A clear liquid diet consists of liquids that you can see through. This type of diet is usually prescribed before certain medical procedures, including colonoscopy. A clear liquid diet maintains vital body fluids, salts, and minerals; however, it is not adequate in calories and nutrients and should not be used for more than one day, unless specified by your provider.

Be sure to follow the clear liquid diet carefully before your procedure. If you don’t follow the diet, you risk getting inaccurate results or having your procedure cancelled. It is important you do not consume any red colored liquids because it may cause misleading procedure results. 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.

Foods can be considered liquid if they partly or completely melt to liquid at room temperature. You can't eat solid food while on a clear liquid diet. You can't eat or drink any products with oil on a clear liquid diet.

  Choose these foods/beverages Avoid these foods/beverages
Fruits/Juices
  • Strained, light colored fruit juices without pulp (apple, white grape, white cranberry (no red)
  • Canned, fresh, or frozen fruit
  • Tomato juice
Soups
  • Clear broth or bouillon (beef, chicken, vegetable)
  • Cream soups, soups with vegetables, noodles, rice, meat or other chunks of food
  • Cream based broths
Beverages
  • Water, plain or flavored (still or sparkling)
  • Ice chips
  • Tea (black only, no milk or cream)
  • Gatorade, Pedialyte, Powerade
  • Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks that are light in color (Sprite, 7-Up, Gingerale) (No red)
  • One 8 fl. oz. cup of dark soda, black coffee, or tea (no milk, cream, or honey) each day.
  • Red liquids
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Protein shakes
Sweets and Desserts
  • Jell-O (no red)
  • Popsicles without fruit or cream (no red)
  • Fruit ices (without chunks of fruit) (no red)
  • 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