The best cereals for a stoma are low in fiber and made from refined grains, like Cornflakes, Rice Krispies, Rice Chex, Cheerios, or Puffed Rice, as they help thicken output and are easier to digest. Avoid high-fiber whole-grain cereals, bran, muesli, and anything with nuts, seeds, or dried fruit to prevent blockages and manage output, especially with an ileostomy.
Non-fibrous cereals that do not contain nuts, seeds or fried fruit e.g. Rice Krispies®, Cocopops®, corn and frosted flake type cereals. Crackers without nuts, seeds or dried fruit chunks e.g. Digestives, cheese-flavoured crackers or 'Original Ryvita®'.
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.
Starchy foods
White bread, pasta (not wholemeal), white or basmati rice, cous-cous, chapattis, potato, yam, plantain, Rice Krispies®, Weetabix®, oats, cornflakes, maize based meals, millet, cornmeal, plain biscuits, and crackers. Easier for your intestine to absorb and thicken output.
Foods containing soluble fibre (like banana and oats) should be easier to digest and may be a good option; however too much of these can also produce lots of gas from the stoma and bloating, which can be awkward and uncomfortable.
Foods that may cause constipation or blockage:
Vegetables with skins or stalks such as celery, peas or sweetcorn. Fruit with skins, seeds, pips. Wholegrain cereal such as All Bran, Weetabix, porridge or muesli. Wholegrain or granary bread.
One line of reasoning used to argue oats aren't healthy is that eating them can lead to spikes in blood sugar (glucose). This seems to be linked to the rising use of glucose monitors by people who don't have diabetes.
Tips for eating with a stoma
Chinese food has been identified to potentially cause an increase in stool frequency, along with spicy foods, strawberries, corn, apple, wine, fried and spicy foods, bananas, some breads, potatoes, fruit and fruit juices and vegetables.
Lean protein sources, including eggs and egg whites, poultry, tofu, and fish, not only provide ample nutrition but also are good options when you have an ostomy bag. Protein foods don't need to take a long time to prepare. You can get a quick protein fix from the following foods: Greek yogurt.
Stoma dietary tips for the early days
You are likely to have lost weight following your surgery. It is important to increase your intake of calories, fat and protein to aid your body's healing process. In addition to your normal diet, you should look to include the following foods: Full fat milk and cheese.
Health benefits of baked beans
As well as soluble fibre, they also contain resistant starch, which is a type of fibre that passes further along the digestive system and helps to feed gut bacteria.
Bags are not drainable Usual use: 1-3 bags per day. Flushable bags only to be used on advice of bowel/stoma nurse. Colostomy bags (two piece systems) 30-90 bags + 15 flanges Bag – remove and discard after use. Flange – change every 2-3 days.
“Eating on an upset stomach may not sound appealing, but keep in mind that having certain foods can soothe your stomach and help you feel better sooner.” If your stomach is upset, Mills recommends eating: Warm cereals like Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice and oatmeal.
Here are some ways you can help minimise disruption from your output:
Safe and sensible snacks for ostomates
Low-Fiber Sweets: Opt for soft, plain candies like marshmallows, gummies, or chocolate (in moderation). Desserts: Plain cake, jelly, and puddings are good options for easy digestion.
Minimise your risk of food blockage by: Avoiding high-fibre foods: High-fibre foods can have difficulty passing through the intestine and exiting the stoma. Don't eat raw vegetables, coconut, corn, nuts, dried fruit, popcorn or other foods with lots of fibre.
Can you eat pizza with a stoma? There's no reason why you can't eat your favourite pizza when you have a stoma. Just be aware that greasy food in general can cause tummy upsets.
The low fibre versions are better tolerated so try white bread, breakfast cereals like rice krispies or cornflakes, white rice/pasta, and avoid skins on potatoes. These provide protein, vitamins and minerals which is essential for health and repair of body tissues.
Foods that are reported to help thicken the stoma output include apple sauce, bananas, buttermilk, cheese, marshmallows, jelly babies, (boiled) milk, noodles, smooth creamy peanut butter, rice, tapioca pudding, toast, potatoes and yoghurt.
Each person's tolerance for certain fluids may vary, so it's important to monitor how different fluids affect your ostomy output and overall hydration level.
Myth: Fish and sprouts cause more odour
It is true that some foods such as fish and sprouts produce more odour - but as the odour is concealed within your ostomy pouch, there is no reason to avoid eating things like fish or sprouts.
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
"Eggs and oatmeal can both be healthy breakfast options, but they offer very different benefits," says Natalie Rizzo, registered dietitian and TODAY nutrition editor. While eggs are packed with filling protein and nutrients like choline, "oatmeal delivers fiber and slow-digesting carbs," Rizzo says.
Oats are generally considered to be low in FODMAPs, making them a safe option for many with IBS. However, this depends on the portion size. A typical serving size of about 60 grams (dry weight) of oats is usually well-tolerated. Consuming larger quantities may increase the FODMAP load, potentially triggering symptoms.