You must still include fibre in your diet. Choose some foods from the following list daily: Wholemeal bread. High fibre cereal e.g. Weetabix, porridge.
Applesauce, Bananas, Boiled white rice, Creamy nut butter (such as peanut butter), Oatmeal/porridge, Gelatin containing foods (jelly babies, marshmallows).
One major issue to watch out for with a stoma is the laxative effect of some chocolates. The caffeine and fibre within the chocolate can increase the rate of motility (which is the contraction of the muscles in the digestive tract that encourage bowel movements).
Foods to include in your diet
Low-fiber foods, such as: White bread, pasta, and rice. Bagels, rolls, and crackers made from white or refined flour. Cereals made from white or refined flour, such as Cream of Wheat®, Rice Chex™, and Rice Krispies®)
Eat 6 to 8 small meals or snacks daily, or every 2 to 3 hours. Include salty foods and snacks such as pretzels, saltine crackers, or potato chips to absorb water. of foods to limit). Avoid sugary beverages such as juice, lemonade, iced tea, or pop.
Eating and drinking with an ileostomy or colostomy
You should aim for a porridge-like consistency, which can be easier to manage. Some foods can cause stoma blockages, so should be avoided or eaten with caution.
Foods and drinks that can increase the wind passed by your stoma include beans, beer, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carbonated drinks, cauliflower, cucumber, eggs, fruit, green vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, onions, peas, spinach, sweet corn, fatty foods (pan- fried or deep-fried foods) and rich creamy foods.
Raw vegetables, including salad e.g. lettuce, celery, raw bell-peppers and spring onions. Hard to digest vegetables, including beans like butter beans or green/runner beans, sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms, cabbage, brussel sprouts, spinach, kale and spring greens.
Roast potatoes – enjoy as is. Yorkshire Pudding – enjoy as is. Roasted root vegetables e.g., parsnips and carrots, neeps and tatties: peel them, cook them until soft and enjoy with your favourite flavourings such as honey and spices.
Avoid drinks that cause bloating
There are certain alcoholic beverages which can cause bloating and ballooning of stoma bags. These include lager, beer, prosecco and any other fizzy alcoholic drinks.
Other foods that colostomy patients tolerate well are bananas, tapioca, sticky white rice, and white toast. Small quantities of lean animal proteins are also beneficial.
You can eat whatever you want if you have an ostomy
If you have a colostomy or ileostomy, you'll find that various foods affect your digestive tract differently. Just as some foods gave you gas before your surgery, you'll likely experience gas with certain foods now that you have an ostomy.
In general, people with an ostomy can eat and drink what they want unless the surgeon or ostomy therapist has given counter-advice. But as before the surgery some food may be easier to digest than others – and right after surgery it may be helpful to pay some extra attention to the signals from your body.
Skin irritation around your stoma is usually caused by leakage from your ostomy pouch and the output from your stoma getting underneath the adhesive and onto your skin. It is uncomfortable and can stop your pouch from working well. The skin around your stoma should look similar to the skin on the rest of your body.
Spicy foods, some particular vegetables (onions, cabbages, peas, and beans) and fizzy drinks have been known to increase wind, so we would recommend avoiding these in your diet. We would also recommend not drinking with your meal if you are experiencing ballooning, as this can also cause you to swallow excess air.
What CAN you eat? There are lots of low-residue desserts, including angel food cake, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, pumpkin pie, lemon bars, ice cream, pudding, canned fruit, etc.
Aim to drink 8 glasses/mugs of fluid a day (preferably water). Other helpful ways to stay hydrated include: isotonic or full sugar fizzy drinks (allowed to go flat), sucking on ice chips and eating lollies made from juices.
Eat more fibre-rich foods, such as wholemeal pasta and bread, porridge. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. Drink plenty of fluids and ensure you maintain a constant level of hydration.
A guide to foods not to eat when you have a colostomy bag
Stay away from these foods when you've recently had colostomy surgery: Dairy products, with the exception of small amount of yogurt. Fried food or any fatty meats, including potato chips.
Fizzy drinks will increase the amount of wind that you pass in your ileostomy or colostomy pouch. It is likely to make your stoma more vocal and can cause ballooning of the pouch. To reduce this avoid fizzy drinks or drink them in moderation.
Diet after Ostomy
Avoid spicy, fried, or sugary foods. If you experience loose or runny stools, try eating the following foods that may thicken stools: banana, applesauce, pasta, potatoes, tapioca, rice, smooth peanut butter, or cheese.