This discussion is about finding vegan-friendly alternatives to marshmallows for slowing down stoma output. The original question was whether the marshmallows people often recommend are the gelatin-based sweets or the marsh-mallow plant. The concern is that gelatin, which is not vegan, might be the ingredient in question.

Here are some helpful insights and advice from the discussion:

1. The marshmallows being referred to are indeed the packeted, gelatin-based confectionery, not the marsh-mallow plant.

2. For those following a vegan diet, Dandies Vegan Marshmallows are suggested as a cruelty-free alternative that might work similarly.

3. Other foods that can help thicken stoma output include bananas, apples, and all types of potatoes. Additionally, a one-page PDF from Coloplast titled "Dietary Advice for Ostomates" is available for download and lists many foods that can help thicken output.

4. Some strategies to avoid using marshmallows altogether include not eating for a certain period before changing an appliance, such as stopping food intake after 6 p.m. and changing first thing in the morning. Since sugar can loosen output, some people avoid high-sugar marshmallows and find potatoes or other starches more reliable.

5. There is some skepticism about the effectiveness of gelatin in marshmallows for slowing output. Some members, including ostomy nurses, doubt that the small amount of gelatin in marshmallows can have a significant effect, suggesting that any improvements might be coincidental or due to a placebo effect. There are also questions about how quickly marshmallows could work when other food is already being digested.