Snacks & sweets and ulcerative colitis
What to reach for and what bites back.
14 snacks & sweets on this site, each with a flare verdict, a remission verdict, and the sources behind them. 2 are usually tolerated during a flare and 5 are usually worth avoiding until things settle.
Almonds
Flare: Usually avoidRemission: Caution
Candy
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Chocolate
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Cookies
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Dark Chocolate
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Gelatin
Flare: Usually OKRemission: Usually OK
Granola Bars
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Honey
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Nuts
Flare: Usually avoidRemission: Caution
Popcorn
Flare: Usually avoidRemission: Caution
Potato Chips
Flare: CautionRemission: Usually OK
Pretzels
Flare: Usually OKRemission: Usually OK
Seeds
Flare: Usually avoidRemission: Caution
Sugar-Free Gum
Flare: Usually avoidRemission: Caution
All snacks & sweets at a glance
Sorted alphabetically. "Usually OK" means most people, most of the time, not a guarantee.
| Food | During a flare | In remission | Why it's on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almonds | Usually avoid | Caution | insoluble fiber, skins, fat |
| Candy | Caution | Usually OK | sugar, sugar alcohols |
| Chocolate | Caution | Usually OK | sugar, fat, caffeine |
| Cookies | Caution | Usually OK | sugar, fat |
| Dark Chocolate | Caution | Usually OK | caffeine, fat |
| Gelatin | Usually OK | Usually OK | no common concerns flagged |
| Granola Bars | Caution | Usually OK | insoluble fiber, nuts dried fruit |
| Honey | Caution | Usually OK | fructose, fodmap |
| Nuts | Usually avoid | Caution | insoluble fiber, fat, mechanical irritation |
| Popcorn | Usually avoid | Caution | insoluble fiber, hulls |
| Potato Chips | Caution | Usually OK | fat, added salt |
| Pretzels | Usually OK | Usually OK | added salt |
| Seeds | Usually avoid | Caution | insoluble fiber, hulls, mechanical irritation |
| Sugar-Free Gum | Usually avoid | Caution | sugar alcohols, polyols |