Seeing as if all goes to plan I will be getting my permanent stoma next week, I thought I’d do a fun little post revealing what’s on my current grocery list before my diet changes to adapt to ileostomy life. When a lot of people are diagnosed with IBD, they fear that they will no longer be able to eat anything they like and will be forced to eat only white carbs for the rest of their lives. Obviously, as I’ve said 1000 times, everyone is different. However, if you are suffering from IBD, hopefully my grocery list will reassure you that eating with IBD doesn’t have to boring and unhealthy. Sure, I have quite a few dietary restrictions due to my Crohn’s, but after a while these became natural and I certainly don’t find them unmanageable in daily life.
I’ve colour coordinated and alphabetised each section on my list so it’s super easy to follow. I find having an organised list particularly useful when I go shopping. We’ve all been there; we go to the grocery store thinking we know exactly what we need, but we immediately get distracted by the 1/2 price Ben and Jerry’s or the smell of the fresh pastries cooking and we end up buying a bunch of miscellaneous (and rather unhealthy) items rather than what we actually wanted in the first place. Having a list gives you a clear goal for your shop, prevents you from forgetting anything and encourages you to stick to healthier options, whilst also reducing your grocery costs by removing the temptation to purchase all those unnecessary “extras”.
So, without further ado, I give you my food shopping list! Just bear in mind that I obviously don’t buy all these items every single week, just the things I need. It also doesn’t include “special” grocery items which I only buy on occasion for a particular recipe. Enjoy!
My Crohn’s Friendly Grocery List:
Fruit and Veggies:
Asparagus, baby corn, baby spinach, bananas, bell peppers (red + orange), blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, cherry tomatoes, chives, cucumber, edamame, garlic, grapes (red + seedless), green beans, lettuce (little gem), mushrooms (button, chestnut or Asian blend), onions (yellow), peas (frozen), potatoes, roasted red peppers (jarred), rocket, shallots, spring onions, sun-dried tomatoes
Meat and Fish:
Anchovies, beef mince (5-10% fat), chicken breasts, cooked chicken pieces, lamb steaks, lamb mince (<20% fat), lunch meats (ham/ mortadella/ Parma ham/ Porchetta), pancetta (unsmoked), pork fillets (thick cut), pork mince, salmon fillets, sea bass, sirloin steak, smoked salmon, tinned salmon, tinned tuna, tuna fillets, turkey mince, turkey steaks (quick cook)
Fridge Items:
Cheddar (lactose-free), dairy-free butter or spread, dairy-free milk (soya/ almond/ hazelnut), dairy-free fromage frais (strawberry + raspberry), dairy-free natural yoghurt, dairy-free single cream, gnocchi, hummus (low fat, organic), mozzarella (lactose-free), ready-to-roll puff pastry sheets
Herbs and Spices:
Basil (fresh + dried), cinnamon, ginger (fresh + dried), marjoram, mixed Italian herb blend, nutmeg, parsley (fresh), rosemary, sage (fresh), thyme
Condiments and Sauces:
Almond butter, beef stock cubes, chicken gravy granules, chicken stock cubes, chocolate ice-cream sauce, honey (runny), ketchup, maple syrup, olive oil (extra virgin), passata, peanut butter (smooth), sesame oil, Shaoxing rice wine, soy sauce (low sodium), tomato puree, vegetable stock cubes, white wine vinegar
Store-Cupboard Items:
Bread crumbs, burger buns (seedless), cereal (almond and oat), chia seeds, cocoa nibs (organic), coco powder, corn starch, couscous, dark chocolate chips, eggs (free-range), flaxseed, flour (plain), granola (pecan and hazelnut), lentil chips, naan bread, noodles (vermicelli, udon, egg), nori sheets, nuts (cashews, hazelnuts- chopped, pine nuts, pistachios) pasta (tagliatelle, spaghetti, fusilli, penne, soup pasta), pitta breads (white/ wholemeal), pizza bases, quinoa (white), rice (basmati, sushi rice, risotto rice), rice cakes (wholegrain), savoury pastry case, sesame seeds, sugar (brown + castor), tortillas
Other:
Dairy-free ice-cream, dairy-free chocolate eclairs
And that’s it! Take inspiration from this with regards to healthy eating and IBD, but make sure you try each item gradually if you’re not used to it and make a note of any ill-effects. As you can see, most of what I buy are ingredients rather than pre-made meals/ sauces etc. I find that this is not only far healthier than store-bought alternatives, but that it is also WAY better for my Crohn’s. By making everything from scratch, I know exactly what goes into it and I am in control. I would definitely recommend people with IBD adopt a similar approach if they have the time. You may also have noticed that my diet is pretty much dairy-free as well, and I tend to buy organic where possible.
Comment below if you have any good dairy-free recipes to share, or just any that are generally Crohn’s friendly. 😊
Me and My Crohn's 