Full liquid diet: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2024)

FAQs

Is a full liquid diet nutritionally adequate? ›

Eating only a full liquid diet can give you enough energy, protein, and fat. But it does not give you enough fiber. Also, you may not get all the vitamins and minerals you need. So, your doctor may recommend that you take certain vitamins and supplements.

specific liquids or foods allowed are:

Milk and milk products: Milk (all types including buttermilk, soy, rice, almond, and cow's), milkshakes, pasteurized eggnog, smooth ice cream, frozen yogurt, custard, yogurt without fruit and pudding. Vegetables: All vegetable and tomato juice.

Do not eat any foods that require chewing (including soft foods). Liquid foods do not include mashed foods, such as mashed potatoes. Do not eat those textures. Talk with your Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) regarding any questions you may have about your diet recommendations or your swallowing.

Milk may be used in beverages such as eggnog*, milkshakes, malted milk, high protein milk and in cream soups. Eggs and Cheese * Do not use raw eggs, use custard, soft custard, or a commercial egg mixture that is pasteurized.

Risks of a Clear Liquid Diet

"Clear liquid diets are inadequate in calories, protein, vitamins and minerals, so they should be used only for very short periods and should be used only when medically necessary," says Arnaout.

You may have heard of a clear liquid diet, where you only drink things like water, tea, and broth. A full liquid diet is similar, but it includes all foods that are liquid or will turn to liquid at room temperature or melt at body temperature.

Liquid diets are typically low in vitamin A, iron, vitamin B-12, and thiamine. People who must eat a full liquid diet for extended periods may need to take supplements to prevent nutritional deficits. It is possible to get enough protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients on a full liquid diet.

Strained cream soups • Chicken, beef, or vegetable broths • Popsicles • Do not eat any Solid Food • Do not eat any solid food in liquids such as soup with pasta, meat or vegetable pieces or yogurt with fruit pieces in it.

Yes, I was allowed runny oatmeal or runny cream of wheat while on full liquids.

Don't eat vegetables, bread, whole cereal and grain products, meat, chicken, fish, eggs, meat substitutes (nuts and nut butters, tofu, soy), hard cheese, oils, butter, or margarine.

Can you eat egg drop soup on a full liquid diet? ›

A full-liquid diet includes:

Strained/pureed low-fat cream soups without chunks of meat or vegetables; thin soups with skim or 1% milk, as needed. Broth-based soup; add in a beaten egg white or Eggbeaters to boiling broth for a healthy “egg drop” soup.

Try bone broth or an Ensure Clear nutrition drink. Decaffeinated drinks also have been proven to decrease hunger pangs. Need to chew? Try munching on ice, gummy bears or gelatin.

The full fluid diet is designed for patients who are unable to chew, swallow, or digest solid foods. A full fluid diet includes clear fluids and milk and milk products such as ice cream, cream soup and pudding but no solid food.

Consommé NO solid foods such as meat, chicken, breads, vegetables, fruit, nuts, eggs, or cheese. NO dairy products such as milk, creamer, and non-dairy creamer, ice cream, whipped cream, half & half, etc. NO cloudy liquids such as orange juice, tomato juice or soup, potato soup, and vegetable or meat soup.

To make liquid meals more filling, include liquid foods rich in protein, fiber or fat, such as avocado, nut butters, beans and dairy or dairy substitutes. Fat, fiber and protein all help keep you full for longer by slowing down digestion.

Missing out on essential nutrients can lead to side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, hair loss, gallstones, and heart damage. Also, if you don't get enough fiber, because you're not eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables, you can get constipated.

A full liquid diet is often used when you can't eat solid foods. For example, you may be preparing for a medical procedure or healing from one. Or you could have problems with your mouth or throat that make it hard to chew or swallow.

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

Liquid diets for seniors, or meal replacement shakes, are ways to get the nutrition they need without solid foods. Seniors who have trouble chewing, swallowing, lack appetite, or have health problems that require meals that are easy to digest, are often told to follow these diets.