I was fortunate to have received quite a bit of information about what foods to eat (and avoid) following my ileostomy surgery. The information was quite important because it was aimed to not only prevent dehydration but also to avoid potential blockages.

Because our stoma swells up after surgery, we can’t eat meals that would be hard to pass through that swollen stoma.

Knowing how to reduce the risk of blockages is important (saving you a trip from the ER!).

Disclaimer: Your doctor or stoma nurse should be able to provide recommendations during this initial healing period. The usual time on this post-op diet is 6 weeks, but your surgeon may require you to be on it longer (or shorter) depending on your progress. This post focuses on ileostomy post-operative care based on my own experience. Many of the foods and suggestions that are given would apply to colostomies too.

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Dietary Goals for the First 6 Weeks

Maintain adequate hydration and electrolyte balance.

Maintain adequate hydration and electrolyte balance. Avoid foods that are likely to cause blockages. These are often high-fiber or high-residue foods.

Avoid foods that are likely to cause blockages. These are often high-fiber or high-residue foods. Avoid food/beverages that increase output too much.

Avoid food/beverages that increase output too much. Learn to chew! Practice mindful eating.

Learn to chew! Practice mindful eating. Eat smaller meals throughout the day.

Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Keep nutrition high. Vitamins, minerals, and protein will help you heal.

Keep nutrition high. Vitamins, minerals, and protein will help you heal. Eat enough to maintain a healthy weight (or to increase it if you’re underweight).

Food to Eat and Avoid

Here’s a list of common foods that are deemed “safe” to eat following surgery, as well as common foods that should be avoided during the healing phase. I’ve compiled this list from various sources, but I’ve tailored it in a way that substitutes animal products; this means that anyone will be able to make use if this list.

Beverages

Beverages:

When it comes to avoiding blockages, just about every beverage is “safe”.

When it comes to avoiding blockages, just about every beverage is “safe”. A guide to keeping hydrated can be found HERE. Beverages to AVOID:

Some drinks may increase output (alcohol, certain fruit juices, coffee, cola, etc.) or produce more gas (carbonated drinks). Keep track of the ones that do, and avoid them.

Some drinks may increase output (alcohol, certain fruit juices, coffee, cola, etc.) or produce more gas (carbonated drinks). Keep track of the ones that do, and avoid them. Alcohol should be avoided during this period, not only to help avoid dehydration but also because you may be taking pain meds which may interact negatively with alcoholic beverages.

Grains

Grain products to INCLUDE: Bread, including pita bread, flatbread, and wraps

Bread, including pita bread, flatbread, and wraps Pasta, noodles, vermicelli, couscous

Pasta, noodles, vermicelli, couscous White rice

White rice Cereal (not whole grain), including oatmeal.

Cereal (not whole grain), including oatmeal. Cookies, oatmeal cookies

Cookies, oatmeal cookies Crackers Grain products to AVOID: Any products that have whole grains, seeds, dried fruit, bran or added fiber.

Any products that have whole grains, seeds, dried fruit, bran or added fiber. Brown and wild rice

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables to INCLUDE:

Vegetable juice (like V8) are excellent. Carrot juice and tomato juice on their own are great too.

Vegetable juice (like V8) are excellent. Carrot juice and tomato juice on their own are great too. Apple sauce, well-cooked apples (without the skin).

Apple sauce, well-cooked apples (without the skin). Canned fruits and veg (I found canned peaches, canned carrots, canned green beans and canned beets worked really well).

Canned fruits and veg (I found canned peaches, canned carrots, canned green beans and canned beets worked really well). Most smooth baby food (don’t laugh, this one can help a lot!).

Most smooth baby food (don’t laugh, this one can help a lot!). Bananas, plantains.

Bananas, plantains. Cooked veg are usually fine as long as they are soft (no skins, no seeds).

Cooked veg are usually fine as long as they are soft (no skins, no seeds). Tomato sauce (without seeds).

Tomato sauce (without seeds). Potatoes without the skin (mashed, boiled, microwaved, steamed, baked).

Potatoes without the skin (mashed, boiled, microwaved, steamed, baked). Sweet potatoes (without skin) and squash.

Sweet potatoes (without skin) and squash. Soups made from blended veg or broths.

Soups made from blended veg or broths. Avocados. Great to add over potatoes or as a spread.

Avocados. Great to add over potatoes or as a spread. Fruit jelly. Fruits and vegetables to AVOID: Generally speaking, harder to digest fruits and veg are to be avoided during this stage: Asparagus, raw beans, raw carrots, broccoli, cabbage (incl. sauerkraut, tomatoes, celery, etc.)

Asparagus, raw beans, raw carrots, broccoli, cabbage (incl. sauerkraut, tomatoes, celery, etc.) Corn and corn products.

Corn and corn products. Mushrooms (all types, even if they are canned)

Mushrooms (all types, even if they are canned) Grapes, whole apple, pineapple, whole mango, etc.

Grapes, whole apple, pineapple, whole mango, etc. Dried fruits.

Dried fruits. Fruit jam (with seeds).

Fruit jam (with seeds). Greens (spinach, lettuce, bok choy, kale).

Greens (spinach, lettuce, bok choy, kale). Skins of fruits and vegetables.

