Diet specifications are needed by dietitians and food service providers to facilitate the development of menus for patients, especially those with higher or special nutritional needs. Diet specifications give guidance about the type and quantities of suitable foods for adult inpatients needing a range of therapeutic diets.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
General diet - full
A balanced diet with a variety of foods for patients able to eat normally.
General diet - halal
A diet suitable for patients of Islamic faith.
General diet - high fibre and lower fat
A diet that is high in fibre and lower in total fat than the Full diet for people who are at risk of or who are overweight or obese, or who have metabolic syndrome.
General diet - kosher
A diet that conforms to Jewish dietary laws.
General diet - low microbial
A diet that limits foods that are at high risk of carrying food-borne disease.
General diet - maternity
A diet nutritionally adequate for pregnant women.
General diet - nil by mouth
No oral intake from food or fluids.
General diet - no hot fluids
A nutritionally adequate diet with a variety of foods for patients able to eat normally but unable to be sent hot fluids because of concerns about spillage.
General diet - vegan
A nutritionally adequate diet for people who do not eat any food of animal origin.
General diet - vegetarian and seafood
A nutritionally adequate diet for people who do not eat any animal flesh foods.
General diet - vegetarian including milk and eggs
A nutritionally adequate diet for people who do not eat any animal flesh foods.
General diet - vegetarian including milk but not eggs
A nutritionally adequate diet for people who do not eat any animal flesh foods or eggs.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Diet supporting patient consumption - small
Diet to provide smaller servings of main-meal food items.
Diet supporting patient consumption - large
Diet to provide additional food for patients with greater energy and nutrient needs.
Diet supporting patient consumption - small meals - 6 day
Diet providing smaller servings of main-meal food items and nourishing mid-meals, and spread dietary intakes evenly throughout the day.
Diet supporting patient consumption - finger food
A diet that is easy to eat without cutlery.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Allergy diet - additive low
A diet that excludes foods containing artificial colours, certain natural colours, flavour enhancers and preservatives.
Allergy diet - alcohol free
A diet that excludes all sources of alcohol (ethanol) added to or present in foods, to avoid reactions in individuals with personal or medical requirements to exclude alcohol.
Allergy diet - amine low
A diet with a reduced amine content.
Allergy diet - berries free
A diet that excludes all berries.
Allergy diet - caffeine free
A diet without foods containing caffeine.
Allergy diet - citrus free
A diet without any citrus products.
Allergy diet - colour low
A diet that excludes foods containing artificial colours and certain natural colours.
Allergy diet - egg free
A diet that excludes eggs or egg products.
Allergy diet - elimination moderate
A diet that excludes food chemicals that lead to moderate food sensitivity reactions.
Allergy diet - elimination simple
A diet that excludes food chemicals that lead to mild food sensitivity reactions.
Allergy diet - elimination strict
A diet that excludes foods and chemicals that lead to severe food sensitivity and allergy reactions.
Allergy diet - fish free
A diet that excludes fish and products containing those foods.
Allergy diet - FODMAPs low
A diet that reduce the level of fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs).
Allergy diet - fructose low
A diet with reduced fructose, sucrose and sorbitol content.
Allergy diet - glutamate low
A diet that excludes foods naturally high in free glutamate, and food additives containing glutamate.
Allergy diet - gluten free
A diet that excludes all products containing the cereal protein gluten.
Allergy diet - herb free
A diet that excludes herbs, making it suitable for patients who need to avoid reactions to one or more herbs.
Allergy diet - lactose low
A diet with a significantly reduced level of lactose (the sugar in mammalian milks).
Allergy diet - latex free
A diet that excludes all foods that might cause reactions in individuals with latex allergy.
Allergy diet - lupin free
A diet that excludes food products containing lupin ingredients and derivatives.
Allergy diet - milk free
A diet that excludes milk protein and all foods that may contain milk protein.
Allergy diet - no capsicum / chilli
A diet that strictly excludes all capsicum.
Allergy diet - no garlic (strict)
A diet that strictly excludes all varieties of garlic.
