November 15, 2016 |  written by IVX Health

How to Have an IBD-Friendly Thanksgiving


Thanksgiving dinner can be a difficult time if you suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or related conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. But, with the right preparation and strategies in place, it can be a time of enjoyment with friends and family. Use these strategies to help plan for and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones in an IBD-friendly way.

Step 1 for an IBD-Friendly Thanksgiving: Know Your Triggers

Part of having a successful Thanksgiving is to know what foods trigger your symptoms. Try to keep a list of these trigger foods, and plan to stick to the foods you know your body can handle while avoiding the ones that have proven problematic.

Step 2 for an IBD-Friendly Thanksgiving: Make Your Own

If you’re eating Thanksgiving at someone else’s home, it can be helpful to bring  a dish or two of your own that excludes any trigger foods. If you’re playing host, then you’ve got a lot of control of the menu, which can be helpful. When people are offering to bring a dish, don’t be afraid to take them up on it. Just make sure to ask about any sensitive ingredients or offer suggestions or recipes that you know you and your family can eat.

Step 3 for an IBD-Friendly Thanksgiving: Make It About Family and Friends Instead of Food

It’s important to remember that the real meaning of Thanksgiving is family, friends, and counting your blessings.  Spend the day focused on togetherness with these ideas:

  • Play games together, indoors or outside.
  • Engage in thankfulness activities.
  • Watch a movie or cheer on your favorite sports teams together.
  • Volunteer together as a family.

We’re Thankful for You at IVX Health

We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our patients, so thank you from all of us at IVX Health.  We’re grateful you’ve chosen us for your infusion and injection treatments, and we hope to continue to serve you.

If your treatment regimen includes biologic infusion or injection treatments such as Remicade or Ocrevus, consider IVX Health for your care.  We offer appointments that fit your schedule (days, evenings and weekends) in comfortable private suites so you can enjoy your time while receiving treatment. If you’re ready to experience how we are redefining care for patients with chronic conditions, contact us to schedule an appointment at one of our many convenient locations.

Treatment at IVX Health

If biologics like Remicade, Actemra or Orencia  are a part of your chronic illness treatment plan, then consider choosing IVX Health for your ongoing care needs. IVX Health makes it possible to receive your therapy in a comfortable, convenient, and private environment.

With a private suite for every patient, you can watch your favorite Netflix show or movie on the big screen TV in each room, use a laptop or other mobile device to surf the web, or simply hang out with family and friends. We always have chairs for guests, and each center has a family room that is spacious and private if you need to bring your kids to your treatment. We also offer flexible appointment scheduling – including evenings and Saturdays – at any of our convenient locations.

At IVX Health, we truly are invested in helping you live your best life. If you’re ready to experience a new kind of infusion clinic, click here to learn how to move your infusion or injection therapy to IVX Health.