Benefit from Fruits and Vegetables

You do still get benefit from the veggies regardless of how they look on the way out. Nevertheless, you might consider chewing more thoroughly.

Bwils, you can also drink those nutrients by making them into smoothies in your blender. Spinach, kale, cucumber, with soy or almond milk all make good smoothies, add a frozen chopped banana for thickness and you won't need ice cubes. Sometimes I put raw honey or oatmeal in the blender with the fruits and vegetables. Or steam your vegetables really well so they are soft, and easy to digest.

I believe there is still some benefit.  While at the same time too, I don't expect the benefit ratio to be nearly as high, compared to living with a intact colon days.

The nutritional benefit from veggies happens in the small intestine, which is almost unchanged. The fiber benefit from veggies is mostly useful to people with colons. 

Thanks for feedback.  I do have a smoothie every morning always with Kale, ground flax seed, almond milk, banana and then change up some other fruits.  That seems to be the best way to get a good chunk of fruits and vegs.  

I just can not eat any raw vegetable.  I have to cook them and cut them in very little pieces.   I just discovered that by  mashing my carrots with potatoes and most other vegetables excluding gassy veggies my digestion is much better. eating them separately gives me problems.  I have had smoothies mixing raw veggies and protein powder with almond milk just did not do well with me.  So I dropped the raw veggies and just added some almonds a few raisons, almond milk, peanut butter,  nothing raw. It bothers me a little but I can deal with it.  I try to get the most out of everything I eat.   Does anyone else have this problem?  Thanks Grace

Hello, Grace. You could try to get your vegetables by cooking them in more water or chicken stock than usual and use a hand-held blender or regular blender to whirl everything into a soup. Your carrots and potatoes could be turned into a good soup, add some nutmeg or spices and herbs. Carrot ginger soup, hot or cold, topped with Greek yoghurt would be delicious. Gazpacho soup now that tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers are everywhere. Thicken hot vegetable soups with chicken, or brown or white rice, or a beaten egg stirred in during cooking. Now I'm hungry.

+1 for the soup.. boil it up and blend it. Job done.

I have kale, spinach, carrot, celery and sweet potato with a bit of stock and a pinch of salt.  It's quite nice and lasts for 2 to 3 large servings.

Usually I have soluable fibre like 30 mins before the soup just to thicken stuff up a bit.  As Scott says, digestion occurs in the small intestine, the colon is only used to absorb water, so if your not getting your nutrients it's probably not pouch related.  I'm sure you're doing fine though

Thanks for all that info  I can always count on everyone.   Now if I can only gain some weight.  Does any one have a problem eating foods such as regular yogurt,  cream cheese, sour cream  any food that has fat content or beans, such kidney,  chic peas,  baked beans. lentils ,raw veggies.  It seems when ever I have anything in that group it just does not agree with me.  I get symptoms of having pouchitis.   Grace