Clear Liquid Diet

Purpose
A diet of clear liquids maintains vital body fluids, salts, and minerals; and also gives some energy for patients when normal food intake must be interrupted. Clear liquids are easily absorbed by the body. They reduce stimulation of the digestive system, and leave no residue in the intestinal tract. This is why a clear liquid diet is often prescribed in preparation for surgery, and is generally the first diet given by mouth after surgery. Clear liquids are given when a person has been without food by mouth (NPO) for a long time. This diet is also used in preparation for medical tests such as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or certain x-rays.

Nutrition Facts
A clear liquid diet is not adequate in calories and nutrients. It should not be used for more than five days unless high-protein gelatin or other low-residue supplements are added.

Special Considerations 1. Limitations The physician may limit certain liquids, depending on the patient's condition, or the surgery or test being performed. Therefore, individual instructions should be strictly followed. 2. What is a clear liquid? A good rule-of-thumb is anything you can see through. For example, apple juice is a clear liquid; milk is not. If unsure, check with the physician or registered dietition. 3. After surgery and fasting Should persistent abdominal cramps or discomfort occur with a clear liquid diet, the patient should notify the physician, nurse, or dietitian at once. 4. Preparing for a medical test It is important that the clear liquid diet be followed exactly. Remember that the value of the examination will depend on getting a thoroughly clean digestive tract.

Food Groups Group Milk & milk products Vegetables Recommend none none Avoid all all nectars; all fresh, canned, and frozen fruits all all all all others

Fruits

fruit juices without pulp

Breads & grains Meat or meat substitutes Fats & oils Sweets & desserts

none none none gelatin, fruit ice, popsicle without pulp, clear hard candy coffee; tea; soft drinks; water; lactose-free, low residue supplements if approved by physiciancoffee; tea; soft drinks; water; lactosefree, low residue supplements if approved by physician bouillon, consomm fat free broth

Beverages

all others

Soups

all others

Sample Menu Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

strained fruit juice 1 cup gelatin 1 cup hot tea with sugar & lemon

consomm 3/4 cup strained fruit juice 1 cup fruit ice 1/2 cup gelatin 1/2 cup hot tea with sugar & lemon

consomm 3/4 cup strained fruit juice 1 cup fruit ice 1/2 cup gelatin 1/2 cup hot tea with sugar & lemon

This Sample Diet Provides the Following Calories 600 Fat virtually none

Protein Carbohydrates

6 gm 209 gm

Sodium Potassium

1500 mg 1440 mg

Full Liquid Diet

Purpose
The full liquid diet is often used as a step between a clear liquid diet and a regular diet, for example, after surgery or fasting. It may also be used after certain procedures, such as jaw wiring. This diet may also be appropriate for patients who have swallowing and chewing problems.

Nutrition Facts
The full liquid diet is low in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and thiamine. It should not be used for a long period of time unless vitamins, iron, or liquid nutritional supplements are added. This diet has 1800 mg of calcium, so extra calcium is not needed.

Food Groups Group Milk & milk products Vegetables Fruits Breads & grains Meat or meat substitutes Fats & oils Sweets & desserts Beverages Recommend milk, milkshakes, eggnog, ice cream, custard, pudding all vegetable juices all juice or nectar cooked refined cereals; farina, grits, oatmeal, cream of rice, cream of wheat none butter, margarine, cream sherbet, sugar, hard candy, plain gelatin, fruit ice, honey, syrups all Avoid all cheeses all raw or cooked vegetables all fresh, frozen, or canned fruit all other cereals, all breads all all others all others none

Soups

broth, bouillon, strained creamed soups

all others

Sample Menu Breakfast

Lunch & Dinner

fruit juice 1 cup hot cereal 1/2 cup eggnog 8 oz whole milk 8 oz hot tea with sugar & lemon

strained creamed soup 3/4 cup juice 1 cup ice cream 1/2 cup pudding or custard 1/2 cup whole milk 8 oz hot tea with sugar & lemon salt/pepper

This Sample Diet Provides the Following Calories Protein Carbohydrates 2100 60 gm 290 gm Fat Sodium Potassium 80 mg 2975 mg 2900 mg

