Eating out can be hard for Crohn’s patients, but if you’re receiving treatment at our Concord center, there are a handful of restaurants with options to accommodate your diet.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that inflames and irritates the digestive tract. Diet plays a crucial role in managing Crohn's disease, as certain foods can trigger flare-ups and exacerbate symptoms.
Eating out can be hard for Crohn’s patients, but if you’re receiving treatment at our Concord center, there are a handful of restaurants with options to accommodate your diet. Below, we’re highlighting eight of our favorites in and around the city.
A primer on foods to eat & avoid with Crohn’s
What to prioritize
- Anti-inflammatory foods like oily fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, olive oil
- Low-FODMAP foods (which means avoiding things like onion, garlic, dairy, and beans in favor of eggs, meat, gluten-free grains, and certain fruits and vegetables)
- The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in vegetables, fresh fruits, olive oil, poultry, peas, whole grains, fish, nuts/seeds, and limited amounts of lean red meat. It’s naturally low-carb, low in saturated fat, and high in unsaturated fats like omega-3s.
What to avoid (if you can, although we know no restaurant is perfect!)
- Dairy products like margarine, cream, and full-fat yogurt/ice cream
- High-fat meat (red meat, sausage, etc)
- Spices, especially cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic, wasabi, chili powder, and jalapeños
READ MORE: Guide To Crohn’s Diet: Foods To Eat & Avoid
8 Crohn’s-friendly restaurants in Concord
- Live Juice
For breakfast
Live Juice is an excellent breakfast spot with a large selection of salads, wraps, whole grain bowls, juices, and smoothies. The best part? You know exactly what’s in your food because everything is prepared and cooked in-house, including salad dressings, sauces, and meats. Plus you get to enjoy fresh juices and smoothies made using whole, fresh fruits and vegetables. There’s also gluten-free and vegan options.
5 South Main Street, Concord NH 03301
- The Crust and Crumb
For breakfast
The Crust and Crumb offers a wide range of gluten-free and vegan options. Plus, there are specialty diet options making it great for patients with Crohn’s.
126 North Main Street Concord NH 03301
- In A Pinch Cafe
For breakfast or lunch
In A Pinch Cafe is a breakfast and lunch spot with a variety of sandwiches, salads, and soups. You can create your own sandwich with a variety of Crohn’s-friendly ingredients and sides.
146 Pleasant Street Concord NH 03301
- The Works Cafe
For breakfast or lunch
The Works Cafe is one of our Crohn’s-friendly restaurants because of its customizable salad and sandwiches. There are also grain-power bowls and a variety of salad/quinoa bowls, all of which are great options for if you have Crohn’s. The freshly-made smoothies, hearty soups, and healthy sandwiches are also good choices.
42 North Main Street Concord NH 03301
- Teatoller Café
For lunch or something sweet
If you want to try something sweet or just enjoy an amazing lunch, then the Teatoller Cafe is for you. They believe that everyone should be able to treat themselves, regardless of allergies or dietary restrictions. As such, they have a large selection of gluten-free goods, as well as dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
2 Capital Plaza, North Main Street Concord NH 03301
- B. Good
For lunch
B Good is incredibly transparent with their nutrition, publishing a comprehensive list of all ingredients in every menu item. They offer harvest bowls, salads, acai bowls, smoothies, and sandwiches/wraps.
10 Fort Eddy Rd, Concord, NH 03301
- Col’s Kitchen
For lunch or dinner
Col’s Kitchen is a plant-based restaurant in Concord. The menu balances healthy choices for those with allergies or food restrictions with classic, approachable dishes for the average eater.
55 South Main Street Concord NH 03301
- Ayasofia Flavor Mediterranean Restaurant
For lunch or dinner
This restaurant fuses all Mediterranean cultures: southern Europe (Italy, Spain, France), North Africa (Morocco), and eastern Mediterranean (Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel).
They specialize in authentic, homemade Mediterranean/Turkish cuisine featuring soups, salads, lean meats, and vegetables. Also, the menu items are marked if they contain gluten/dairy, or if they’re fried.
82 East Broadway Salem, NH 03079
READ MORE: Best & Worst Exercises For Crohn’s Disease