Multidisciplinary IBD Nutritional Therapy (MINT Clinic)

We see children and teens with a confirmed diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who are interested in exploring how diet can support their treatment and overall health. 

Whether your child is newly diagnosed or has been managing IBD for years, our team can help determine if dietary therapy may be right for them. 

Our MINT Clinic is a first-of-its-kind IBD treatment program dedicated solely to dietary therapy. Families choose gastrointestinal care at Lurie Children’s because of our:  

• Comprehensive care model that integrates medicine, nutrition, and emotional support 
• Evidence-based therapies backed by research and clinical experience 
• Expert IBD team within our national-ranked Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 
• Family-centered care, where treatment plans are designed around each child’s needs and family routines 

Dietary therapy uses food as part of medical treatment for IBD. By adjusting what your child eats, we can help reduce inflammation, improve symptoms, and support healthy growth. 

Our team develops a personalized plan for each child—based on their diagnosis, nutrition needs, and family lifestyle. For some, diet may complement medication. For others, it may be used as a primary treatment approach. 

We guide families step-by-step, from planning and meal preparation to monitoring progress and making adjustments along the way. 

There isn’t one “right” diet for every child with IBD. Our clinic helps families explore several evidence-informed options that have been shown to support gut healing and reduce inflammation. These include: 

• Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN): A formula-based diet that replaces all regular food for a 6–12-week timeframe.  
  • Reverse EEN: A liquid whole-food-based diet that involves creating nutritionally complete smoothies in place of commercial formulas.
  • CD-TREAT: A restricted food-based version of EEN that uses solid foods instead of formula.  
• Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED): Removes specific foods from the diet and includes partial enteral nutrition (PEN). Contains three phases: elimination, reintroduction, and maintenance.  
• Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD): Limits specific carbohydrates (grains, cereals, certain starchy vegetables and most sugars) that may affect digestion and gut bacteria balance.  
• Autoimmune Protocol (AIP): A short-term elimination diet used to identify foods that may trigger inflammation. Contains three phases: elimination, reintroduction and maintenance.
• Anti-Inflammatory Diet (IBD-AID):  includes specific sources of carbohydrates, fruits/vegetables, and nuts/legumes. Contains three phases.
• Mediterranean Diet: Focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats for overall gut health.
• Tasty & Healthy: A flexible, child-friendly approach that blends therapeutic nutrition with practical family meals that are easy to enjoy and sustain. Meals are free of processed and packaged food, animal based fats (with the exception of yogurt), deep-fried foods, gluten and limited salt/sugar/honey.

Our registered dietitians work closely with each family to choose the right plan, adapt recipes, and ensure kids get the nutrition they need to thrive. 

During your first visit, you and your child will meet with our multidisciplinary team. Together, we’ll: 

• Assess your child’s medical history and current eating patterns
• Review pre-visit questionnaires related to eating patterns and styles
• Discuss different types of dietary therapy and what to expect
• Create a personalized nutrition plan that fits your family’s needs
• Identify and discuss barriers and strengths regarding nutritional therapy 

Follow-up visits help us track progress, adjust the plan as needed, and provide ongoing support to help your child stay on track.