How to Follow a Clear Liquid Diet

People often adopt clear liquid diets to prepare for medical procedures or to recover following surgery. You would follow a clear liquid diet to stay hydrated if you are going without food for an extended period. This type of diet is often used as preparation for a colonoscopy. The physician needs the bowels cleaned out in order to get a clear view of your colon.

Instructions

• 1

  Go over the diet with a nurse or doctor. A staff member should give you instructions with a list of foods that are suitable for the diet.

• 2

  Stock up on juices without pulp. If you can see through the fruit juice, then it's probably OK on a clear liquid diet. Many patients can have apple juice, white cranberry and white grape juices.

• 3

  Freeze the fruit juices or eat fruit pops. For variety, you can freeze the clear juices and eat them that way.

• 4

  Drink soup broth. Soup broth and bouillon are other staples of a clear liquid diet. There should be nothing solid in the broth.

• 5

  Eat gelatin while on the diet. Dark colored gelatin, like red and purple, is not allowed. Patients often enjoy lemon and lime flavored gelatins on the diet.

• 6

  Steer clear of any solid foods. Vegetables, meats and dairy products are examples of foods that are not allowed on a clear liquid diet.