This page gives information about food and drink which may affect your ileostomy output. Having an ileostomy does not mean you have to completely change your eating and drinking habits. You should be able to eat a varied, balanced diet.
If the output from your ileostomy becomes watery or more liquid, here are some foods that can help thicken the stool.
Certain starchy foods such as:
- potatoes (no skin)
- white bread
- white pasta
- white rice (boiled / steamed)
- bananas
- low fibre cereal (e.g. Rice Krispies®)
Soluble fibre:
- porridge
- Ready brek®
Other:
- crisps
- smooth peanut butter
- bananas
- white toast
- cheese (mild)
- applesauce
- tapioca pudding
- marshmallows
- noodles (not wholemeal)
Laxative effect: beer / chocolate (in large amounts) / citrus fruit
Stimulants: caffeine / chocolate (in large amounts) / alcohol
Irritants: spicy foods / chillies
High fibre: fresh fruit (except bananas) / raw vegetables / pulses
Other fruits and vegetables: broccoli / grapes (or grape juice) / prunes (or prune juice) / green beans / spinach
- bran
- celery
- citrus fruit
- Chinese vegetables
- coconut
- coleslaw (raw cabbage)
- nuts
- mushrooms
- popcorn
- dried fruit (e.g. raisins)
- Food with non-digestible peels (such as apples, potatoes with skin and grapes)
- corn
- grape skins
- pineapple
- potato skins
- popcorn
- celery
- nuts
- rhubarb
- tomato skin
- mangetout
- sugar snap peas
- mushrooms
- dried fruit
- asparagus
- beansprouts
- bamboo shoots
- lettuce
- pith on citrus fruit
- any tough meat
- beer
- beans
- spinach
- broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- corn
- asparagus
- broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- eggs
- fish
- garlic
- onions
- some spices
- cucumbers
- fizzy drinks
- mushrooms
- Take time over your meals and chew food well.
- Eat regular small meals rather than one large one.
- Introduce new foods gradually.
- Reintroduce new foods at a later date.
- Avoid eating too much at one meal.
- Add salt to you diet in the days after your operation when you have a liquid output.
- Drink plenty of fluid throughout the day but avoid drinking a large amount with meals).
- Starchy foods should generally make up one third of your food intake.
It may be a good idea to make keep a record of any food that upsets you so that you can leave it out of your diet for two to three weeks and then try it again.
In an emergency, if you feel acutely dehydrated, your stoma nurse or doctor may recommend an oral rehydration solution such as Dioralyte™ but this should not be taken regularly without medical advice.
UCLH Macmillan Cancer Information Centre
Address: UCLH Macmillan Cancer Centre, Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6AG
Direct line: 020 3447 8663
Switchboard: 08451 555 000 / 020 3456 7890 ext. 78663
E-mail: uclh.
There are a number of other organisations which provide information and support to patients and carers (UCLH cannot accept responsibility for information provided by other organisations):
Macmillan Cancer Support
Telephone: 0808 808 0000 (Monday to Friday, 09:00-20:00)
Beating Bowel Cancer
Telephone: 0845 970 1301
E-mail: nurse
Ileostomy Association
Telephone: 0800 018 4724
E-mail: info
UCLH cannot accept responsibility for information provided by other organisations.
Stoma Care Nurses (Monday to Friday 08:00-16:00)
Direct line: 020 3447 9182
Switchboard: 08451 555 000 / 020 3456 7890, ext. 791823
Mobile: 07961 959 505
E-mail: uclh.
Colorectal Cancer Nurses (Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00)
Direct line: 020 3447 9188
Switchboard: 08451 555 000 / 020 3456 7890 ext. 79188
E-mail: uclh.
Address: Colorectal Surgery Department, Ground Floor West, 250 Euston Road, London, NW1 2PG
If you have any concerns after discharge such as bleeding or abdominal pain, please contact your CNS. Outside regular office hours contact your GP and in case of an emergency contact your local emergency services
Page last updated: 11 June 2025
Review due: 01 June 2027