What to Eat During a Diverticulitis Flare (and When to Change Your Diet)
What to eat during a diverticulitis flare (quick summary)
During a diverticulitis flare, your gut can feel more sensitive and easily upset. A short-term approach of softer, lower fibre foods can help things settle. You don’t need to stop eating altogether just keep things simple and eat what feels manageable. As your symptoms improve, fibre can be gradually reintroduced. The key is not to stay restricted for longer than necessary.
What to eat during a diverticulitis flare
- Choose soft, low fibre foods
- Eat small amounts as tolerated
- Avoid high fibre foods for now
- Gradually reintroduce fibre as symptoms improve
This is a short-term approach to help your gut settle, not a long-term way of eating for your diverticular disease.
When a flare hits, it can feel frightening
If you’re wondering what to eat during a diverticulitis flare, you’re not alone and you’ll know this isn’t just mild discomfort.
The pain can feel intense, sometimes even excruciating, often coming in waves that stop you in your tracks. It can make even simple things like standing, walking, or eating feel difficult.
At the same time, you’re often left wondering:
- What can I actually eat right now?
- Will food make this worse?
- Should I avoid eating altogether?
If you’ve found yourself searching for answers and feeling more confused than when you started, please remember – you are not alone.
There is a lot of conflicting advice out there, not only from google but also well meaning health professionals. So let’s focus on what actually helps.
What is happening in your gut during a flare?
During a diverticulitis flare, small pouches in the bowel (diverticula) become inflamed or infected.
This can make your gut:
- More sensitive
- More reactive
- Less able to tolerate certain foods
Previously it was thought that it was an infection caused by hard poo getting into the little pouches that and whilst that might still be the case for some people there is an increasing thought that it is low level chronic inflammation within the gut that has a bigger role to play.
If you’re new to diverticular disease or want a full overview, I’ve covered this in more detail in my main guide on Diverticular Disease Diet: What to Eat & Avoid .
What to eat during a diverticulitis flare
Should I only have fluids during a diverticulitis flare
You may have come across advice suggesting you should follow a clear fluid diet or avoid food altogether during a flare.
In the past this was common (therefore it is still around online) with the thought that the gut needed to rest, particularly during more severe episodes. This is no longer routinely recommended for everyone, and there is limited evidence that it speeds up recovery.
What actually matters during a flare
Rather than following strict rules, it’s often more helpful to focus on:
- Eating what feels manageable and appealing
- Keeping things simple and gentle
- Avoiding foods that feel difficult to digest
For some people, appetite is very low and that’s completely normal.
You don’t need to force food, but equally, you don’t need to restrict more than necessary.
Practical food ideas (if you can tolerate them)
This might include:
- White toast, white rice, or pasta
- Eggs
- Chicken or fish
- Yoghurt
- Mashed potatoes (without skins)
Think of foods that are:
- Soft
- Easy to digest
- Lower in fibre
This is not your long-term diet, it’s simply a short-term strategy to help your gut settle.
What to avoid (for now) during a diverticulitis flare
While your gut is inflamed, some foods can be harder to tolerate.
These include:
- Wholegrains
- Skins, seeds, and pips
- Raw vegetables
- High fibre cereals
It’s important to say this clearly:
These foods are not harmful. They’re just not helpful during a flare.
You will reintroduce them again, just not right now.
How long should you follow a low fibre diet?
In clinic this is often where people feel the most unsure.
The honest answer is:
There isn’t a fixed timeline.
It depends on:
- How your symptoms are improving
- Whether the pain is settling
- How your bowels are responding
For most people, this phase is short-term, usually days to a couple of weeks. Often hospital consultants will have their own thoughts on this, I have heard of some stating a few weeks others recommend up to 6 weeks!
Where people often get stuck
This is important.
Staying on a low fibre diet for too long can actually make symptoms worse.
Over time, too little fibre can:
- Slow the bowel down
- Affect gut bacteria
- Increase the risk of further issues
So while reducing fibre can help in the short term, it’s not where you want to stay.
