Start with the version your IBD team prescribed
The AGA clinical practice update describes CDED as a possible therapy for selected people with relatively recent mild-to-moderate Crohn’s disease. The ECCO consensus summary distinguishes CDED with PEN from using CDED alone. Eligibility, protocol and monitoring require clinical guidance.
Ask for the written phase instructions, the required formula component and the review date. An online “allowed foods” list may omit quantities, required foods, preparation details or differences between protocols.
Make the record answer a practical question
| Record | Why bring it to review? |
|---|---|
| Current prescribed phase and dates | So everyone is referring to the same instructions. |
| Food, preparation and amount eaten | To clarify what actually happened rather than relying on a photo. |
| Formula intake in the team’s requested format | To discuss differences from the prescribed plan. |
| Symptoms, practical difficulties and questions | To decide what needs clinical review. |
Use a photo as the beginning of a record
Hara can help identify likely foods from a photo, but you should correct the draft. A photo does not reveal every ingredient in a sauce, the amount consumed or whether the meal matches a specific CDED phase. Keep the prescribed plan available when reviewing ingredients.
A useful request is: “Retrieve the lunches I recorded this week and help me list the details I need to check with my dietitian.” Asking Hara to organize those observations is different from asking it to certify protocol compliance.
Do not turn uncertainty into extra restriction
If you are unsure about a food, ask the team rather than adding another rule yourself. Tell them if the plan is difficult to follow or intake is falling. Follow their instructions for urgent symptoms; logging is not a prerequisite for care.
Review the next phase before changing it
Do not advance, extend or stop a phase because an app score or a few symptom-free days look reassuring. Your team decides when and how to assess response and adjust the plan. Hara’s records are supporting context, not a measure of intestinal inflammation.
Compare the separate EEN record workflow or see how an IBD dietitian can review patient-shared records.
Frequently asked questions
Can Hara tell me which foods are allowed in my CDED phase?
Hara is not a validated CDED phase checker. Use the written protocol from your IBD team and ask them about uncertain foods, preparation and quantities. AI food recognition cannot certify compliance.
Is CDED the same as EEN?
No. EEN uses formula as the sole source of nutrition, while CDED is a structured food-based approach commonly combined with partial enteral nutrition. Your clinical team selects and specifies the appropriate plan.
Can I use CDED advice as a UC treatment plan?
Do not apply a Crohn’s CDED protocol to ulcerative colitis yourself. Ask your IBD team which nutrition approach is appropriate for your diagnosis and circumstances.
Sources and editorial notes
Sources checked November 3, 2026. Hara Health makes Hara and publishes this guide. Examples illustrate a workflow, not clinical outcomes.
Keep the details for your next food question
Review your records and bring the questions that matter to your dietitian.