Despite the fact there is no special diet for people who have a colostomy. I am still asked, “What can I eat and what should I avoid?” There are a few myths around. For example, “you cannot eat nuts, as they cause diverticulitis”. This is not true. Nuts are fine, if you have a colostomy.

Remember what you pass through your colostomy is the end product of digestion: waste. It is important to drink plenty of fresh tap water. Do not waste money on bottled water. Have your own clean bottle and use tap water.

You need to have a diet that is low in saturated fat, high in fibre and nutritious. Saturated fats are those that set at room temperature, e.g. butter, margarine, lard and copha.

You also need plenty of water in your system to keep it flushed and regular. Too much fibre without enough fluid to move it along can contribute towards constipation.

The recipes in the book do not require butter or margarine. When buying olive oil look to see that it is an Australian produced extra virgin olive oil to ensure purity and freshness.