Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Related Conditions What to Know Before You Eat Out When You Have IBD Your social life can continue if you do a little planning By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 06, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Heather Mercer Fact checked by Heather Mercer Heather Mercer is native to Northwest Ohio (go Walleye!) and graduated from Loma Linda University with two doctorate degrees (psychology and public health). She is currently a professor at Owens Community College, as well as a fact-checker for Verywell Health. She has gained experience in a variety of settings, ranging from corporate wellness and preventive medicine, to mental health, chronic disease, and end-of-life care. Learn about our editorial process Print Eating out at restaurants or at social functions can be tricky situations for people with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). It is especially difficult when you are dining with people you know either through a professional or casual relationship. These contacts are not likely to know about your health problems, and you're probably not going to want to bring it up over dinner. (In addition, you might even prefer they don't know.) When you're dating, it would be nice to put IBD on the back burner. How can you handle a high-powered business lunch or romantic dinner without bringing attention to your condition? Klaus Vedfelt / The Image Bank / Getty Images Have a Restaurant Plan Before you leave for the restaurant, decide ahead of time what you will eat and how much you will eat. If you're afraid that you will be hungry and tempted to eat something you shouldn't, have a safe snack before you leave. Peek at the Restaurant Menu If you know what restaurant you're going to, do a little reconnaissance first. Many restaurants have websites that feature their menu. If you're really concerned, you can even call the restaurant and ask if they serve any dishes you know are "safe" for you to eat. Locate the Restroom First Ask the host or hostess where the restroom is located before you are seated or right after being shown to your table. If your dining companions don't know about your health problems, you can use the excuse of wanting to wash your hands before dinner. This way, you know where the facilities are located and you can check to be sure they're clean and stocked. Skip the Cocktails Alcoholic drinks may not be a good idea for people with IBD. Try sparkling water or a virgin cocktail (or a "mocktail") if you want something other than tap water but don't want to drink alcohol. If you need an excuse, you can always say you're taking antibiotics or other medications that shouldn't be taken with alcohol. Or there's always the old standby—"I have to drive myself home, so I'm not drinking tonight." Watch out for Appetizers Appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, hot wings, nachos, and chicken fingers are all fatty, fried or dairy-filled foods that might not be good to your digestive system. If everyone else is having an appetizer and you're feeling left out, have some soup instead, or reach for the breadbasket. Anticipate Any Awkward Questions In the event that someone may ask a direct question, such as, "Why are you ordering chicken at a famous steakhouse?" Consider beforehand how you will answer. You could mention your illness briefly if you think it will be well received. If not, "I'm on a diet" or, "I stopped eating red meat and dairy" are also common reasons that aren't likely to bring up more questions. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. What should I eat? Swanson GR, Sedghi S, Farhadi A, Keshavarzian A. Pattern of alcohol consumption and its effect on gastrointestinal symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease. Alcohol. 2010;44(3):223-8. doi:10.1016/j.alcohol.2009.10.019 By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. 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