How to Follow a Clear Liquid Diet

Co-authored by Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Last Updated: September 26, 2024 Approved

If you have certain medical conditions, are about to have a surgical procedure, medical testing or are recovering from surgery, your doctor might require you to follow a clear liquid diet.^{[1]
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Mayo Clinic
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Go to source} The goal of a clear liquid diet is remove all the food and food residue from your digestive system.^{[2]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source} Unlike solid foods, clear liquid foods move easily through your digestive system and won't leave unwanted residue in your intestinal tract. If you're instructed to follow a clear liquid diet, it's important to make sure you only consume the right types of liquids and foods.

Part 1

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Preparing for a Clear Liquid Diet

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1
Talk to your doctor. Most likely, a doctor or surgeon is requiring you to follow a clear liquid diet. However, if you are doing this for yourself for other reasons, it's important to talk to your doctor about whether or not a clear liquid diet is safe for you.
- Ask your doctor the purpose of the clear liquid diet, how long it needs to last and what exactly you're allowed to consume during that time.
- Also ask if you should limit physical activity, discontinue supplements or stop taking (or change) any medications you're currently taking.
- Ask your doctor to review any potential side effects your doctor may expect you will experience during your clear liquid diet.
2
Go grocery shopping. Once you're clear with what you can and cannot have during your liquid diet, take a trip to the grocery store. They key to success is being prepared; have the right clear liquid foods on hand.
- Stock up on the items you're allowed to have so you have all the necessary items at home ready-to-go.
- It's helpful to have everything you need at home. It may be hard to follow the prescribed diet if you don't have adequate supplies at home or at work.
- Stock up on items like: broth, popsicles, jello, flavored waters, tea, coffee, and clear juices (like apple juice or white grape juice).
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3
Plan for side effects. Clear liquid diets may be associated with some side effects. It'll depend on what you can have on your clear liquid diet and how long you're supposed to follow it.
- Side effects are usually mild and may include: hunger, headache, nausea, fatigue and diarrhea.
- Call your doctor if symptoms worsen or if you're feeling sick. Tell them when the symptoms started and how they're affecting you.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Following a Clear Liquid Diet

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1
Drink a variety of fluids. When you're on a clear fluid diet, you can have other fluids outside of water. It'll be easier to follow if you include some variety.
- Having a variety of fluids throughout the day can help you manage hunger and any other side effects.
- Beverages can include: water (plain, carbonated, or flavored); clear, pulp-free juice (like apple juice); fruit flavored juices; sports drinks; sodas, broth; coffee and tea (without added dairy products).^{[3]
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2
Consume appropriate foods. Even when you're on a clear liquid diet, there are a few foods that you can eat.
- Eating some of these foods may help you feel a little more satisfied while drinking mostly fluids throughout the day.
- Foods you can have include: gelatin, popsicles (without dairy, fruit pieces, chocolate or nuts) and hard candies.^{[4]
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- Make sure to include some savory liquids like chicken or beef broth.
3
Spread calorie-containing liquids throughout the day. If you're able to have calorie-containing foods and beverages in your diet, it's important to spread them out throughout the day.^{[5]
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- When you're on a clear liquid diet, your overall calories will be low. This can lead to low blood sugar which may make you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous.
- A sample menu of how to lay out your day can be: Breakfast: one glass of clear, pulp-free juice (such as apple juice), one cup of coffee or tea without dairy products (sweetener optional), Morning Snack: one cup of gelatin, Lunch: one cup of broth, one cup of clear, pulp-free juice, Afternoon Snack: one cup of broth, Dinner: one cup gelatin and one cup of broth, Evening Snack: one cup of clear, pulp-free juice.
- If you have diabetes, you'll need to communicate frequently with your physician. In addition, you should drink enough sweetened beverages throughout the day to get around 135 g of carbohydrate total.^{[6]
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4
Restrict physical activity. When you're following a clear liquid diet you're not able to consume many calories and other nutrients that support physical activity.
- If you're normally a very active person, you may need to reduce or restrict the amount of physical activity you typically do. For example, if you normally run for 45 minutes, you may need to go for a 30 minute walk instead.
- Light activities like walking and your daily lifestyle activities should still be OK to continue even on a clear liquid diet.
- If you are feeling overly tired, nauseous or lightheaded during or after physical activity, stop immediately and discontinue exercise while on your clear liquid diet.

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What food can be included on a clear liquid diet?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

Foods such as popsicles, hard candy, and gelatin can be eaten on a clear liquid diet.

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Is Coke allowed on a clear liquid diet?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

Yes, Coke is considered a clear liquid so you could drink it when following this diet.

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Question

What can you eat on a clear liquid diet?

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS
Registered Dietitian
Claudia Carberry is a Registered Dietitian based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Claudia specializes in kidney transplants and counseling patients for weight loss. She works at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences center, and has been working there since 2015. Before her current role, she worked as a Clinical Nutrition Manager at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia received her MS in Nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she completed her 1200 hour dietetic internship. She received a BS in Nutrition Sciences from Southeast Missouri State University.

Claudia Carberry, RD, MS

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

Beverages can include water; clear, pulp-free juice (like apple juice); fruit-flavored juices; sports drinks; sodas, broth; coffee; and tea.

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Warnings

A clear liquid diet does not provide your body with all of the vitamins and minerals necessary to function. Only follow a clear liquid diet for medical reasons under the close supervision of your physician. It is not a healthy diet if your goal is to lose weight.

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Avoid foods with red coloring if you plan to have colorectal tests performed. Doctors can possibly mistake this for blood during the exam.

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