A To Your Q: Can I still enjoy eating holiday meals with an ostomy?
The holidays are coming quickly and so is the FOOD! While the season may be “the most wonderful time of the year,” it can also be stressful for new ostomates who are getting reacquainted with eating. You may not know how your digestive system and stoma will react to new foods.
Don't let your ostomy stop you from enjoying holiday meals. You can still enjoy many of the traditional holiday meals but may need to make some adjustments. Here are three tips to help you relax and enjoy the holidays worry-free.
1. Start planning before the holidays.
Talk with your family and friends or whoever you will be spending the holidays with this year. Let them know your restrictions and discuss the menu options.
Read labels and check the list of ingredients when food shopping. If you’re at the deli counter, ask questions to make sure you know exactly what is in the food you buy.
You may want to prepare a dish of your own, even if it’s not the “traditional” dish served at a holiday meal.
Don’t forget to carry along a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day and extra ostomy supplies if you’re traveling far from home.
2. Know what you can eat.
If this is your first year with an ostomy, a good rule of thumb is to stick with the same guidelines you were given after your ostomy surgery and avoid foods like dried fruits, nuts, corn, and mushrooms. Eat slowly, take small bites and chew your food well.
When it comes to choosing from dishes you didn’t prepare, you may want to stick with the obvious stuff and select foods that are easy to chew, do not have seeds or skins and are not highly seasoned.
Eating at regular intervals several times throughout the day can help with digestion. To help keep portions smaller try using smaller plates, such as a salad or dessert plate.
Be cautious of casseroles because they may have hidden ingredients that could bother you. It’s ok to question people about what’s in the food they brought and/or made.
3. Find easy to chew and easy to digest recipe ideas.
There’s no reason to worry yourself over nuts, corn, or cabbage. With so many delicious soft food recipes available, ostomates can have a stress-free holiday meal. Here’s a list of 30 soft food examples:
1. Gravy without mushrooms
2. Mashed sweet or white potatoes without skins
3. Macaroni and Cheese
4. Steamed, skinless, seedless vegetables
5. Dinner rolls
6. Cranberry sauce
7. Pumpkin pie
8. Shortbread cookies
9. Bread pudding
10. Meatloaf
11. Cheese spread
12. Creamy polenta
13. Pudding
14. Risotto
15. Cooked rice
16. Butternut squash soup
17. Meatballs are quite tender
18. Cheesecake
19. Hummus
20. Cheesy rice balls
21. Smoothies
22. Mousse
23. Cauliflower mashed potatoes
24. Tofu
25. Fish
26. Cheesy mashed potato pancakes
27. Bone broth
28. Ravioli
29. Baked casseroles
30. Potato soup
For more helpful advice on eating and nutrition, the United Ostomy Associations of America has a convenient Ostomy Diet and Nutrition Guide and Ostomy Food Reference Chart.
This information is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted to contain treatment recommendations.
