Diet

Your Diet

The following was written to help you select and prepare foods for your liquid diet. Don’t despair you can still eat all the foods you like – just blend them up! There are many tested and tasty recipes for you to try on the following pages. The calorie counts and important nutrients are listed for each recipe. Try to maintain your normal weight when you are on your liquid diet. Normally men require about 2700 calories daily, while women require about 2100 calories daily. For proper healing, you may need more calories, protein and vitamins than normal. To help meet these, eat more frequently (6-8 times daily).

Nutritionally Speaking

It is helpful to know a few nutritional terms and their functions.

Protein – functions in the growth and maintenance of tissues
Calcium – is important in bone formation and clotting
Vitamin A – is vital in the formation and maintenance of skin
Vitamin C – is important for the development of bone matrix, cartilage and collagen
Potassium – helps maintain the body’s water balance
Iron – essential in maintaining the blood supply and is absorbed better when eaten with foods with Vitamin C

Continue taking vitamins if you do so. Whole vitamins can be smashed in a cloth with a hammer and dissolved in juice or soup. Prescribed liquid vitamins may also be taken.

Bowl movements may become less frequent. Do not be alarmed. Rather, try adding bran or wheat germ to your diet for needed bulk.

If you have any pre-existing conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions, etc.) whereby a specific diet plan has been prescribed, continue to follow the diet recommendations of your physician.

Sample Menu

Breakfast: Mexican Cocoa – 260 calories

Midmorning: Pear Icey – 380 calories

Lunch: Vegetable Soup – 475 calories

Midafternoon: Apple Fizzy – 190 calories

Dinner: Lobster Bisque – 600 calories

Snack: Lemon Lift – 450 calories

Total: 2355 calories