This topic is about someone who is nine months into life with a colostomy and is still finding it challenging to expand their diet beyond a few "safe" foods like potatoes and carrots. They are seeking practical advice on how to successfully introduce more variety into their meals without causing discomfort or complications.

Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. Adjustment takes time:
- Nine months is still considered early in the adjustment period. Many people find that their tolerance for different foods continues to improve over the years.
- Patience and ongoing experimentation are key, as the learning curve can be long.

2. Introduce foods methodically:
- Keep a food diary and introduce only one new food at a time in small, well-chewed portions.
- If the new food is tolerated well, gradually increase the portion size. If not, try it again later or in a different form, such as cooked or peeled.
- Eat foods that might cause gas or watery output earlier in the day to avoid nighttime discomfort.

3. Start from a "safe base":
- Build meals around foods you already tolerate well, like potatoes and carrots.
- Use these safe foods to cushion small test portions of new foods.

4. Chewing and portion control:
- Chew thoroughly, especially when eating raw produce, salad, popcorn, nuts, coconut, and mushrooms.
- Opt for small, frequent meals to reduce the risk of blockages and aid digestion.

5. Typical problem foods and work-arounds:
- Foods often avoided include popcorn, raisins, grapes, fruit and vegetable skins, mushrooms, and coconut.
- Consider peeling fruit, de-seeding or de-skinning tomatoes, and cooking fibrous vegetables thoroughly.
- Some people find digestive enzymes helpful before eating harder-to-digest foods.

6. Fibre management:
- Some use Metamucil or psyllium-based powders to firm up output, while others find extra fiber aggravating. It's important to test what works for you.

7. Alternative dietary approaches:
- A low-residue, low-fiber, high-protein, and high-fat diet has been recommended by some.
- One person found success with a carnivore diet, which includes all animal products, salt, and butter, leading to weight loss and other health benefits. They advise avoiding liquid fat initially to prevent watery output and suggest trying the diet for at least 90 days.

8. Mind-set and quality of life:
- Enjoy the foods you like as long as they don't cause blockages or harm your health.
- Gratitude, realistic expectations, and community support can help ease the emotional burden of dietary restrictions.

9. Practical tools and tips:
- Create and regularly update a personalized "yes/no/maybe" food list.
- Schedule new-food trials when you are at home and relaxed.
- Stay well-hydrated, as output consistency often reflects fluid balance.
- Accept that diet is an ever-evolving process, and flexibility can make long-term management easier.