Seasonal eating during the holidays is typically a joyous time filled with tradition, family, and friends. However, for those living with an ostomy, it can also come with unique challenges. Sometimes, it feels challenging to navigate ostomy care when you're frequenting parties with rich holiday dishes and dealing with near-freezing temperatures, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Having the right ostomy supplies and being strategic about your nutrition can make a world of difference. Here, we'll explore more practical tips for safe and enjoyable seasonal eating during winter, holiday gatherings, and more.
Quick Overview: Seasonal and Holiday Eating with an Ostomy
The holiday season is a time for enjoying food, family, and fun, but it can also bring some challenges for those with an ostomy. With rich holiday dishes and seasonal produce, it’s important to navigate nutrition carefully. The right ostomy care, diet adjustments, and product choices can help ensure safe and enjoyable seasonal eating. Here's a breakdown of essential tips for eating with an ostomy during the holidays and colder months.
How Seasonal Foods Affect Ostomy Nutrition
- Ileostomy: Be cautious with high-fiber fruits and vegetables since the small intestine is sensitive to texture and bulk.
- Colostomy: Allows for a wider range of foods, but avoid tough skins, seeds, and raw vegetables.
- Urostomy: Similar to typical digestion, but stay mindful of hydration.
Holiday Eating Tips
- Stick to Your Usual Diet at home to avoid digestive issues.
- Choose Low-Fiber, Easy-to-Digest Staples like mashed potatoes, turkey, soft vegetables, and dinner rolls.
- Chew Food Well to prevent blockages.
- Eat Smaller Meals to avoid digestive strain.
- Build Your Plate Smartly: Stick to familiar foods and try small portions of new dishes.
- Avoid Trigger Foods like nuts, popcorn, raw veggies, and greasy dishes.
Hydration in Cold Weather
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily and sip warm fluids (herbal teas, broth).
- Limit alcohol and caffeine to avoid dehydration.
- Choose drinks with electrolytes to stay balanced.
If You Eat Something That Doesn't Agree with You
- Stick to safe foods (e.g., rice, bananas, mashed potatoes).
- Increase fluids and avoid heavy meals for the next day or two.
- Massage your abdomen gently if needed (with medical advice).
If You Eat Something That Doesn't Agree with You
- Stick to safe foods (e.g., rice, bananas, mashed potatoes).
- Increase fluids and avoid heavy meals for the next day or two.
- Massage your abdomen gently if needed (with medical advice).
Seasonal eating becomes especially important in the winter months and during holidays, when meals tend to be richer, heavier, and more complex. Festive spreads often include nuts, dried fruits, fibrous vegetables, and creamy dishes that may affect output or increase the risk of digestive discomfort. If you're not sure how these types of foods will affect your ostomy nutrition, talk to your physician or a registered dietitian to know what's best for your circumstances.
Tips for Holiday Eating with an Ostomy
The holidays are a special time, and regardless of when you had ostomy surgery, this season can be a bit tricky. However, we want you to feel empowered, not overwhelmed, which is why we've put together a few tips to navigate the various holidays. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Lohri, Winter Solstice, Thanksgiving, Makar Sankranti, or New Year's, there are a few strategic actions to help you feel your best.
Continue to Maintain a Balanced Diet
The holidays are often filled with parties and family gatherings, but it’s unlikely that you’ll eat every single meal out. To help you stay balanced throughout the season, stick to your regular diet when you're at home. This way, if you do deviate from your plan a bit, you'll be able to easily get back to your habits and help ensure that your digestion is prioritized. It can also help you stick to small portions of foods that may trigger gas or bloating, reducing their impact on your evening.
Choose Low-Fiber, Easy-to-Digest Holiday Staples
Holiday meals tend to be richer than everyday eating, but you can still enjoy the flavors of the season while staying mindful of your ostomy nutrition needs. Instead of avoiding festive foods altogether, focus on balance and gentle choices that support smooth digestion.
Lean toward low-fiber, soft-textured holiday staples, especially if you’re following a low-residue diet for an ostomy or are newly adjusting to life after surgery. Some ostomy-friendly winter and holiday dishes may include:
- Creamy mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- Roasted turkey or chicken (skin removed if needed)
- Stuffing without nuts, whole grains, or dried fruit
- Soft, well-cooked carrots, squash, or green beans
- Dinner rolls or soft breads
- Gravy (in moderation)
Seasonal eating becomes especially important in the winter months and during holidays, when meals tend to be richer, heavier, and more complex. Festive spreads often include nuts, dried fruits, fibrous vegetables, and creamy dishes that may affect output or increase the risk of digestive discomfort. If you're not sure how these types of foods will affect your ostomy nutrition, talk to your physician or a registered dietitian to know what's best for your circumstances.
