Posted by Lesley Stanford on June 05, 2025
The Mediterranean Diet (MED) can be helpful for pediatric patients with IBD. It is a way of eating based on traditional cuisines from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The MED has health benefits and can be used for the entire family. In this post ICN Registered Dietitians share an overview of the Mediterranean Diet, list common MED foods and limitations, provide sample menus and a popular MED recipe, and address potential concerns about increasing dietary fiber.
👀 Ways the Mediterranean Diet (MED) may help pediatric patients with IBD
💚 The MED can promote a more diverse and beneficial gut microbiome by encouraging the growth of bacteria that produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
💙 The MED is rich in foods like berries, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, citrus fruits and olive oil, which contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Ingredients such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins C & E can help reduce inflammation in the gut.
💚 Studies have shown that adhering to the MED can lead to improvements in clinical scores, inflammatory markers, and quality of life in children with IBD.
💙 The MED may be easier to follow over time as compared to other diets for IBD.
🥗 What foods are eaten on the Mediterranean Diet
- Lots of vegetables, fruit, beans, lentils and nuts
- Whole grains (e.g., whole-wheat bread, brown rice, or whole grain noodles)
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Fish
- A moderate amount of natural cheese and yogurt
- Limited red meat
- Choose chicken, turkey, fish or beans as a protein source
- Little or no sweets, sugary drinks or butter
🍔 What foods are limited on the Mediterranean Diet
- Added sugar: from soda, candies, ice cream, table sugar, syrup, and baked goods
- Refined grains: white bread, pasta, tortillas, chips, crackers
- Trans fats: found in margarine, fried foods, and other processed foods
- Processed meat: sausages, hot dogs, deli meats, beef jerky
- Highly processed foods: fast food, convenience meals, some packaged foods
🌾 If adding dietary fiber is a concern, these MED tips can help
- Choose easy-to-digest fruits and vegetables like melon or carrots
- Some fruits, like apples, may be better tolerated if peeled
- Cook fruits (e.g., apples) and use vegetables in soup
- Add foods like whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, and brown rice slowly. If you tolerate whole grains, include them in your diet.
- Nuts and seeds may be better tolerated if ground rather than eaten whole; try nut butters.
- If beans are hard to digest, choose lentils, tempeh or tofu. Blend cooked beans and add to soups.
- For more details check out ICN Registered Dietitian's Fiber and IBD post on the ICN blog
👨🍳 Sample Mediterranean Diet Menu 1
🍴 Breakfast: Whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana slices
🍴 Lunch: Hummus with carrot and cucumber sticks, grapes and whole grain crackers
🍴 Dinner: Cheese and vegetable quesadilla with a whole grain tortilla
👨🍳 Sample Mediterranean Diet Menu 2
🍴 Breakfast: Oatmeal with almond milk and raisins and a sprinkle of cinnamon
🍴 Lunch: Greek yogurt with homemade granola (recipe below) and berries, whole grain crackers
🍴 Dinner: Turkey meatballs in tomato sauce, served over whole grain pasta with carrot sticks and cucumber
🍒 Homemade MED Granola Recipe
👀 Want to learn more about the Mediterranean Diet?
If the Mediterranean Diet interests you and you would like to learn more about how it might fit into your IBD lifestyle and care plan, schedule time to discuss it with your IBD care team and/or your registered dietitian. You can also explore the MED and find articles and recipes through this ICN partner organization: Nutritional Therapy for IBD.
📌 Source List
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Strisciuglio C., Cenni S., Serra M.R., Dolce P., Martinelli M., Staiano A., Miele E. Effectiveness of Mediterranean Diet’s Adherence in children with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Nutrients. 2020;12:3206. doi: 10.3390/nu12103206.
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Deas J, Shah ND, Konijeti GG, Lundin A, Lanser O, Magavi P, Ali S. Dietary therapies for adult and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Nutr Clin Pract. 2024 Jun;39(3):530-545. doi: 10.1002/ncp.11146. Epub 2024 Mar 20. PMID: 38505875.