Mushy, crunchy foods

Doctorblue · October 17, 2003

I was told by a bandster "expert" that you cannot eat mushy or crunchy foods, like chips and Cookies. The reason she gave was because those kinds of mushy foods just pass right through the stoma. So, I have a question. Aren't you supposed to take small bites and chew really really well? Well, if you do that, when you swallow, what you are swallowing will be mush. So, according to her above statement, wouldn't that mean all food you eat would pass through the stoma. Of course I know that that is not the case. I'm just curious if anyone knows why she would say that. Would that be something she would have said to just scare people away from eating those foods, or am I just a little confused about the stoma and the textures of foods that pass through?

P.S. No, I do not plan on eating chips and cookies anyway, but was just curious about the whole mush thing, when what you swallow will be mush anyway.

Alexandra · October 17, 2003

First of all, "cannot" and "should not" are two entirely different things. It's true that some foods will keep you satisfied longer than others; those that are soluble (like chips and cookies) or soft will indeed pass through the stoma faster.

Chewing solid food into small bits ensures that it will not get stuck in the stoma, but it still retains its mass longer and so keeps you satisfied. Chewing meat, for example, into tiny bits still won't make it actually dissolve before its time.