Opinions on lettuce and tomatoes in burgers and tacos?

Just wanted to get some opinions on eating lettuce and tomatoes in hamburgers and tacos... Is it okay or don't do it... Please give me some advice...

Hello mdls1608. 

I'm sorry to inform you that there is no reliable 'advice' on what you can and cannot eat! We are all  different in the way that we digest different foods, so what might be okay for one person may not be okay for another. 

As for personal opinions; I would not eat any of the items you have listed, but that has nothing to do with a  stoma and more to do with my preferences. 

If I was to give 'advice', it would be to try whatever you 'like' in small doses to see what happens, and repeat the mantra of chew-chew then chew again.  Another thing to bear in mind is that our tastes change over time so you might like to re-try some of the those things that you thought you did not like before.

Don't let your stoma hold you back in any way, but simply be sensible.

Best wishes

Bill

I eat them all the time. 

Eat them all the time, although too much lettuce thins my output. In with a burger, no problem at all.

Absolutely agree, Bill. Great advice! Lettuce is pretty much a "no can do" for me, but as you say, others may be fine with it.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hi M, I had a fat burger off the grill with tomato on it yesterday, but I made sure I chewed it well. Also, when I have tacos, my wife shreds the lettuce and chops the tomatoes smaller. I also eat BLTs. Try a little at a time.

My husband is a new ileostomy. I just chop up more than I normally would. He has eaten both without problem. We're also noticing for some things it's the quantity that affects him. Too many onions and peppers are a definite gas occasion. I'm a nurse but this group is educating and guiding me about things I never thought of and things the ostomy nurse never said.

I also can eat lettuce and tomato on my burgers as well as in my tacos. The only thing is the tomato skin comes out as it goes in. But I'd say it very well and you shouldn't have an issue. As said earlier, try a little at a time.

Hi, I have no issues with lettuce and none with tomatoes if I take the skin off. One of the things that I find I miss the most is raw, fresh vegetables. They were a huge part of my diet. As long as you chew really well, they shouldn't cause too much trouble. I do not suggest eating whole mushrooms, cabbage, sauerkraut or Chinese vegetables. Anything stringy can cause a blockage.

I'm 4 months post-ileostomy and do tomatoes on a sandwich, but very well chewed. The jury is out on lettuce. If possible, remove the skin and you should be fine either with the above caveat.

I would add that not all lettuces are the same...if you want to try it, I'd suggest starting with a small amount of iceberg, then romaine maybe. Personally, I can eat all lettuces and cabbages but am cautious about kale and spinach, won't eat them raw and chop them up very small in the food processor to add to soup, etc. And yes, chew extremely well...if it's not breaking down with your teeth, I'd discard it...if in doubt, spit it out.

I have an ileostomy and basically eat anything. I was told to avoid cob corn, peanuts, and fresh pineapple. Other than that, if it tastes good, I eat it. Yeah, some foods give a liquid finish LOL. But I enjoy the tastes, so I just take it in my stride.

My surgeon said I could eat anything, and my oncologist said no salads. I don't eat salads anymore and mostly eat proteins.