Tips for Holiday Eating with an Ostomy
The holidays are a special time, and regardless of when you had ostomy surgery, this season can be a bit tricky. However, we want you to feel empowered, not overwhelmed, which is why we've put together a few tips to navigate the various holidays. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Lohri, Winter Solstice, Thanksgiving, Makar Sankranti, or New Year's, there are a few strategic actions to help you feel your best.
Continue to Maintain a Balanced Diet
The holidays are often filled with parties and family gatherings, but it’s unlikely that you’ll eat every single meal out. To help you stay balanced throughout the season, stick to your regular diet when you're at home. This way, if you do deviate from your plan a bit, you'll be able to easily get back to your habits and help ensure that your digestion is prioritized. It can also help you stick to small portions of foods that may trigger gas or bloating, reducing their impact on your evening.
Choose Low-Fiber, Easy-to-Digest Holiday Staples
Holiday meals tend to be richer than everyday eating, but you can still enjoy the flavors of the season while staying mindful of your ostomy nutrition needs. Instead of avoiding festive foods altogether, focus on balance and gentle choices that support smooth digestion.
Lean toward low-fiber, soft-textured holiday staples, especially if you’re following a low-residue diet for an ostomy or are newly adjusting to life after surgery. Some ostomy-friendly winter and holiday dishes may include:
- Creamy mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- Roasted turkey or chicken (skin removed if needed)
- Stuffing without nuts, whole grains, or dried fruit
- Soft, well-cooked carrots, squash, or green beans
- Dinner rolls or soft breads
- Gravy (in moderation)
Avoid Trigger Foods
Finally, if you have any known trigger foods, keep avoiding them during the holidays. The time of year isn’t going to change how your body reacts. Some of the most common triggers include things like:
- Nuts and nut-heavy desserts
- Popcorn
- Dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, dates)
- Raw vegetables such as celery, cabbage, or broccoli
- Tough fruit skins (apple, pear, grape skins)
- Corn
- Mushrooms
- Bean-based dips or soups
- Heavily spiced or greasy foods
- Thick, doughy breads or bagels
Hydration and Electrolyte Tips for Cold Weather
Staying hydrated is just as important during the winter as it is during the summer, but many people don't prioritize it as much. The cold weather doesn't make you feel dehydrated, and can trick you into thinking you're drinking enough since you don't feel as thirsty as you would during a hot summer day. However, when living with an ostomy, drinking plenty of water is just as important as maintaining a balanced diet. For those with an ileostomy in particular, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance can happen quickly, making winter hydration a key part of your overall ostomy nutrition.
Luckily, winter is a time for cozy beverages that help ignite the holiday spirit, and warm fluids are great for your digestion. Some tips to help you stay hydrated include:
- Aim for 8-10 glasses of water a day.
- Sip warm fluids throughout the day, like herbal tea.
- Add more broth-based soups to your meals for both hydration and comfort.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol at holiday parties, as they may increase stoma output and make it easy to get dehydrated quickly.
- Choose beverages that replenish electrolytes, such as oral rehydration solutions or electrolyte-enhanced drinks.
Just remember, while sports drinks are a good source of electrolytes, they can also have a ton of added sugar or other ingredients, so make sure you read the label to be sure.
What to Do If You Eat Something That Doesn’t Agree with You
Even with careful planning, it’s completely normal to occasionally eat something that doesn’t sit well. If you start to experience stoma complications like gas, unusual output, discomfort, or signs of a blockage, try not to panic. Many food-related issues resolve on their own once your digestive system has time to settle down. To help the process, consider the following:
- Return to “safe foods.” Choose gentle options like applesauce, white rice, bananas, white bread, mashed potatoes, or plain pasta to help calm your system.
- Increase fluids. Sip water, warm broth, or an electrolyte beverage to prevent dehydration, especially if output becomes loose or more frequent.
- Monitor your output. Take note of changes in consistency, odor, or frequency. This can help you identify patterns and avoid problematic foods in the future.
- Rest your digestive system. Slow down on heavy or high-fiber foods for the next meal or two until things normalize.
- Gently massage your abdomen (if recommended by your healthcare team) to help ease mild discomfort or gas buildup.
If symptoms worsen or don't go away on their own, contact your ostomy nurse or healthcare provider, especially if you suspect a blockage.
Regardless of the time of year, people with an ostomy can enjoy eating and drinking their favorite things; it just requires a bit of trial-and-error. Everyone is different, and the key is getting to know your body after recovering from surgery. With the proper stoma care and plenty of water, you can enjoy the festive foods and holiday treats. To help, Byram Healthcare carries high-quality ostomy products designed to help you live comfortably and confidently through holiday dinners, family get-togethers, and every season in between. Contact us today to learn more.
