoes
- D2 Rotisserie chicken (no skin if fat is a trigger) + white rice
- D3 Lean ground turkey + plain pasta + smooth marinara (no seeds)

Snack (optional, pick 1): yogurt (lactose-free if needed), crackers, banana, applesauce, gelatin, broth.

7-day schedule (printable):
- Day 1: B1 / L1 / D1 / snack
- Day 2: B2 / L2 / D2 / snack
- Day 3: B3 / L1 / D3 / snack
- Day 4: B1 / L3 / D1 / snack
- Day 5: B2 / L2 / D2 / snack
- Day 6: B3 / L1 / D3 / snack
- Day 7: B1 / L2 / D1 / snack

Many hospital diet handouts note that during a flare, fiber is often the main short-term restriction, and a more balanced pattern is usually reintroduced as symptoms improve. [3]

Grocery list (low residue meal plan Crohn’s):
- [ ] Eggs
- [ ] White bread (no seeds)
- [ ] White rice, plain pasta, instant oatmeal, cream of rice or grits
- [ ] Chicken soup (low-fat) or ingredients (broth, chicken, white rice)
- [ ] Rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breast
- [ ] Fish (salmon, cod, tilapia)
- [ ] Lean ground turkey, deli turkey (if tolerated)
- [ ] Potatoes
- [ ] Bananas, applesauce cups
- [ ] Smooth marinara (no seeds), plain crackers
- [ ] Lactose-free milk and/or lactose-free yogurt (optional)

References

1. crohnscolitisfoundation.org

2. mayoclinic.org

3. uhsussex.nhs.uk