Part of managing ulcerative colitis (UC), a form of inflammatory bowel disease, is identifying foods that may be problematic for you and avoiding those when preparing meals at home. But that strategy can be difficult when travel comes into play, says Rudolph Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
To lessen that worry, bringing snacks along can be a boon, Dr. Bedford says. That’s because it gives you assurance that you’ll always have a reliable food option, and it also means you’ll have a steady supply of energy and nutrients ready, he says.
With that in mind, here are seven travel snacks to consider taking on your next trip.
1. Pureed Oatmeal Pouches
Particularly if travel is already feeling stressful, opting for something like pureed oatmeal pouches, the type of soft-textured food that is recommended in the midst of a flare can be helpful for digestion even if you’re in remission, says Castro.
“Choose plain, gluten-free oats with no added sugar to promote tolerance during travel,” she says. “Oatmeal can feed good bacteria and help form healthy bowel movements.”
2. Olives
“Emphasizing healthy fats, especially while traveling, can help you maintain nutrition and keep up your energy as well,” she says. That doesn’t mean you have to carry a bottle of olive oil in your carry-on, however. Putting together an olive snack pack can give you the same advantages and is very portable, says Castro.
“They provide healthy fats that keep energy levels stable, especially helpful during long travel days with limited meals,” she says. “Their small portion size makes them easy to tolerate and less likely to overwhelm digestion. Choose plain olives to help limit added ingredients that could trigger symptoms.”
3. Salmon in a Can or Pouch
Another way to get healthy fats as well as protein is by taking small portions of salmon with you, easily transportable in canned or pouch form.
4. Unsweetened Yogurt
“However, it’s important to read the label since some yogurts are highly sweetened, and that can outweigh the benefits,” she says. “That’s because sugar can raise inflammation, so it’s best to choose the unsweetened, plain yogurt if possible. If you want flavor, some cooked fruit without peels or skins can increase the nutrient profile of this snack.”
5. Hummus With Plain Crackers
Some whole-grain or heavily seasoned crackers may be challenging for those with UC, so it’s helpful to try several options before traveling to see what works best for you, says Castro. Pita chips or gluten-free crackers, for example, may be easier to digest for some.
6. Applesauce
“These are good to have on hand anytime, because they offer quick energy and tend to be gentle on the digestive system,” he says. “They’re also easy to pack as a travel snack, or to find if you’re traveling.”
Similar to yogurt, it’s important to look for options that are unsweetened or with low sugar, he says. If you want to add more flavor, you can sprinkle it with cinnamon, which gives the applesauce a richer flavor without increasing its sugar content.
7. Supplement Shakes
There are many supplement shakes (also called meal replacement shakes) that contain balanced amounts of protein, fats, and carbs, and they’re easy to bring along on a trip, says Bedford.
“Supplement shakes, as long as they’re not overly sweetened, can be especially helpful if you’re experiencing any symptoms while traveling or you need something that is easy on your digestive system,” he says.
With these shakes or any other travel snacks, it’s helpful to do a trial run at home before a trip to make sure a particular food won’t be hard on your digestive system, says Bedford.
“With UC, there can be a good deal of trial and error with finding out how foods affect you, so trying new snacks in the midst of traveling may not be the best approach,” he says. “Instead, do a ‘try-out’ with snacks at least a few times before you travel, if possible.”
The Takeaway
- With ulcerative colitis, having snacks on hand while you’re traveling can help ease some of the uncertainty and stress that come with taking a trip.
- Travel snack options depend on your personal tolerance for specific foods, but gluten-free, dairy-free, and low sugar options tend to be easy on digestion.
- If possible, try out snacks at home first, especially if they’re new to you, to figure out how you respond to them before you travel.