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IBS friendly restaurants

Going out to dinner for most people is a pleasant and enjoyable experience; however, for some people with IBS it can be daunting and may even seem impossible. Some common fears include a need to use the toilet at short notice and there might be a queue, or a fear that they will experience painful spasms at the dinner table or pass wind at an inappropriate moment, and this is before they’ve even had a chance to consider if there is anything suitable on the menu that won’t bring on an attack.

However, going out to a restaurant when you suffer from IBS need not be such an ordeal and if you prepare yourself beforehand then all restaurants can be IBS friendly. Socialising is an important part of being human and is good for your mental health. Some people even find that when they relax and enjoy themselves their IBS symptoms disappear. The following guidelines will help you take that all important first step towards eating out and regaining control of your life.

Tips on eating out when you have IBS

First and foremost it is necessary to deal with the anxiety association with going out to a restaurant. Anxiety is known to make IBS worse so if you are anxious about going out, this in itself is likely to bring on your IBS symptoms and the whole vicious circle starts again.

Familiarise yourself with where the toilets are beforehand so that you know exactly where to go if you need to
Have some sort of contingency plan in place such as a way of getting home or an exit route if you really feel you have to leave
Talk to whoever you are going to the restaurant with so that they are aware of your fears, this can help put your mind at rest and you are likely to find that people are far more understanding than what you might expect
Avoid the temptation to starve yourself beforehand in order to ward off an IBS attack as this is actually more likely to bring one on. Eat little and often during the day.
Practice some breathing techniques to help you stay calm
Try not to focus on what is going on inside your gut and whether or not you need to use the toilet and concentrate instead on the company you are with and the conversations taking place
Choose something from the menu that is preferably light and not too spicy, fatty or fried or that won’t stimulate or irritate your digestive system
Be careful with alcohol, fizzy drinks, rich desserts and strong coffee after the meal
If you are feeling fine, don’t be tempted to overeat as this may effectively spoil what would otherwise have been a successful outing
Finally, remember that this is supposed to be an enjoyable occasion and not an ordeal so try to keep your spirits light and think pleasant thoughts

f you haven’t been out to a restaurant for some time because of IBS, then making the effort to go is the first step. IBS is very common affecting one in five people so you can take comfort from the fact that statistically, there is every likelihood that there are going to be other people in the restaurant feeling just like you.