Clear Liquids Diet
What is the Clear Liquids Diet For?
A clear liquid diet is a short-term diet of clear liquids that's used to prepare for procedures, treat digestive issues, or provide nutrition after surgery.
Important Considerations:
- If, while on a clear liquid diet, you experience abdominal discomfort, such as cramps or pain, contact your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.
- The clear liquids diet does not provide enough energy, protein and many other nutrients for daily use. This diet is temporary and should not be used for more than 5 days. If you are on this diet for more than 5 days, your doctor and/or dietitian will tell you which supplement to use.
- The amount of liquid that you drink or eat on this diet may be important. If your doctor sets a limit about the amount, follow those directions carefully.
How to choose the clear liquid diet:
Liquids that you can see through at room temperature (about 78-72 degrees Fahrenheit) are considered clear liquids. This includes clear juices, broths, hard candy, ices and gelatin. The table below will help you with your choices.
Clear Liquids Diet Options
| Choose these foods/beverages | Do not eat these foods/beverages | |
| Fruits/Juices | Clear fruit juices without pulp such as apple juice, grape juice, cranberry juice. | Nectars, canned, fresh, or frozen fruits. |
| Soups | Broth, bouillon, fat-free consommé. | Cream soups, soups with vegetables, noodles, rice, meat or other chunks of food in them. |
| Beverages | Coffee, tea (hot or cold), Kool-Aid, soda, water, lactose-free supplements if recommended by your doctor. | All others. |
| Sweets and Desserts | Fruit ices (without chunks of fruit), plain gelatin, clear hard candy, popsicle made from clear juices. | All others. |
| Vegetables | None | All |
| Milk and Dairy Products | None | All |
| Bread, Cereals and Grain Products | None | All |
| Meat, Chicken, Fish, and Meat Substitutes (nuts, tofu, etc.) | None | All |
| Oils, Butter, Margarine | None | All |
Sample Menu: Clear Liquids Diet*
| Breakfast | Hot tea with lemon juice and 1 tsp sugar (no pulp); Apple juice (8 oz); Gelatin (1 cup) |
| Lunch | Hot tea with lemon (no pulp) and sugar; Grape juice (8 oz); Fruit Ice (1 cup); Consommé (8 oz.) |
| Snack | Fruit juice (apple, cranberry or grape, 8 oz); Gelatin (1 cup) |
| Dinner | Hot tea with lemon (no pulp) and sugar; Apple juice (8 oz); Consommé (8 oz); Fruit Ice (1 cup) |
*This diet contains approximately 1000 calories, 1 g fat and 14 grams of protein.
Credits for this dietary information go to Maureen Murtaugh, PhD.