Allergy diet - no mushroom (strict)
A diet that strictly excludes all mushroom.
Allergy diet - no onion (strict)
A diet that strictly excludes all varieties of onion.
Allergy diet - no tomato (strict)
A diet that strictly excludes all tomato.
Allergy diet - nut free
A diet that eliminates peanuts (ground nuts), tree nuts and their products.
Allergy diet - preservative low
A diet low in added preservatives.
Allergy diet - red meat (mammalian) free
A diet that excludes excludes raw and cooked lamb, pork, beef, rabbit, kangaroo, goat, buffalo, venison and their derivatives.
Allergy diet - salicylate low
A diet that excludes significant sources of naturally occurring salicylates, and flavourings high in salicylates.
Allergy diet - sesame free
A diet that eliminates sesame seeds and their products.
Allergy diet - shellfish free
A diet that excludes shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs) and products containing those foods. Patients on this diet can eat white fish, sardines, anchovies, tuna and salmon.
Allergy diet - soy free
A diet that excludes all foods containing soy protein.
Allergy diet - spice free
A diet that excludes spices, making it suitable for patients who need to avoid reactions to one or more spices.
Allergy diet - stone fruit free
To provide a diet that excludes all common stone fruits found in the Australian food chain.
Allergy diet - sucrose low
A diet with reduced sucrose content.
Allergy diet - sulphite low
A diet that excludes foods high in sulphur dioxide and other sulphites.
Allergy diet - tropical fruit free
A diet that strictly excludes all common tropical fruits found in the Australian food chain.
Allergy diet - wheat free
A diet that excludes all wheat products.
Allergy diet - yeast free
A diet that excludes yeast and yeast products.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Diabetes diet - diabetes
A diet that optimises blood glucose and lipid levels in patients with diabetes where carbohydrate portion control is specified.
Diabetes diet - diabetes in pregnancy
A nutritionally adequate diet that optimises blood glucose and gestational weight gain in pregnant women with diabetes.
Diabetes diet - higher energy
A diet that supports blood glucose management while providing a higher energy density than the Diabetes diet.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Drug interactions diet - grapefruit - nil
A diet without any grapefruit or grapefruit products.
Drug interactions diet - iodine - low
A diet low in iodine (<50µg/day) to promote maximal uptake of radioiodine (131I) for diagnosis and/or treatment of thyroid cancer.
Drug interactions diet - tyramine low - for MAOI
To prevent adverse reactions such as severe headache, tachycardia and hypertension in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medications by restricting the tyramine content of the diet.
Drug interactions diet - low iodine - patient fact sheet
A guide for patients to reduce iodine in their diet which may help increase their body’s uptake of the radioactive iodine.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Energy diet - low
A kilojoule-controlled diet with a wide variety of foods, to allow steady weight loss or prevent weight gain in low-activity patients.
Energy diet - high
A diet containing more energy than can be achieved on the full diet alone.
Energy diet - VLED replace 1 meal
A very low-energy diet (VLED) with nutritional intake from one oral liquid feed and two low-energy meals only (at breakfast and lunch).
Energy diet - VLED replace 2 meals
To provide a very low-energy diet (VLED) with nutritional intake from two oral liquid feeds and one low-energy meal only (at breakfast).
Energy diet - VLED replace 3 meals
To provide a very low-energy diet (VLED) with nutritional intake primarily from oral liquid feeds only.
Energy diet - cystic fibrosis
To provide a high protein, high energy diet with added salt for people with cystic fibrosis (CF).
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Enteral feed diet - NBM
Diet to ensure no food is supplied to patients receiving enteral feeding only.
Enteral feed and food diet
Diet to provide appropriate food to those who require oral intake in addition to enteral feeding.
Parenteral nutrition (PN) diet - NBM
Diet to ensure no food is supplied to patients receiving parenteral feeding only.
Parenteral nutrition (PN) and food diet
Diet to provide appropriate food to those who require oral intake in addition to parenteral feeding.
Parenteral nutrition (PN) and enteral diet
Diet to ensure no food is supplied to patients receiving enteral and parenteral feeding concurrently.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Low fat diet < 20g day
A very low-fat diet with no more than 20g total fat per day.
