What Is a Clear Liquid Diet?
A clear liquid diet means you drink only liquids you can see through. Your doctor may ask you to follow it before a colonoscopy or another test. Clear liquids give your body water, salt, and some sugar, but not enough calories or nutrition to keep you healthy for long. Do not stay on this diet longer than one day unless your doctor tells you to.

Why It Matters
Following this diet helps clean out your colon so your doctor can see clearly during the procedure. If you don’t follow the diet, you risk getting inaccurate results or having your procedure cancelled.

Important Rules

  • Do NOT drink anything red or purple. These colors may cause misleading procedure results. 
  • Do NOT eat any solid food. Foods can be considered liquid if they partly or completely melt to liquid at room temperature.
  • Do NOT eat or drink anything with oil or dairy (like milk, cream, or cheese).
  • Do NOT drink alcohol.
  • Drink plenty of extra clear liquids. Staying hydrated is very important while on a clear liquid diet and preparing for a colonoscopy. Although you are drinking a lot of fluid, much of it is not absorbed during the preparation. Staying hydrated with extra liquids also helps prepare the colon. 
  • Stop drinking ALL liquids at least 3 hours before your procedure.
     
  Choose these foods/beverages Avoid these foods/beverages
Fruits/Juices
  • Strained, light colored fruit juices without pulp (apple, white grape, white cranberry)
  • Canned, fresh, or frozen fruit
  • Tomato juice
  • Any red or purple juice
Soups
  • Clear broth or bouillon (beef, chicken, vegetable)
  • Cream soups, bone broth, soups with vegetables, noodles, rice, meat, or other chunks of food
  • Cream-based broths
Beverages
  • Water, plain or flavored (still or sparkling)
  • Ice chips
  • Coffee or tea (black only, no milk or cream)
  • Gatorade, Pedialyte, Powerade
  • Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks that are light in color (Sprite, 7-Up, Ginger ale)
  • Red or purple liquids
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Protein shakes
  • Anything with milk or cream
Sweets and Desserts
  • Jell-O (no red or purple)
  • Popsicles without fruit or cream (no red or purple)
  • Fruit ices (without chunks of fruit) (no red or purple)
  • Clear hard candy
  • All others
Vegetables
  • None
  • All
Milk and Dairy Products
  • None
  • All
Bread, Cereals, Grain Products
  • None
  • All
Meat, Chicken, Fish, and Meat Substitutes
  • None
  • All
Oil, Butter, Margarine
  • None
  • All

Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast:

4 ounces apple juice

1.5 cups chicken broth

4 ounces lime gelatin

8 ounces clear soda

Water, ice

8 ounces tea

Lunch:

4 ounces white grape juice

1.5 cups beef broth

8 ounces clear soda

Water, ice

1 popsicle

8 ounces tea

Evening Meal:

4 ounces apple juice

1.5 cups chicken broth

8 ounces clear soda

Water, ice

1 popsicle

8 ounces tea

Evening Snack:

4 ounces white grape juice

1 popsicle

 

If you have any additional questions, please contact our office at 612-871-1145.