Clear Liquid Diet

A clear liquid diet is a temporary diet. Clear liquids are liquids that you can see through. Taking clear liquids will help prevent loss of body water and essential body salts. It will also help supply your body with some important nutrients until you can eat a regular diet.

1. You should use this diet only until you feel better but not for more than 3 or 4 days.
2. Drink 2 to 3 quarts of liquids a day. You may prefer drinking smaller amounts throughout the day instead of large amounts at regular meal times.
3. Liquids that are allowed on a clear liquid diet include the following:

Beverages

1. Clear fruit juices (apple, cranberry, and grape)
2. Strained juices (orange, lemonade, grapefruit)
3. Tea
4. Soft drinks (ginger ale, white soda, and other clear carbonated drinks)
5. Mineral water (plain or flavored)
6. Black coffee
7. Liquid gelatin (a 3-oz package in 1 quart water)
8. Exclude all others such as nectars, milk, cream, juices with pulp

Soup

1. Clear broth or bouillon

Desserts

1. Plain gelatin
2. Frozen ices
3. Flavored fruit juice ices, sugar, honey, sugar substitutes, hard candy

Miscellaneous

1. High protein broth
2. High protein gelatin
3. Other low-residue, high-protein, high-calorie oral supplements, iodized salt.

Do not use this diet for infants under one year of age. Instead, give your child fluids (electrolyte solutions such as PEDIALYTE®), which you can buy at the grocery store. You may also give your child gelatin water (a 3-oz package in a quart of water) or a mixture made by adding _ teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon sugar to 1 pint of water.