Diet Guidelines for Colostomy

Milk and dairy

Include: Limit:
Non-fat (skim) or low-fat (1% or 2%) milk High fat milk and dairy products (whole milk,
Non-dairy milk (soy, almond) regular ice cream)
Powdered milk Milk and dairy products with lactose if you
Lactose-free dairy products have diarrhea after having them
Yogurt or lactose-free yogurt
Cheese or lactose-free cheese
Low-fat ice cream or sherbet
Eggs*

*start with a small amount, may cause a bad odor

Meats and protein

Include: Limit:
Lean animal proteins High-fat foods such as fried meat, poultry or
 Meat without visible fat fish
 Skinless poultry High-fiber foods such as dried or canned
 fish legumes (beans)
Nuts and nut butters*
Oral nutrition supplements**

*start with a small amount, may cause a bad odor

**choose low sugar versions if you have diarrhea

Grains
Include: Limit:
Low-fiber foods High-fiber foods
 White bread, pasta, rice, couscous,  Whole grains such as whole wheat
polenta bread, brown rice, bran cereal,
 Bagels, rolls, crackers, biscuits, quinoa, buckwheat
tortillas made from white or refined
flour
 Cereals made from white or refined
flour such as Cream of Wheat, Rice
Chex, Rice Krispies
Vegetables

Include: Limit:
Low-fiber foods High-fiber foods
 Well-cooked vegetables without skins  Raw vegetables (except lettuce)
or seeds (peeled potatoes, peeled
zucchini with seeds removed, peeled
tomatoes with seeds removed)
 Lettuce
 Strained vegetable juice

Fruits

Include: Limit:
Low-fiber foods High-fiber foods
 Pulp-free fruit juice (except prune  Raw fruit with the skin (apples,
juice and grape juice) strawberries, blueberries, grapes)
 Peeled fruit (peeled apple)  Prune juice
 Canned fruit (except pineapple)  Grape juice
 Fruits with thick skin (soft melon such
as watermelon and honeydew),
oranges without the membrane or
white part around each section, ripe
banana

Fats
Include: Limit:
Foods cooked with a small amount of fat High-fat foods such as fried foods
(such as olive or canola oil)

Drinks
Include: Limit:
Water Carbonated drinks (may cause gas)
 Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Drinks that are not carbonated
Sports drinks (Gatorade, PowerAde)

Managing common problems

Diarrhea and constipation

May cause loose stools: May help thicken bowel movements:
Alcohol (beer, wine) Applesauce
Bran Bananas
Broccoli Barley
Brussels sprouts Boiled white rice
Cabbage Cheese
Caffeinated drinks (especially hot drinks) Cream of rice
Chocolate Creamy nut butter
Corn Marshmallows
Foods with artificial sweeteners (mannitol, Mashed potatoes
sorbitol, xylitol) Oatmeal
Fried meats, fish, poultry Pasta
Fruit juices (prune, apple, grape, orange) Potatoes without the skin
Green leafy vegetables Pretzels
High-fat foods Saltine crackers
High sugar foods Tapioca
Legumes (dried or cooked beans) Weak tea
Licorice White bread
Milk and dairy products containing lactose Yogurt
Nuts or seeds
Peas
Spicy foods
Stone fruits (apricots, peaches, plums, prunes)
Sugar-free canned or dried fruits
Tomatoes
Turnip greens
Whole grains (such as wheat bread)

Gas or odor

May cause gas, odor, or both: May prevent gas, odor, or both:
Asparagus Buttermilk
Alcohol, especially beer Cranberry juice
 Apples Kefir
Bananas Parsley
Broccoli Tomato juice
Brussels sprouts Yogurt with active cultures
Cabbage
Carbonated drinks, such as soda
Cauliflower
Corn
Cucumber
Dried beans and peas
Eggs
Fatty foods
Fish
Garlic
Grapes
Green pepper
Leeks
Melons
Milk and dairy products containing lactose
Onions
Peanuts
Prunes
Radishes
Turnips

Blockage
May cause blockage if consuming large amounts:
Apple peel
Celery
Coleslaw
Corn
Dried fruits
Grapefruit
Meat casings
Mushrooms
Nuts
Peas
Pineapple
Popcorn
Salad greens
Seeds

Color changes
May change stool color:
Asparagus
Beets
Food colors (red)
Iron supplements
References:

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2019, February 14). Diet Guidelines for People with a
Colostomy. https://www.mskcc.org/pdf/cancer-care/patient-education/diet-guidelines-people-
colostomy

University of Wisconsin Health (2017, April). Colostomy and Ileostomy Diet Guidelines.
https://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/nutrition/293.pdf