Fluid diet - elemental

Aim

To provide a diet with nutrients as small molecular weight compounds, i.e. proteins as amino acids or peptides, carbohydrates as oligosaccharides or monosaccharides, and fats as medium-chain triglycerides.

Characteristics

All nutrition provided by commercial elemental liquid oral nutrition supplements.

Indications

Consider for patients with gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

This diet should only be used under dietetic supervision.

Nutritional adequacy

Palatability of the elemental nutritional supplements may limit a patient's ability to meet their energy needs. Exclusive extended use of elemental formulas can result in essential fatty acid deficiency.

Precautions

Variety and choice are severely limited in this diet.

Paediatrics

Suitable for use in paediatrics.

Specific menu planning guidelines

	Allowed	Not allowed
Hot main dishes	Nil	All
Sauces, gravies	Nil	All
Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice	Nil	All
Vegetables	Nil	All
Soups	Nil	All
Sandwiches	Nil	All
Salads, dressings	Nil	All
Breads, cereals	Nil	All
Spreads	Nil	All
Hot breakfast choices	Nil	All
Fruit	Nil	All
Yoghurt	Nil	All
Desserts	Nil	All
Milk and cheese	Nil	All
Beverages	Water	All others
Biscuits	Nil	All
Miscellaneous	Sugar Plain boiled sweets Commercial liquid oral elemental nutrition supplements	All others
Celebratory foods, special occasions	Nil	All

Change log