It is not just fibre that plays a role, beneficial compounds called polyphenols which are found in fruits and vegetables can help reduce inflammation in the gut.
You may also find helpful advice on my blog – Constipation after 50: why it happens even if you are eating well
When and how to start increasing fibre again
As your symptoms begin to settle, you can start to gently reintroduce fibre.
A simple way to approach this:
- Wait until pain has improved
- Start with small amounts
- Introduce one fruit or vegetable into a meal
- Build up gradually
You don’t need to get this perfect.
Slow and steady is far more effective than trying to rush back to normal.
Common mistakes during a diverticulitis flare
If you’ve been struggling with what to do, these are very common:
- Staying on a low fibre diet for too long
- Reintroducing high fibre foods too quickly
- Cutting out too many foods “just in case”
- Following conflicting advice online
If this sounds familiar, you’re not doing anything wrong, you’ve likely just been given too much mixed information.
It’s not just about what you eat
Food is important, but it’s only one part of the picture.
Other factors also play a role, including:
- Eating patterns and routine
- Bowel habits
- Stress and the gut–brain connection
- Your individual tolerance
Two people can eat the same foods and have completely different symptoms.
That’s why a personalised approach matters.
When to seek medical advice
While diet can help support recovery, it’s important to seek medical advice if you experience:
- Severe or worsening pain
- Fever
- Blood in your stool
- Symptoms that are not improving
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat eggs during a diverticulitis flare?
Yes – eggs are usually well tolerated as they are low in fibre and easy to digest.
Is porridge OK during a flare?
Porridge is higher in fibre, so it may not be suitable during the early stages of a flare. It can often be reintroduced later as symptoms improve.
Can you eat bananas?
Yes – ripe bananas are usually well tolerated and can be a good option.
Can you drink coffee?
Coffee can stimulate the gut due to caffeine, which may worsen symptoms for some people. It’s best to see how you personally respond. Coffee does contain polyphenols which help the gut produce beneficial short chain fatty acids that keep it healthy. You can get the same benefit from decaffeinated coffee.
When can I go back to a normal diet?
As symptoms settle, you can gradually reintroduce fibre and return to a more balanced diet. This should be done step by step rather than all at once.
If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone
Many people I work with feel like they’re doing everything right, but still aren’t sure what to eat or when to change things.
That uncertainty can be just as stressful as the symptoms themselves.
With the right guidance, this can feel much clearer and far more manageable. This is something I help my clients like Caryn with every week
“I was diagnosed with diverticular disease after an emergency hospital admission and was already living with IBS. I felt I needed support to manage both conditions and understand what to eat. With Fiona’s practical guidance and tailored advice, my symptoms have improved significantly and I now feel much more confident managing my diet and my health” Caryn, Sheffield.
If you’d like personalised support
If you’re struggling with flare-ups or unsure how to move your diet forward, working with a dietitian can help you feel more confident and in control again.
I offer 1:1 consultations where we look at your symptoms, your diet, and your routine and create a plan that works for you.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
Fiona Brannigan, BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition & Dietetics, HCPC-Registered Dietitian, Full member of the British Dietetic Association
Fiona Brannigan is a UK-registered dietitian and founder of Inspirit Nutrition & Dietetic Consultancy, based in Ayrshire and working with clients across the UK. With over 25 years of experience, including more than two decades in the NHS, Fiona has supported thousands of people to improve their health through nutrition.
Her expertise spans gut health, menopause nutrition, digestive disorders, neurological conditions, and rehabilitation following illness. Fiona is particularly passionate about helping adults aged 50+ regain confidence and control over their gut health, manage symptoms such as bloating, constipation, and diarrhoea, and enjoy food without fear or discomfort.
Fiona is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA). She offers one-to-one consultations online and in person, using evidence-based nutrition and personalised support to help people feel their best at every stage of life.
Book a free discovery call to discuss your gut health goals or learn more about Fiona’s work
