What is a clear liquid diet?
A clear-liquid diet means consuming only see-through liquids—no solid food allowed. Because these liquids are so easy to digest, they leave nothing behind in your system.
Please remember: This is a short-term diet to help you prepare for your medical appointment. It does not provide the daily nutrients your body needs, so it should only be followed for the short time your doctor recommends.
Why you need it: It gently clears out your stomach and intestines. This gives your doctor a perfect, unobstructed view during your upcoming procedure, ensuring the most accurate results. It can also help rest your stomach if you are dealing with digestive issues like diarrhea.
Prepping for a colonoscopy or EGD? Avoid a canceled appointment by following our exact clear liquid diet checklist. Here is what is ok and not ok.
Ok to drink:
Beverages:
Coffee, tea (hot or cold), Kool-Aid, pop, water, apple juice, grape juice, lemonade, cranberry juice and sports drinks like Gatorade. Nothing thick or pulpy like smoothies or orange juice with pulp. Drinks that are yellow, green, purple or blue are fine.
Soups:
Bouillon and broths like chicken and beef broth. Liquid only, do not eat anything solid like noodles with the broth.
Sweets:
Fruit ices without milk, fruit ices without fruit pieces, hard candy, Jell-O and popsicles. Yellow, green, purple or blue is fine.
Not ok to drink:
- Anything with red or orange artificial coloring. This is important to avoid because red and orange food coloring can look like blood during the procedure.
- Milk
- Cream
- Orange Juice (with pulp)
- Applesauce
- Pudding
- Coffee that contains cream
- Solid food
Updated August 2026