Skins of fruits and vegetables. Seeds in fruits and vegetables.

Seeds in fruits and vegetables. Coconuts (even shredded).

Non-Dairy Products

Dairy alternatives:

Non-dairy milk (soy, almond, hemp, coconut, rice, etc.).

Non-dairy milk (soy, almond, hemp, coconut, rice, etc.). Non-dairy yogurt.

Non-dairy yogurt. Non-dairy cheese.

Non-dairy cheese. Sorbet or non-dairy ice cream.

Avoid any of these products if they have fruit pieces in them (i.e. in yogurt).

Protein-Rich Foods

Protein-rich foods to INCLUDE: Tofu.

Tofu. Seitan (wheat gluten); ease into this one if you haven’t had it before.

Seitan (wheat gluten); ease into this one if you haven’t had it before. Most mock meat products are safe, high in protein, fortified with vitamins and minerals and taste great.

Most mock meat products are safe, high in protein, fortified with vitamins and minerals and taste great. Smooth nut and seed butter (almond, peanut, sunflower seed, cashew, etc.).

Smooth nut and seed butter (almond, peanut, sunflower seed, cashew, etc.). Hummus (avoid whole chickpeas).

Hummus (avoid whole chickpeas). Many of the non-dairy products are high in protein. Protein-rich foods to AVOID:

Chunky nut/seed butter, whole nuts, and seeds.

Chunky nut/seed butter, whole nuts, and seeds. Legumes including Adzuki beans, black beans, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, mung beans, whole soybeans (including edamame).

Legumes including Adzuki beans, black beans, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, mung beans, whole soybeans (including edamame). Tempeh.

Fats and Oils

While these are usually foods to avoid for optimal health, they can be a source of much-needed calories during recovery and can help make bland foods more palatable.



Vegan margarine.

Vegan margarine. Vegan mayo.

Vegan mayo. Oils are considered “safe” for new ileostomates, but olive and flax oil are the healthiest of the bunch.

Oils are considered “safe” for new ileostomates, but olive and flax oil are the healthiest of the bunch. Coconut oil can be used to cook with, or as a spread on bread.

Other Foods and Supplements

Other foods and supplements that may be INCLUDED: Protein powder may offer some benefits if you aren’t able to eat enough during the day. For my recovery, I went with THIS product.

Protein powder may offer some benefits if you aren’t able to eat enough during the day. For my recovery, I went with product. Your doctor may recommend a multivitamin during the recovery phase; when choosing one, be sure that it’s not a slow-release version, or it may pass through your system without being fully absorbed. More info HERE .

Your doctor may recommend a multivitamin during the recovery phase; when choosing one, be sure that it’s not a slow-release version, or it may pass through your system without being fully absorbed. More info . Most condiments, like ketchup, vinegar or mustard are safe.

Most condiments, like ketchup, vinegar or mustard are safe. While candies are generally safe, they are empty calories.

While candies are generally safe, they are empty calories. Potato chips are usually well tolerated and can provide both sodium and calories, but will also help slow down your output. Other foods and supplements to AVOID: Avoid condiments and garnishes with seeds or chunks (certain mustard, relish, olives, some salsa, etc.)

Avoid condiments and garnishes with seeds or chunks (certain mustard, relish, olives, some salsa, etc.) Popcorn and corn chips should be avoided.

Popcorn and corn chips should be avoided. Artificial sweeteners may increase output, so keep an eye out when consuming “sugar-free” or “low-calorie” products.

Pro Tips

If you have access to a Registered Dietitian that understands the challenges of having an ostomy (or IBD), you’ll be able to get a personalized meal plan through them. Here is an article I wrote about how to find a dietitian HERE .

. Try to have a variety of foods to make sure that you’re balancing nutrients.

Keep a food diary to monitor effects of certain food or drink, then adjust your diet accordingly.

Keep snack foods close by if you aren’t feeling well enough to cook or you don’t have any help following surgery.

Log your food intake so you can track calories and nutrients. I’ve used and still recommend CRON-o-meter.

If pouch odor is a concern for you, I’ve put together a handy guide on controlling it HERE .

. When you’ve received the OK to start a normal diet, try new foods slowly so you can test to make sure they are passing through your stoma without trouble. Most people will be able to continue eating healthfully with only a few (if any) limitations.

The following foods and beverages can cause a dramatic change in your output’s consistency. You’ll likely be able to catch the culprit within hours of consuming them: Coffee or tea Sport drinks Soda/Pop/Soft drinks (both diet and regular ) Fruit juices Chocolate Certain fruits (for me it’s cherries) Artificial sweeteners Alcoholic beverages (especially wine) Fried foods Hot/spicy foods Non-vegan foods like dairy (or other lactose-containing food, if lactose intolerant)



Further Reading

Done your recovery? See what’s on the menu past your initial six weeks HERE .

. To see what I was eating shortly after my surgery (along with nutritional profiles of those meals), please refer to THIS from approx. 2 weeks post-op, and THIS post from approx. 3.5 weeks post-op.

from approx. 2 weeks post-op, and post from approx. 3.5 weeks post-op. For more ideas on what foods to eat when eating is difficult, check out THIS article.

article. For ways to enhance nutrient absorption, consider reading THIS article.

QUESTION: Do you have any tips to share?