The Full Liquid Diet

The full liquid diet is most often used after surgery prior to reintroducing solids to a patient's diet, for accident victims requiring their jaws to be wired shut, after dental procedures, as well as other health related issues, which may prohibit someone from chewing or swallowing properly. The full liquid diet may also be used for fasting. The full liquid diet should not be used for a long period of time because it is low in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and thiamine.

Foods you can eat while on the full liquid diet include milk, milkshakes, custard, pudding, ice cream, eggnog, all vegetable and fruit juices or nectars, grits, oatmeal, cream of wheat, cream of rice, farina, butter, margarine, and cream. Other foods you can eat on the full liquid diet include sugar, hard candy, plain gelatin, fruit ice, sherbet, honey, syrups, all beverages, and soups such as, strained creamed soups, broths, and bouillon.

Foods you should avoid when using the full liquid diet include cheese of any kind, all vegetables, all fruit, bread, meats, oils other than butter, margarine, or cream, solid desserts, and chunky soups.

A sample menu for the full liquid diet may include the following:

Breakfast - 1-cup of fruit juice, 1/2 -cup of hot cereal, 8 ounces of eggnog, 8 ounces of whole milk, and hot tea with sugar and lemon

Lunch and Dinner - 3/4 -cup of strained creamed soup, 1-cup of juice, 1/2 -cup of ice cream, 1/2 -cup of pudding, 8 ounces of whole milk, hot tea with sugar and lemon, salt, and pepper

In the event you have to remain on the full liquid diet for a long period of time, you can add more protein and calories to your diet by adding the following foods instant breakfast powders, dry milk, and strained meats in broths. Other tricks for adding calories to the full liquid diet include putting ice cream, sugar, or syrups in your soft drinks and always adding a breakfast mix to your milk.

Whether you are fasting or recovering from a surgery or other health related problem, the full liquid diet is a good way to supplement your diet until you can return to solid foods.

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