I’ve had my surgery. Now, what can I eat?
It's a completely understandable concern and one of my first thoughts lying in the hospital bed after my ileostomy surgery. I remember being handed a sheet of paper of the do’s and don’ts to eat and that was it. I felt overwhelmed. Surely, nutrition care after ostomy surgery was more important than that?
After surgery, food can suddenly feel confusing, overwhelming, and even scary. Your body now has to readjust and learn a new way of digesting foods. You may have been given a list of foods to avoid, heard conflicting advice online, or experienced discomfort after eating something you thought was "safe."
The good news is that most people with an ileostomy can eventually enjoy a varied and nutritious diet. The key is understanding how your digestive system has changed and taking a gradual approach as your body heals and it’s important to remember that your body will need time to adjust.
Nutrition in those initial weeks post surgery isn't just about eating enough—it's also about:
Supporting healing and recovery
Maintaining hydration
Preventing blockages
Managing stoma output
Rebuilding confidence around food
Lower-fibre foods are generally easier to digest and reduce the risk of food causing a blockage while your bowel is healing.
Examples include:
Carbohydrate foods
White bread
White rice
Pasta
Rice noodles
Crackers
Low-fibre cereals
Protein foods
Eggs
Chicken
Turkey
Fish
Lean mince
Tofu
Smooth nut butters
Dairy Foods
Milk
Yoghurt
Cheese
(If tolerated)
Fruits
Bananas
Canned peaches
Canned pears
Applesauce
Ripe melon
Vegetables
Well-cooked carrots
Pumpkin
Potato without skin
Sweet potato without skin
Zucchini without skin
Foods to Introduce Carefully
While there are very few foods that are permanently off-limits, some foods can be more difficult to digest, particularly in the early weeks.
These include:
Nuts
Seeds
Popcorn
Coconut
Corn
Raw vegetables
Fruit skins
Dried fruit
Mushrooms
This doesn't mean you'll never eat them again.
Many people with an ileostomy tolerate these foods perfectly well once they've healed and introduced them gradually.
