About Food in the Making

Helping You Build Confidence Around Food Again

If you've ever stood in the grocery store wondering, "What can I actually eat?"—you're in the right place.

Living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, or another digestive condition can make food feel confusing. One person's "healthy" meal may trigger someone else's symptoms, and the constant stream of conflicting advice can leave you feeling frustrated and afraid to eat.

I created Food in the Making because I believe there's a better way.

This isn't about chasing the perfect diet or following endless food rules. It's about learning how your digestive system responds, discovering foods that help you feel your best, and building confidence one meal at a time.

My goal is simple: to help you spend less time worrying about food and more time enjoying life.

My Story

More than twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

Like many people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), I experienced years of flares, medications, hospital visits, uncertainty, and countless questions about what I should eat. At times, the future felt overwhelming. One gastroenterologist even advised me not to become pregnant because my disease was too severe.

Crohn's changed the course of my life in ways I never expected.

Over time, however, it also became one of my greatest teachers.

Through years of trial and error, research, conversations with healthcare professionals, and my own lived experience, I began to understand that digestive health isn't simply about avoiding foods. It's about learning what your body can tolerate, how preparation methods matter, when to introduce foods gradually, and how small, consistent changes can make everyday life easier.

Today, I'm happily married, a proud stepmom to three incredible adults, and "Grandma Cheryl" to two wonderful grandchildren. Life didn't unfold exactly as I once imagined—but it became beautiful in ways I couldn't have planned.

Food in the Making grew from that journey.

If something I've learned can help make your path a little easier, then sharing it is worth every minute.

What You'll Find Here

Food in the Making is a practical resource for people who want to nourish their bodies without feeling overwhelmed.

Here you'll find:

• Gut-friendly recipes made with everyday ingredients
• Grocery shopping guides that simplify difficult decisions
• A growing food library explaining how different foods may affect digestion
• Meal planning ideas for every stage of your journey
• Cooking techniques that can make foods easier to tolerate
• Tips for introducing foods thoughtfully and building confidence over time
• Encouragement from someone who understands the challenges of living with digestive disease

Everything I create is designed to answer one question:

"How can I make eating feel easier today?"

My Approach

Digestive health is incredibly personal.

No single way of eating works for everyone, and there's still much to learn about why digestive diseases develop. Research continues to explore the roles of inflammation, the gut microbiome, the intestinal barrier, genetics, immune function, food intolerances, stress, and other factors.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all answers, I focus on practical strategies that many people find helpful:

• Choosing foods that are often easier to digest
• Preparing foods in ways that support comfort and tolerance
• Introducing new foods gradually
• Paying attention to your body's unique responses
• Building a sustainable way of eating that works for your life

My perspective has been shaped by living with Crohn's disease for more than two decades, by studying approaches to digestive nutrition—including the work of Dr. Sidney Haas—and by following emerging research as our understanding of gut health continues to evolve.

You'll often notice that many of the foods and recipes I recommend overlap with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). Those principles have influenced my journey, but Food in the Making is about something broader: helping you discover a way of eating that supports your own digestive health with curiosity, flexibility, and hope.

Nothing on this website replaces personalized medical advice. I encourage you to work with your physician or registered dietitian when making significant changes to your diet or treatment plan.

Why Food in the Making?

When I first became sick, I didn't just need recipes.

I needed someone to walk beside me.

Someone to explain why one food felt fine while another didn't.

Someone to help me read ingredient labels without feeling overwhelmed.

Someone to show me how to stock a pantry, plan meals, navigate grocery stores, and slowly rebuild confidence around food.

That's the resource I couldn't find.

So it's the resource I'm building now.

Food in the Making is growing into a place where practical guidance meets compassion—where you can learn at your own pace and always be reminded that progress matters more than perfection.

Start Here

If you're new here, I'd love to help you get started.

Download my Free Gut-Friendly Grocery Guide, where I'll walk you through foods that many people find easier to digest, pantry essentials, label-reading tips, grocery shopping strategies, and simple ways to build meals with confidence.

It's the guide I wish someone had handed me when I was first diagnosed.

Welcome

If you're navigating digestive disease, know this:

You are not failing because food feels difficult.

Healing is rarely a straight line. There will be good days, setbacks, questions, and victories that only someone who's lived this journey truly understands.

No matter where you are today, there are still foods to discover, meals to enjoy, and confidence to rebuild.

I'm honored you're here, and I hope Food in the Making becomes a trusted companion on your journey toward feeling better—one meal at a time.

Welcome to Food in the Making.

— Cheryl Cich

What You'll Find Here

Gut-Friendly Recipes

Grocery Guides

 Food Library

 Meal Planning

Living with Digestive Disease

Encouragement

My Philosophy

Helping You Find What Works for Your Digestive System

If there's one thing I've learned after more than two decades of living with Crohn's disease, it's this:

Digestive health is rarely one-size-fits-all.

Two people can eat the same meal and have completely different experiences. A food that feels nourishing for one person may cause discomfort for another. Even your own tolerance can change over time as your digestive system heals, your health changes, or your medications change.

That's why I don't believe in chasing the latest food trend or promising a miracle diet.

Instead, I believe in learning how your body responds to food—and giving it the support it needs to thrive.

My approach is built on a few simple principles:

Start with foods that are often easier to digest.

When your digestive system is under stress, beginning with gentle, nourishing foods can help build a strong foundation. As tolerance improves, many people can expand the variety of foods they enjoy.

Pay attention to preparation as much as ingredients.

How a food is prepared can be just as important as the food itself. Cooking methods, texture, ripeness, and portion size can all influence how well a food is tolerated.

Introduce change gradually.

Adding one new food or making one small adjustment at a time makes it easier to recognize what works well for your body and what may need more time.

Focus on possibilities, not restrictions.

Rather than concentrating on the foods you can't eat, I want to help you discover the many foods you can enjoy. Building confidence around food starts by creating satisfying meals from ingredients that help you feel your best.

Stay curious.

Digestive health is an evolving field. Researchers continue to study the roles of the gut microbiome, the intestinal lining, inflammation, genetics, immune function, food intolerances, and many other factors that influence digestive disease. As our understanding grows, so should our willingness to learn.

Food in the Making reflects that mindset. My recommendations are shaped by decades of personal experience, respected clinical approaches to digestive nutrition, and current scientific research, while recognizing that no single explanation or eating pattern fits everyone.

Above all, I believe food should bring hope—not fear.

My goal isn't to give you another list of rules.

It's to give you practical tools, trustworthy information, and the confidence to make food choices that support your health, your lifestyle, and your unique digestive journey.

Connect with Cheryl

I love hearing from my readers, you're what inspires me every day! Send me a jingle here and I'll get back to you right away.