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Dining Out with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Summary & Participants

Meals can pose big challenges to people living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. They can be challenging enough at home. But what about when eating out? For real-world tips on controlling diet when eating at restaurants and in other people's homes, watch this webcast sponsored exclusively by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Medically Reviewed On: July 01, 2008

Webcast Transcript

BETTINA GREGORY, Psy.D.: Hello, I'm Bettina Gregory. Welcome to our webcast on nutrition and inflammatory bowel disease. This is part three of our three-part series, which is sponsored by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Joining us to discuss how to keep control of your diet when eating out is Dr. Arthur Heller, a gastroenterologist from Weill-Cornell Medical College. Also joining us is Leslie Bonci, a nutritionist from the University of Pittsburgh. Richard Hays is executive director for the Maryland and southern Delaware chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, and he is a person who is living with Crohn's disease. Adam Carron, an active high school student from Long Island, New York, who is living with ulcerative colitis. Laurie Carron, Adam's mom, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis as an adult. And some of you will be part of our program, too; we'll be answering your questions sent to us by e-mail. Well, let's start with Leslie. Leslie, avoiding foods that may aggravate IBD is certainly a challenge when you're eating out or eating at a restaurant.

LESLIE J. BONCI, M.P.H.: Well, the fact of the matter is that people eat out all the time and the goal is not to have people feel like they need to be at home. But there are a couple of things that people can do. And first and foremost, especially in the early stages of diagnosis, is to think about eating before you go out, so at least you've eaten things that you feel comfortable with.

BETTINA GREGORY, Psy.D.: And you're not too hungry and for -

LESLIE J. BONCI, M.P.H.: Not overly hungry, you're not overly tempted and you're not overly likely to overindulge when you're out.

BETTINA GREGORY, Psy.D.: Okay, Laurie, let me ask you. Do you ever do that?

LAURIE CARRON: I don't think I've ever eaten before I've gone out, but I've never turned a meal down.

BETTINA GREGORY, Psy.D.: Even with ulcerative colitis.

LAURIE CARRON: I have to listen to my body for it to tell me I'm okay, or I'm not okay. There are certain foods that I know are triggers and if I'm not feeling that great, I won't choose those. If I'm feeling fine, I don't watch my diet at all.

BETTINA GREGORY, Psy.D.: Adam, let's get the teenage point of view. Is this a problem for you?

ADAM CARRON: I don't think it's such a big deal that I eat, like, before I go out. I find it more easy for me if I eat while I'm with other people. I mean, it gives me a sense that I'm one of them. People are always accommodating if I don't want to eat a certain thing just because it may conflict with my diet. But in general, I find it's pretty easy just to eat while I'm there.

BETTINA GREGORY, Psy.D.: Okay, Richard?

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