Soft Diet
Purpose
The soft diet serves as a transition from liquids to a regular diet for individuals who are recovering from surgery or a long illness. It can help to ease difficulty in chewing and/or swallowing due to dental problems or extreme weakness, and it is sometimes recommended to relieve mild intestinal or stomach discomfort. The soft diet can be especially helpful to patients who are undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, or radiation to the head, neck or abdominal areas, which may cause digestive problems or make the mouth and throat very sore. The soft diet limits or eliminates foods that are hard to chew and swallow, such as raw fruits and vegetables, chewy breads, and tough meats. In some cases, high-fiber foods like whole-grain breads and cereals and "gas-forming" vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower may be restricted to ease digestion. Fried, greasy foods and highly-seasoned or spicy foods may also be limited for this reason. Foods may be softened by cooking or mashing. Canned or soft-cooked fruits

and vegetables may be used in place of raw or dried varieties. Refined breads and cereals are usually recommended over coarse, whole-grain types. Moist, tender meats, fish, and poultry are permitted; it is not necessary to grind them unless desired. Eating small, frequent meals can help to reduce gas or bloating. The mechanical soft diet is a close cousin of the soft diet. It gets its name from the fact that household tools and machines, like a blender, meat grinder, or knife, are used to make foods easier to chew and swallow. In contrast to the soft diet, the mechanical soft diet does not restrict fat, fiber, spices, or seasonings. Only the texture and consistency of foods are changed. Fruits and vegetables may be soft-cooked or pureed. Meats, fish, and poultry can be cooked, ground, and moistened with sauce or gravy to make chewing and swallowing more comfortable. Breads and crackers may be limited at first, as they can be dry and difficult to swallow. Milk and other dairy products like pudding, custard, and smooth yogurt may not need to be changed at all! The mechanical soft diet is appropriate for patients who are recovering from head, neck, or mouth surgery, who have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), narrowing of the esophagus (food tube), or who are too ill or weak to chew. The diet also benefits those who have poorly fitting dentures, no teeth, or other dental problems.

Guidelines for the Soft Diet Food Group Beverages Soups Foods Allowed all mildly seasoned broth, bouillon, or cream soup; strained vegetable soup any moist, tender meats, fish, or poultry (lamb, veal, chicken, turkey, tender beef, liver stewed pork); eggs (see exceptions); creamy peanut butter all low-fat milk products, smooth yogurt, mildflavored cheese, cottage cheese cooked or canned fruit, soft, fresh banana or avocado, fruit juice soft-cooked or canned vegetables (see exceptions), Foods to Avoid none bean, gumbo, split pea, or onion soup; chunky soups or chowders Fried chicken or fish; fish with bones; shellfish; fried, salted, or smoked meats; sausage; cold cuts; raw or fried eggs; dried beans; nuts and seeds (avoid milk if lactose-intolerant), yogurt with nuts or seeds, sharp or strong cheeses, cheeses with whole seeds or spices all raw fruit (except banana or avocado), dried fruit (dates, raisins), coconut gas-forming vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage,

Meats

Dairy

Fruits Vegetables

fresh lettuce or tomato, potatoes (mashed, baked, boiled, or creamed), vegetable refined cooked or ready-toeat cereal; refined white, wheat, or rye bread, rolls, or crackers; plain white rice; pasta butter, margarine, mild salsas dressing, mayonnaise, gravy, cream, cream substitute, sour cream, vegetable oil smooth ice cream, ice milk, or frozen yogurt; sherbet; fruit ices; custards; puddings; cake or cookies made without nuts or coconut ketchup; cheese, cream, tomato, or white sauces; soy sauce; chopped or ground leaf herbs

cauliflower, cucumber, green pepper, onion turnip), whole kernel corn, raw vegetables (excerpt lettuce or tomato), fried vegetables french fries, hash browns whole-grain breads and cereals (bran, rye with seeds, or whole wheat); breads or rolls with coconut, raisins, nuts, or seeds

Grains

Fats

Spicy salad dressings, fried foods

Desserts & Sweets

desserts or candy made with dried fruit, nuts, coconut; candied fruit; peanut brittle

Seasonings

garlic, horseradish, chili powder, whole or seed herbs and spices, barbeque or cajun seasonings, worchestershire sauce

Nutrition Facts
Both the soft and mechanical soft diets meet the National Research Council's Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for all nutrients. However, if a patient has a poor appetite or is physically unable to eat enough food, either diet may be deficient in calories, protein, vitamins, or minerals. The physician or registered dietitian may recommend nutritional supplements or snacks if this is the case. Consult a professional if either diet is to be combined with other dietary restrictions (e.g. lowsodium diets).

