Ostomy Nutritional Advice and Diet Tips

Eating well is a big part of living life on your own terms. The good news: having a stoma should not stand in the way of enjoying good food.

There are no set dietary rules for people living with stomas. It may just take a bit of time to find out what works for you.

With the “OK” from your healthcare team, you can eat what you like, when you like. Here are some general guidelines:*

• Eat regularly
• Drink plenty of fluids
• To avoid blockages ¹,chew your food well
• Ask your ostomy nurse or a dietician if you need to take vitamins
• After surgery, try new foods one at a time, in small quantities. If there is a problem (such as gas), you can make simple adjustments that work for you.
• Most importantly, enjoy your food!

A cool, fruit smoothie can be a refreshing and nutritious snack. Try the recipe below:

Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:

1-2 cups frozen or fresh fruit (Try frozen raspberries, blueberries and blackberries)

1-3 bananas (optional)

1 heaping cup fresh spinach

1/2 cup ice -- if you like a very cold smoothie

1 cup liquid, more or less as needed.  (Try almond or coconut milk for extra summer punch.)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the blender. Blend up mixture adding liquid as needed to achieve smoothie consistency. It usually requires ~1 cup of liquid.

Serve and enjoy!  Or leave in the fridge for 3-4 days and drink as desired.

_{Note: This is not a substitute for professional nutritional advice. ConvaTec does not recommend an all-liquid diet; this smoothie is recommended as an addition to a balanced diet.}

_{For more specific guidelines based on your ostomy type, click below:^†}

• More Tips: Diet and Digestion
• After Ostomy Surgery: What to Eat
• What's on the menu? Eat with confidence.