Fluid diet - clear
This document is part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. It is not to be used for patient education.
Aim
To provide clear fluids to replace or maintain the body’s water balance and leave minimum residue in the intestinal tract.
Characteristics
Only fluids or foods that liquefy at room temperature and that are transparent in appearance. All liquids containing fat are excluded.
Indications
Where appropriate, clinicians may consider ordering this diet for patients:
- following gastrointestinal surgery, as a first step in oral rehydration
- to reduce the amount of residue in the colon, as preparation for bowel surgery or barium enema
- severe nausea, vomiting or acute diarrhoea.
Nutritional adequacy
This diet is inadequate in all nutrients and should not be used as the sole source of nutritional support for more than three days, unless appropriate nutrition supplements are used.
Precautions
Patients may not receive a menu. If this diet is to be used in preparation for a gastrointestinal procedure, confirm local protocol. Commercial clear nutritional supplements may include whey protein as an ingredient. Commercial thickening agents are a source of fibre.
Paediatrics
Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.
Specific menu planning guidelines
| Allowed | Not allowed | |
|---|---|---|
| Hot main dishes | None | - |
| Sauces, gravies | None | - |
| Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice | None | - |
| Vegetables | None | - |
| Soups | Fat-free, clear soup and broths | Cream soup or soup with visible food pieces |
| Sandwiches | None | - |
| Salads, dressings | None | - |
| Breads, cereals | None | - |
| Spreads | None | - |
| Hot breakfast choices | None | - |
| Fruit | None | - |
| Yoghurt | None | - |
| Desserts | Plain jelly, sorbet | All others |
| Milk and cheese | None | - |
| Beverages | Water, apple juice, other pulp-free fruit juice, cordial, soft drink Black tea and coffee | All other Prune juice |
| Biscuits | None | - |
| Miscellaneous | Plain boiled sweets, gums and jubes Commercial rehydration fluids Ice-blocks Commercial clear fat-free, fibre-free, liquid nutritional supplements Commercial clear fat-free, liquid thickened fluids Sugar, salt, sweetener | Cream, pepper All other commercial supplements All other commercial thickened fluids |
References
- Dietitians Association of Australia. Nutrition manual. 9th ed. Canberra: DAA; 2014.
- Belsey J, Epstein O, Heresbach D. Systematic review: oral bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2007;25:373-84.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preoperative Fasting. Practice guidelines for preoperative fasting and the use of pharmacologic agents to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration: application to healthy patients undergoing elective procedures. Anesthesiol 1999;90:896-905.