Special Considerations
As one person may tolerate foods that cause discomfort to another, advice for both the soft and mechanical soft diets will vary according to what is appropriate for each individual patient. Guidelines for the soft diet are looser today than they were in

the past, especially with regard to the elimination of high-fiber foods like whole grains and vegetables. The mechanical soft diet may also vary according to what textures of food the patient can best chew or swallow. As everyone's case is different, it is best to get a personalized recommendation on either diet from a physician or registered dietitian.

Sample Menu Soft Diet Breakfast orange juice - 1/2 cup oatmeal - 1 cup whole wheat toast - 2 slices margarine - 2 tsp sugar - 1 tsp whole milk - 1 cup banana - 1 med Lunch spaghetti with marinara sauce - 11/2 cups Italian bread - 2 slices margarine - 1 tsp applesauce - 1 cup grape juice - 1/2 cup Dinner marinated chicken breast - 3 oz grilled zucchini - 1/2 cup pasta salad - 1/2 cup whole wheat roll - 1 margarine - 1 tsp peach cobbler - 1/2 cup whole milk - 1/2 cup

This Sample Diet Provides the Following Calories Protein Carbohydrates 1940 72 gm 302 gm Fat Sodium Fiber 53 gm 1938 mg 24 gm

Sample Menu Mechanical Soft Diet Breakfast orange juice - 1/2 cup oatmeal - 1 cup sugar - 1 tsp banana - 1 med whole milk - 1 cup Lunch ground spaghetti with ground meat sauce - 11/2 cups ground broccoli - 1/2 cup margarine - 2 tsp applesauce - 1/2 cup chocolate pudding - 1/2 cup chocolate milkshake - 1 Dinner ground chicken breast - 3 oz ground zucchini - 1/2 cup margarine - 1 tsp ground pasta salad - 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream- 1/2 cup vanilla milkshake- 1 cup

cup

This Sample Diet Provides the Following Calories Protein Carbohydrates 2043 81gm 306 gm Fat Sodium Fiber 61 gm 1584 mg 19 gm

Bland Diet Menu

When undergoing treatment for inflammatory or ulcerative conditions of the stomach, intestines, esophagus or other health conditions listed in this article a bland diet menu can be designed to supply adequate nutrition while decreasing irritation and physical discomfort. But not all bland diets are the same and not all bland diets have to be boring.

Planning a Bland Diet

As with any menu, developing a bland diet involves preparation and thinking ahead. Before changing to a bland diet, take time to be checked by your health care provider. It's important to follow their guidance and to be monitored to assess your nutritional needs. Ulcerative conditions may lead to a loss of blood and iron deficiency necessitating the need for nutritional supplements. When planning your bland diet menu, here are some specifics to consider:

Individual food intolerances Lifestyle Avoidance of active gastric irritants: caffeine including coffee, decaf coffee, tea, cocoa, carbonated drinks, chocolate as well as irritants like alcohol, chili powder, pepper and specific drugs.

Sample Bland Diet Plans

There are a variety of menus for a bland diet available.

Six Meal Bland Diet

This bland diet plan follows a conservative dietary approach in treatment of active ulcer disease. Small meals are introduced to reduce gastric acidity and distention. Foods to avoid:

Fatty meats Fried foods Whole grain breads Whole grain cereals Dried beans and peas Vegetables from the cabbage family Bouillon and clear broths Chocolate Nuts Seeds Carbonated beverages Caffeine (as mentioned earlier)

The Bland Diet

This diet offers the dieter a more moderate food selection, however, the number of meals drops to three while the amount of food per meal increases. Items to avoid on this bland diet include:

Whole grain breads and cereal Bouillon and clear broths Chocolate Nuts Seeds Dried fruits Caffeine.

Regular No Stimulants Diet

The Regular No Stimulants Diet eliminates items that have scientifically been proven to irritate the gastric mucosa. Prohibited foods are identical to the list found under Planning a Bland Diet Menu in the above section with the exception of decaffeinated coffee which may or may not be restricted. Recent studies have found that even decaffeinated coffee causes:

Increased gastric acid secretion Esophageal pressure causing gastric acid reflux in the esophagus

If the decaf coffee is tolerated by the patient, it may be allowed.

Basic Bland Diet Menu

As you choose foods for your menu remember that a bland diet consists of mild-flavored foods with soft textures.

Breakfast

Fruit Juice Cereal with Milk Meat / Meat Substitute Bread Beverage

Lunch

Soup Meat or a meat substitute Vegetable Fruit Juice Bread Beverage Dessert

Supper

Juice Meat or meat substitute Vegetable Bread Beverage Dessert