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CDED Food List Overview

The food list provided is a simplistic overview of the basic requirements of the diet, offering a bird's eye view of restricted and allowed foods. It is not an all-inclusive list of the allowed and restricted foods, nor does it define all the rules of the diet. This list should NOT be used as a guide to following the diet.

The CDED is managed a little differently from the other diets. The CDED is divided into three phases. The first two 6-week phases are grouped together as the Induction Phase, which is used for inducing remission. The first six-week phase of the Induction Phase limits insoluble fiber to prevent bowel obstructions. The second 6-week phase adds back in many of those vegetables by week 10. The Induction Phase is the most important phase of the diet and is required for efficacy. The Maintenance Phase is used after remission is achieved and is intended to sustain that remission. However, the principles of the diet are best represented by the Induction Phase, with the Maintenance Phase opened up to include some foods not recommended in order to promote better long-term compliance if necessary. The published studies to date generally look at the Induction Phase, so the scientific evidence is strongest at this time for the Induction Phase and still in progress for the Maintenance Phase. However, a patient may like to know what the diet might look like long term, so it was decided that the most complete picture would be provided by showing data for both the Induction Phase and the Maintenance Phase separately. The Maintenance Phase requires five contiguous days following the diet as written, then allows for a maximum of two contiguous days (generally weekends) that allow two free meals per day (maximum of four free meals per week), excluding only hot dogs, sausages, soft drinks, luncheon meats, bacon, and frozen dough from those free meals. Those free meals are not included in the table.

Fish

Weeks 1-6: 1 portion lean fish per week
After week 6: 1 can tuna per week
Red Meat (not processed)

1 portion of lean steak per week after week 6 (not recommended)
Wheat/Gluten

1 slice whole grain bread allowed per day after week 6
Corn

Allowed after week 10
Oats

1/2 cup dry oatmeal per week allowed after week 6 (gluten-free oats preferred but not mandatory)
Rice

Unlimited rice and rice flour or noodles are allowed
Dried Legumes/Beans

1/2 cup dry beans/legumes allowed per day after week 6
Fresh Legumes/beans (peas, green beans, etc)

Allowed after week 10
Starchy Vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips, parsnips, etc)

Weeks 1-6: Potatoes only allowed
Weeks 7-9: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams allowed.
Weeks 10-12: Allowed
Nightshades (tomatoes, tomatillos, white potatoes [not sweet potatoes], eggplant, peppers, goji berries, etc)

Weeks 1-6: Tomatoes and Potatoes allowed.
Weeks 7-9: Red Peppers also allowed.
Weeks 10-12: Allowed
Honey

Max 3 TBSP per day
Eggs

Allowed (mandatory: 2 per day)
Formula (PEN; eg, Boost®, Ensure®, Pediasure®, Modulen IBD®)

Allowed (recommended)
Poultry

Fresh chicken breast only (mandatory)
Grains other than wheat, corn, oats, and rice, which are listed separately

Quinoa allowed after week 6
Vegetables other than starchy vegetables and nightshades, which are listed separately

Weeks 1-6: Cucumbers, carrot, spinach, lettuce allowed in limited quantities. Onion, garlic, ginger allowed.
Weeks 7-9: Add zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower
Weeks 10-12: All veggies allowed except kale, leeks, asparagus, and artichoke.
Fruits

Weeks 1-6: Bananas, apples, avocado, strawberries, melon, orange juice in limited quantities, lemon juice (fresh squeezed) as a condiment allowed.
Weeks 7-10: Pears, peaches, kiwis, and blueberries are also allowed.
Weeks 11-12: Mangos, pineapples, and oranges are also allowed.
Nuts

8 almonds or walnuts allowed per day after week 6.
Sweeteners other than honey and artificial sweeteners, which are listed separately

Allows refined sugar (4 tsp per day max)
Fats/Oils

Only olive oil and canola oil allowed
Seafood other than fish, which is listed separately

Excluded
Processed Meat

Exclude
Dairy

Exclude
Seeds

Exclude
Artificial Sweeteners

Exclude
Processed Foods/Preservatives/Artificial Additives

Exclude
Cocoa

Exclude
Coffee

Exclude
Alcohol

Exclude
Emulsifiers

Exclude
Fish

One portion of lean fish or other seafood per week, 1 can tuna per week
Seafood other than fish, which is listed separately

1 portion of seafood or lean fish per week, 1 can tuna per week
Red Meat (not processed)

1 portion of lean steak per week only
Wheat/Gluten

2 slices whole grain bread allowed per day (1 cup cooked pasta may be substitued for bread twice per week)
Corn

Allowed
Oats

1/2 cup dry oatmeal allowed per week (gluten-free oats preferred but not mandatory)
Rice

Unlimited rice and rice flour or noodles are allowed
Dried Legumes/Beans

1 1/2 cup dry beans/legumes allowed per day
Fresh Legumes/beans (peas, green beans, etc)

Allowed
Starchy Vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips, parsnips, etc)

Allowed
Nightshades (tomatoes, tomatillos, white potatoes [not sweet potatoes], eggplant, peppers, goji berries, etc)

Allowed
Honey

Max 3 TBSP per day (no limit on weekends)
Eggs

Allowed
Cocoa

Allowed
Coffee

Allowed: Black coffee allowed (any coffee allowed on weekends)
Formula (PEN; eg, Boost®, Ensure®, Pediasure®, Modulen IBD®)

Allowed
Poultry

Chicken allowed (no wings or skin)
Grains other than wheat, corn, oats, and rice, which are listed separately

Allows quinoa
Vegetables other than starchy vegetables and nightshades, which are listed separately

No Leeks, Celery, or Large Amounts of Kale
Fruits

No persimmons, pomegranate, cactus fruit, passion fruit
Dairy

1 yogurt allowed per day (other dairy on weekends)
Nuts

8 almonds or walnuts allowed per day
Sweeteners other than honey and artificial sweeteners, which are listed separately

Allows refined sugar (4 tsp per day max; unlimited on weekends)
Fats/Oils

Only olive oil and canola oil allowed
Alcohol

1 cup of wine or beer allowed on weekends
Processed Meat

Exclude
Seeds

Exclude
Artificial Sweeteners

Exclude
Processed Foods/Preservatives/Artificial Additives

Exclude
Emulsifiers

Exclude

CDED Research

Published Research

View the published research for CDED, including highlighted featured research followed by the complete list.

Research Summaries

View published review articles summarizing the existing research to date on nutritional therapy.

Ongoing Trials

View a list of the ongoing clinical trials studying CDED.

CDED Clinician Resources

Resource Previews Coming Soon. Click the button below to see all clinician resources for CDED!

All CDED Clinician Resources

CDED Patient Resources

Resource Previews Coming Soon. Click the button below to see all patient resources for CDED!

All CDED Patient Resources

Nutritional Therapy for IBD

Improving the Care of Patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis through Nutrition

Disclaimer: Nutritional Therapy for IBD does not provide medical advice. References are for informational purposes only. Resources from the web are aggregated here; however, links to sites should not be construed as endorsements of those sites, their opinions, or their content. Only medical professionals are qualified to provide medical advice. Patients should consult with their medical team when making decisions about their medical management plan.

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