Low fat diet < 50g day
A diet with no more than 50g total fat per day, to minimise symptoms of fat malabsorption.
Low saturated fat diet
A diet low in saturated fat.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Fibre modified diet - high > 25g
A diet with increased dietary fibre.
Fibre modified diet - moderate < 20g
A diet moderately low in dietary fibre.
Fibre modified diet - low < 10g
A diet low in dietary fibre.
Fibre modified diet - high soluble
A diet with increased soluble fibre.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Fluid diet - full
A diet that provides full fluids only.
Fluid restriction diet - nil on tray
A diet that avoids all beverages provided to patients requiring strict fluid restriction.
Fluid restriction diet - 500ml
A fluid restriction diet to control the number of beverages provided to patients requiring strict fluid restriction, limiting fluid intake to 500mL per day.
Fluid restriction diet - 800ml
A fluid restriction diet to control the number of beverages provided to patients requiring strict fluid restriction, limiting fluid intake to 800mL per day.
Fluid restriction diet - 1000ml
A fluid restriction diet to control the number of beverages provided to patients requiring strict fluid restriction, limiting fluid intake to 1000mL per day.
Fluid restriction diet - 1200ml
A fluid restriction diet to control the number of beverages provided to patients requiring strict fluid restriction, limiting fluid intake to 1200mL per day.
Fluid restriction diet - 1500ml
A fluid restriction diet to control the number of beverages provided to patients requiring strict fluid restriction, limiting fluid intake to 1500mL per day.
Fluid diet - bariatric surgery - clear
A clear fluid diet appropriate for patients immediately after bariatric (weight loss) surgery, to prevent gastrointestinal symptoms, complications and to replace or maintain the body’s fluid balance.
Fluid diet - bariatric surgery - full
A full fluid diet appropriate for patients immediately after bariatric (weight loss) surgery, to prevent gastrointestinal symptoms, complications and to replace or maintain the body’s fluid balance.
Fluid diet - clear
A diet that provides clear fluids to replace or maintain the body’s water balance and leave minimum residue in the intestinal tract.
Fluid diet - clear - high protein
A diet that provides clear fluids to meet fluid requirements pre- and post-procedure while providing some protein, energy and micronutrients.
Fluid diet - elemental
A diet that provides nutrients as small molecular weight compounds, ie proteins as amino acids or peptides, carbohydrates as oligosaccharides or monosaccharides, and fats as medium-chain triglycerides.
Fluid diet - mildly thick level 2
A diet of fluids of a mildly thick (IDDSI level 2) consistency for patients with dysphagia as recommended by a speech pathologist.
Fluid diet - moderately thick level 3
A diet of fluids of a moderately thick (IDDSI level 3) consistency for patients with dysphagia as recommended by a speech pathologist.
Fluid diet - extremely thick level 4
A diet of fluids of an extremely thick (IDDSI level 4) consistency for patients with dysphagia as recommended by a speech pathologist.
Fluid diet - preoperative oral
A diet which continues oral fluids until 2 hours before a procedure to replace or maintain the body’s water balance and leave minimal residue in the stomach.
Fluid diet - preoperative oral diabetes
A diet which continues oral fluids for people with diabetes until 2 hours before a procedure to replace or maintain the body’s water balance and leave minimal residue in the stomach.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Post procedure diet - bariatric
A diet of pureed and soft foods suitable for patients following bariatric surgery.
Post procedure diet - bariatric surgery (soft)
A soft foods diet for patients who have successfully transitioned past the bariatric puree diet around four weeks after bariatric surgery.
Post procedure diet - bariatric surgery (puree)
A pureed food diet for patients who have successfully transitioned past the bariatric fluid diets after bariatric surgery.
Post procedure diet - cool / cold foods only
To provide a diet comprised of cold foods.
Post procedure diet - post operative (light)
A diet that contains foods lower in fat, gas-forming foods and spices (also known as light diet).
