Can You Eat Ground Beef with Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is a common digestive disease that affects over 10% of adults over the age of 40. It occurs when small pouches called diverticula form in the wall of the colon. When these pouches become inflamed or infected, it leads to the condition known as diverticulitis.

This painful disease often requires following a special diet to help manage symptoms and prevent future flare-ups. Since ground beef is a staple food for many people, you may be wondering if you can still eat ground beef with diverticulitis.

In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about eating ground beef with diverticulitis including general guidelines, cooking tips, portion sizes, and the best ways to incorporate it into an appropriate diverticulitis diet.

What is Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula in the colon become inflamed Diverticula form when weak spots in the intestinal lining bulge outward and create small pouches

These pouches are common in the large intestine and affect over half of all people over 50. However, only about 10-25% of people with diverticula actually develop diverticulitis.

Symptoms of a diverticulitis flare-up include:

• Left lower abdominal pain
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Mild cases can be treated with rest, antibiotics, and a liquid diet. Severe cases may require hospitalization and possibly surgery.

Diverticulitis is often triggered by eating very small seeds, corn, nuts, or popcorn that can get lodged and infect the diverticula. Obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, and constipation are other risk factors.

Now let’s look specifically at whether ground beef is allowed when you have diverticulitis.

Is Ground Beef Allowed on a Diverticulitis Diet?

The diverticulitis diet focuses on eating foods that are easily digested and leave minimal undigested particles. This helps prevent further infection or irritation of the diverticula.

Ground beef that has been cooked thoroughly into crumbles can be tolerated and properly digested by most people with mild to moderate diverticulitis.

Ground beef is a good source of protein, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. When prepared appropriately, it can be included in a diverticulitis diet.

However, you may need to avoid or limit ground beef during an active flare-up when your symptoms are severe. Stick to a clear liquid diet and only introduce soft, low-fiber foods as you start to recover.

Here are some general guidelines for eating ground beef with diverticulitis

• Cook until well-done and crumbled
• Limit portion to 1⁄2 cup per meal
• Avoid spicy seasonings or peppercorn
• Don’t eat if you have an active flare-up
• Choose extra lean (at least 90%)
• Mix with eggs, rice, pasta, etc.

Next, let’s look more closely at how to buy and cook ground beef properly for diverticulitis.

Purchasing Ground Beef for Diverticulitis

When purchasing ground beef, there are a few things to keep in mind for diverticulitis:

Choose at least 90% lean – Extra lean ground beef with only 10% fat content or less is ideal. The more fat content, the harder it will be to digest.

No chunks or pieces – Opt for finely ground crumbles with no visible chunks or pieces of meat throughout.

Fresh, not frozen – Make sure the ground beef is fresh, rather than frozen. Freezing can damage the texture.

Grass-fed or organic – Grass-fed and organic beef tends to be easier to digest than conventional grain-fed beef.

No added seasonings – Avoid pre-seasoned ground beef with peppers, garlic or other spices. Add your own mild seasonings later.

Following these simple guidelines when buying ground beef sets you up for success cooking it to be gentle on your diverticulitis.

Cooking Tips for Ground Beef with Diverticulitis

The way you prepare and cook ground beef makes a big difference in how well it is tolerated with diverticulitis. Here are some key cooking tips:

• Cook thoroughly until crumbled and no pink remains
• Avoid pan frying or deep frying beef
• Saute over medium-low heat to avoid searing
• Don’t let the beef get too crispy or develop a crust
• Add a little broth or water to cook it gently
• Season with just a pinch of salt and mild herbs
• Skip hot sauces, black pepper, chili powder, etc.
• Combine with gentle veggies like carrots, spinach, zucchini
• Add to pasta, rice dishes, soup, or scrambled eggs

Taking care to thoroughly but gently cook ground beef without over-browning will make it easier to digest. The more well-done, the better.

How Much Ground Beef to Eat with Diverticulitis

It’s important to watch your portion sizes with ground beef and all high-protein foods when you have diverticulitis.

Here are some suggested serving size guidelines:

• Limit to 4-6 oz cooked ground beef per day
• Stick to 1⁄2 cup or less per meal
• Only eat ground beef once per day maximum
• Have it just 2-3 times per week, not daily
• Fill your plate mostly with veggies, rice, pasta, etc.
• Use ground beef as a side, not the main portion of the meal

Avoid eating large portions of ground beef at one time. Spread it out into a few small servings throughout the week. Pair it with grains or cooked veggies which are gentler on your diverticulitis.

Best Ways to Eat Ground Beef with Diverticulitis

Here are some of the top ways to healthfully incorporate ground beef into a diverticulitis diet:

Tacos – Serve a spoonful or two of ground beef with rice, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and cheese in corn tortillas. The extra ingredients help dilute the meat.

Stuffed peppers – Mix cooked ground beef with rice and veggies then stuff into roasted bell peppers. The soft pepper and rice make it easy to digest.

Meatballs – Form extra lean ground beef into mini meatballs and simmer in a tomato or broth-based soup. Start with just 1-2 meatballs at a time.

Spaghetti Bolognese – Add a few tablespoons of cooked ground beef crumbles to a larger portion of cooked spaghetti tossed in marinara sauce.

Haystacks – Layer rice, refried beans, lettuce, cheese, guacamole, salsa, and just a spoonful of ground beef on crispy corn chips.

Eggs – Combine a small amount of cooked ground beef into scrambled eggs or an omelet with veggies and cheese.

Salads – Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of ground beef on top of a mixed green or spinach salad with other toppings like chickpeas, nuts, or avocado.

Buddha bowls – Create a bowl with rice, roasted veggies, hummus, nuts or seeds, sliced avocado, and a sprinkling of cooked ground beef.

These creative recipes allow you to still enjoy the flavor of ground beef as part of an overall balanced, diverticulitis-friendly meal.

Tips for Handling Leftover Ground Beef

One question that often comes up is whether leftover ground beef is okay to eat with diverticulitis. Here are some tips:

• Store in airtight container for up to 3 days
• Add to soups, stews, chili, pasta sauces
• Use in casseroles or shepherd’s pie
• Make meatballs and simmer in tomato sauce
• Sauté with eggs for breakfast
• Avoid eating cold directly from fridge
• Reheat thoroughly until steaming hot

The key is to always reheat leftover ground beef very thoroughly until piping hot. Cold, dense meat straight from the fridge is hard to digest. Repurposing it into comforting casseroles, stews, or pasta dishes makes it easier to tolerate.

When to Avoid Ground Beef with Diverticulitis

While ground beef is generally fine in moderation for mild or moderate diverticulitis under good control, there are times you may need to avoid it:

• During a flare-up – Stick to clear liquids only
• If you’ve had diverticulitis surgery – Follow post-op diet
• If you have strictures or narrowed areas of the colon
• If you have chronic, severe, or recurring diverticulitis
• If you experience pain, bloating, diarrhea after eating it
• If you have other digestive conditions like IBS, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis

Listen to your body and avoid ground beef or any high-fat, harder to digest foods at times when your diverticulitis symptoms are active. As you heal, introduce it back in small portions.

The Bottom Line

Most people with mild to moderate diverticulitis can tolerate moderate portions of ground beef that are prepared properly and combined with gentler ingredients. Cook ground beef thoroughly until crumbled, go for extra lean varieties, limit portion sizes, and avoid it during flare-ups.

Ground beef can fit into an overall balanced diverticulitis diet when handled carefully. However, diversion-friendly proteins like chicken, fish, eggs, and plant proteins may be better options if ground beef causes you digestive discomfort. Work closely with your doctor or nutritionist to personalize diet choices that improve your unique symptoms.