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Ileostomy: Diet Guidelines

You will need to drink more liquids and eat a low fiber diet for 6 weeks after your surgery. This will help your bowel (intestine) to heal. You need to avoid high fiber foods because they may cause blockage of the ileostomy, diarrhea, gas and odor. You can probably start slowly eating high fiber foods again 6 weeks after surgery. Speak with your surgeon for additional direction.

Tips

  • If you have reduced appetite, eat smaller portions every 2 to 4 hours. Do not skip meals, as nutrition is important for healing.
  • Eat slowly and chew very well. This helps your body better digest and absorb food.
  • Everyone’s body reacts to food differently. If one food makes you feel sick, stop and try again in 2 to 3 weeks. It will take trial and error to find the foods your body agrees to.
  • Avoid spicy, fried, and oily foods if you do not feel well after eating these. Limit foods high in sugar as they may increase ileostomy output.
  • Do not drink liquids while you eat and for 30 minutes after eating. If you drink while you eat, your body cannot absorb the food as well.
  • If you have high or increased stool output, eat foods that may thicken it throughout the day. Some examples of these foods are bananas, applesauce, white rice, pasta, and marshmallows.
  • Do not chew gum, drink with a straw or drink carbonated beverages (such as soda, seltzer). These may cause a lot of gas.


Stay Hydrated
Drink at least 8 to 10 cups of liquid every day. Every time you empty your pouch, drink 1 cup of liquid to help replace fluids.

If you are sweating, vomiting or have high output in your pouch (ileostomy), you will need to drink more fluids. You may even need to drink an oral rehydration solution such as a children’s electrolyte solution. Some examples are Pedialyte, Gatorlyte, DripDrop, Liquid IV or coconut water with no added sugar. Here is the official World Health Organization (WHO) recipe to make your own simple oral rehydration solution:

  • Mix the following in a bottle or small pitcher:
    • 6 level teaspoons sugar
    • Half of a level-teaspoon of salt
    • 1 liter (about 4 cups) of clean drinking water (or boiled water then cooled)
  • Stir or shake until dissolved.

Symptoms of dehydration include: 

  • thirst
  • dry mouth
  • less or darker urine output
  • feeling weak and/or fainting muscle or belly cramps

 

Prevent Food Blockage

During the first 6 weeks after surgery, you can have problems with high fiber foods. This is because they will be difficult to pass through your bowel and hard to exit into the ostomy pouch. If you have cramping, belly pain along with watery stool or no ostomy output, you may have food blockage or bowel obstruction.

In order to prevent food blockage, we recommend that you: 

  • avoid eating high fiber foods
  • chew food very well
  • drink enough fluids after eating

 

If you think you have a food blockage and have mild symptoms:

  • Try a warm shower or bath to help relax the muscles in your abdomen (belly area)
  • You can also gently massage your abdomen. This relaxes the area and may be able to move the blockage (try sitting with knees towards the chest)

 

If you think you have a food blockage and have the following symptoms, contact your surgeon and go to the emergency department:

  • No output for 8 hours or longer
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stoma turns a dusky/dark or purple color
  • Cramping or abdominal pain (usually followed by increased watery output)
  • Distended (swollen) abdomen or swelling of the stoma/ostomy

 

Foods Recommended

Grains

  • White bread, white rice, egg or semolina pasta, refined grain cereals (such as cornflakes or rice cereal), cream of wheat, saltines. (Important note: Do not include foods with whole grains.)

Protein

  • Soft and well-cooked meat and chicken or turkey
  • Fish (may cause odor)
  • Smooth nut butter (no more than 1-2 tablespoon a day)
  • Eggs (may cause odor)
  • Tofu
  • Protein powders

Dairy (Try lactose-free or low fat products if you do not feel well after having dairy)

  • Milk
  • Soy or nut milk
  • Yogurt
  • Ice cream or sherbet
  • Cheese

Fruits

  • Applesauce
  • Ripe banana
  • Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe
  • Canned fruits (except for pineapple) in juice, not heavy syrup
  • 100% fruit juices without pulp (May need to dilute with water if you have diarrhea.)

Vegetables

  • Well-cooked vegetables (cooked enough to mash with a fork)
  • Potatoes without skin
  • Shredded iceberg lettuce
  • Strained fruit/vegetable juice (Do not have prune juice as it may increase your ostomy output)
  • Blended fruit/vegetable smoothies
  • Well-blended soups

Fats

  • All fat sources  but in very small quantities to avoid belly upset and diarrhea
  • Olive oil and canola oil are highly recommended. (These are heart healthy choices.)
  • Ripe avocado

Beverages

  • Water
  • Decaffeinated tea or decaffeinated coffee
  • Non-carbonated drinks
  • Rehydration drinks (refer to the examples above)

 

Foods NOT Recommended

  • Berries
  • Bran Cereal
  • Celery
  • Corn
  • Cucumber
  • Dried Fruit
  • Fruit skins
  • Granola
  • Green Peas
  • Mango
  • Mushroom
  • Oatmeal
  • Pineapple
  • Popcorn
  • Raw vegetables
  • Seeds and nuts
  • Shellfish
  • Tough meats (such as grilled steak)
  • Whole grains

 

©2023 NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.

Last Reviewed: 11/2023