Post procedure diet - post gastrectomy
A diet and meal frequency appropriate for patients in the early post-operative phase after a gastrectomy or oesophagogastrectomy, and to minimise risk of dumping syndrome or oesophageal blockage.
Post procedure diet - post fundoplication 1
A diet appropriate for patients after the initial fluid diet post fundoplication surgery, to minimise pain, discomfort or obstruction at the surgical site.
Post procedure diet - post fundoplication 2
A diet appropriate for patients progressing from post fundoplication surgery diet 1, to minimise pain, discomfort or obstruction at the surgical site.
Post procedure diet - post stoma
A diet that minimises constipation, wind or diarrhoea associated with large bowel bypass stomas. This diet may not be required for patients with an established stoma.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Mineral / electrolyte diet - oxalate - low
A diet that limits oxalate intake to approximately 100mg per day and is moderate in protein and sodium.
Mineral / electrolyte diet - phosphate - low
A diet that limits phosphate intake to 1200mg per day.
Mineral / electrolyte diet - potassium - very low - 50mmol
A diet to limit total potassium intake to 50mmol (1950mg) per day.
Mineral / electrolyte diet - potassium - restricted - 70mmol
A diet to limit total potassium intake to 70mmol (2730mg) per day
Mineral / electrolyte diet - sodium - 50mmol
A diet limiting total sodium intake to 50mmol (1150mg) per day, to promote loss of excess fluid in oedema or ascites.
Mineral / electrolyte diet - sodium - 100mmol
A diet limiting total sodium intake to 100mmol (2300mg) per day.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Protein diet - controlled - 20g
A diet to limit protein intake to 20g per day.
Protein diet - controlled - 40g
A diet to limit protein intake to 40g per day.
Protein diet - controlled - 50g
A diet to limit protein intake to 50g per day.
Protein diet - controlled - 60g
A diet to limit protein intake to 60g per day.
Protein diet - controlled - 70g
A diet to limit protein intake to 70g per day.
Protein diet - high
A diet containing at least 105g protein per day (i.e. ~120% of the full diet).
Protein diet - Parkinson's
A diet with a carbohydrate to protein ratio ≥ 5.
Protein diet - phenylalanine - low (PKU)
A diet extremely low in phenylalanine, in order to reduce a high blood level to the desired range of 2-10mg/dL.
Protein diet - purine - low
A diet with a reduced purine content, to limit the production of uric acid.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Renal diet - haemodialysis
A diet suitable for patients undergoing haemodialysis.
Renal diet - peritoneal dialysis
A diet suitable for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Test diet - 5HIAA
A diet to avoid foods high in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) and its precursor, serotonin.
Test diet - catecholamine / VMA / metanephrines
A diet to avoid foods high in catecholamines.
Test diet - gelatine free
A diet to avoid foods high in gelatine.
Test diet - glucose tolerance
A diet with at least 150g of carbohydrate per day.
Test diet - histamine collection
A diet low in histamine.
Test diet - hydrogen breath test
A diet with minimal carbohydrate and dietary fibre.
Test diet - occult blood
A diet to avoid all sources of haemoglobin.
These documents are part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. They are not to be used for patient education.
Texture modified diet - soft - dental
A diet of softer-textured foods that can be easily chewed, requiring minimal biting.
Texture modified diet - no mixed consistency
A diet modified to exclude texture combinations.
Texture modified diet - liquid puree
A diet of liquid foods that requires no chewing.
Texture modified diet - smooth puree - dysphagia
A diet that is smooth and lump free, which requires no chewing.
Texture modified diet - cut up
A diet of softer-textured foods that can be easily chewed, requiring minimal biting.
Texture modified diet - soft - dysphagia
A diet of softer-textured foods that can be easily chewed, requiring minimal biting.
Texture modified diet - minced and bread – dental
A diet of softer-textured foods that can be easily chewed, requiring minimal biting.
Texture modified diet - minced and moist - dysphagia
A diet of softer-textured foods that can be easily chewed, requiring minimal biting.
Texture modified diet - puree and bread - dental
A diet that is smooth and lump free, which requires no chewing.