December 10, 2025

Colostomy Diet Chart & Food List

Phase 1: First 1–2 Weeks After Surgery (Low-Residue, Easy-to-Digest Foods)

Your bowel is still healing. Choose soft, low-fiber foods that reduce gas and are gentle on digestion.

✔ Recommended Foods

Proteins

  • Eggs (scrambled, poached)
  • Tender chicken, turkey, or fish
  • Tofu
  • Smooth nut butters (small amounts)

Carbohydrates & Grains

  • White rice
  • White toast, white bread
  • Plain pasta
  • Low-fiber cereals (Cornflakes, Rice Krispies)
  • Potatoes (peeled, mashed, baked)

Fruits (limit to low-fiber)

  • Applesauce
  • Bananas
  • Canned peaches/pears (no skins)
  • Melon

Vegetables (well-cooked, no skins)

  • Carrots
  • Green beans
  • Squash
  • Zucchini
  • Beets

Dairy (if tolerated)

  • Yogurt
  • Low-fat milk
  • Cheese

Snacks

  • Crackers
  • Pretzels
  • Plain cookies

Phase 2: Weeks 2–8 (Gradual Reintroduction of Fiber)

Start adding new foods one at a time, watching how your body responds.

Slowly add:

  • Whole wheat bread
  • Brown rice (small amounts)
  • Peeled fruits
  • Well-cooked vegetables
  • Small amounts of soft raw vegetables (lettuce, cucumber without skin)
  • Beans or lentils (try very small portions at first)

If a food causes gas or irritation:

✔ Reduce portion size

✔ Try again in a few weeks

✔ Add it with other tolerated foods

Foods to Avoid for Now (First 4–8 Weeks)

These foods can increase gas, blockage risk, or pouch odor.

Blockage Risk Foods

  • Raw veggies (especially celery, carrots, broccoli stalks)
  • Corn
  • Popcorn
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Coconut
  • Dried fruit
  • Mushrooms
  • Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower (fibrous)

Gas-Producing Foods

  • Beans, lentils
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Onions
  • Broccoli, cabbage
  • Chewing gum (swallowed air)

Odor-Producing Foods

  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Garlic
  • Asparagus

Foods That May Increase Output

  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Fruit juices
  • Alcohol
  • Spicy foods
  • High-sugar drinks

Hydration: One of the Most Important Parts of Your Diet

A colostomy still puts you at risk for dehydration, especially if output is high.

Aim for:

  • 6–8 cups of fluids daily
  • A mix of water + oral rehydration drinks (e.g., Pedialyte, electrolyte solutions)

Signs of dehydration:

  • Dark urine
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue
  • Increased stoma output

Hydration Boosters

  • Broth
  • Soup
  • Electrolyte drinks
  • Salted crackers or pretzels

How to Eat: Practical Tips for Comfort and Digestion

✔ Eat 4–6 small meals instead of 2–3 large ones

✔ Chew food thoroughly—this prevents blockage

✔ Add new foods slowly

✔ Drink fluids 

between

 meals (drinking with meals may increase output)

✔ Add salt if output is high

✔ Keep a food diary to track your body’s responses

Special Situations & How to Respond

If output is too high (watery or frequent):

Eat more:

  • White rice
  • Bananas
  • Applesauce
  • Toast
  • Pasta
  • Potatoes
  • Peanut butter
  • Marshmallows

Limit:

  • Coffee
  • Juices
  • High-sugar drinks
  • Spicy foods
  • Alcohol

If output is too low or you feel constipated:

Increase:

  • Warm fluids
  • Oatmeal
  • Pears or prune juice (small amounts)
  • Cooked vegetables

Call your provider if:

  • There is no output for several hours and you have cramping or nausea.

Foods That Help Control Gas (Better Tolerance)

  • Yogurt
  • Peppermint tea (if tolerated)
  • Buttermilk
  • Parsley

Common-Sense Rule:

Try one new food at a time.

If it causes problems, wait a few weeks and try again in a smaller amount.