What Foods Are on a Clear Liquid Diet?

Sometimes you need to follow a clear liquid diet for a short period of time. Your doctor may have scheduled a gastrointestinal exam, like a colonoscopy, which requires your intestinal system to be as empty as possible. You may have had surgery, and your system needs clear liquids for a day or so. Or you may be experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea and your doctor believes a clear liquid diet may help.

About

A clear liquid diet allows no solid food and no liquids that cannot be seen through. Any "foods" are foods that would be liquid at room temperature (like a popsicle). This diet must provide you with enough liquid to keep you properly hydrated, as well as sufficient electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, nutrients and calories for energy. A clear liquid diet is not the same as a full liquid diet, which allows food options that would be inappropriate for someone on a clear liquid diet.

Beverages

Liquids permitted on a clear liquid diet include: water, clear juices such as white grape juice, cranberry and apple juice, seltzer, clear soft drinks such as ginger-ale, weak tea and herbal teas such as chamomile. You should drink water, in addition to other liquids, with every meal. Never drink alcohol.

Foods

You can eat any clear food that becomes liquid at room temperature. This includes chicken broth, bouillon or consomme, plain or flavored gelatin, and shaved ice or ice popsicles that don't contain fruit particles. If you are scheduled for a colonoscopy, your doctor may tell you not to have cherry, raspberry or strawberry gelatin, as the red dye used in these products can affect the readings.

Timing

When you eat is important on a clear liquid diet. Rather than the usual three meals a day, you should have small meals or snacks throughout the day so that you remain adequately hydrated and receive enough nutrients. Drink water throughout your day.

Example

Breakfast can include water; one cup of a clear juice, such as apple juice or white grape juice; one cup of clear broth; and a cup of gelatin. A mid-morning snack can be a cup of clear tea or juice and a popsicle. Lunch, like breakfast, can be water, juice, broth and gelatin. You should try to vary flavors.

Have another snack in the afternoon. For variation, you can flavor some seltzer with a little clear juice, like cranberry or apple-juice. You can have a popsicle or gelatin. Dinner, like breakfast and lunch, should be water, juice, broth and gelatin or a popsicle. You can have another snack of tea and a cup of gelatin or a popsicle later in the evening.

Duration

Stay on the diet until your doctor says you may return to full liquids, soft foods or a regular diet. A clear liquid diet is always under a doctor's supervision and should not be followed for more than a few days, as it does not provide you with adequate nutrients, vitamins, minerals and calories.