Clear Liquid Diet

At some point in life there will inevitably be a time when one must go on a clear liquid diet for either a test or surgery.

Now many of us with chronic illnesses have spent days and weeks on these diets in desperation. Desperate to find an answer. Desperate to ease the pain or identify the problem. Days are spent eating unappetizing food and unfilling in hopes that eventually one will outweigh the other and the pain will stop. Having all this experience over so many years tips and tricks have indeed been created.

There are different times when you have to use a clear liquid diet so things are adjusted from time to time for specific needs. Be sure to check with the paperwork you have been given or your doctor before starting anything new that you read here.

When it comes to being on a liquid diet there are a few things to be sure to take into consideration.

1. The best way to get all that you are going to need the first time at the grocery store is planning it out.

2. You will also want to keep this list throughout your clear liquid diet. There will be times where you may forget all the options you have and so that way if you are just so hungry you can’t think you have a list.

3. In order to make this list; plan out each meal. Breakfast, snack 1, snack 2, lunch, snack 3, snack 4, dinner, snack 5, snack 6, and so forth.

4. Make sure you have plenty of things that are time consuming to eat. Having it be time consuming to eat helps it to be more of a treat or something different and keeps you entertained for longer.

   1. Popsicles

   2. Gum

   3. Lollipops

   4. Italian ice popsicles & or little soft serves

5. Never underestimate the help of a hard candy. These candies have saved me so many times

   a. Werther’s original

   b. Jolly Ranchers

   c. Lifesavers mints

   d. Italian Ice popsicles or little soft serves

6. Make sure to get things for electrolytes. You are on a liquid diet but you need to do everything you can to keep your body strong. Like there have been plenty of options to keep your body functionig.

   1. propel packets: These are super easy to travel with. They are also easy to have at the house since they are small and last for forever. All you have to do is pour it into a water bottle and you are set!

   2. fun sparkling waters

   3. Fun and silly cup to try and keep things fun and light.

7. Protein! Willow, how do I get protein when I cannot have anything that is not clear.

   1. You can do broths.

      1. Chicken broth

      2. beef broth

      3. vegetable broth

      4. chicken bone broth

      5. beef bone broth

         1. bone broths have a higher amount of protein and many other benefits that will help this time not be as miserable

My goal in sharing this is so that maybe somebody won’t have to struggle with how to figure out a clear liquid diet. There are lots of other foods that I didn’t talk about because they are on the list the doctor will give you. It’s hard & they change often with what is going on. Each procedure/surgery can be slightly different. Some people don’t let you drink coffee. You usually can but just an example.

let me know if you have any questions