What is "liquid diet"

n. a diet of foods that can be served in liquid or strained form (plus custards or puddings); prescribed after certain kinds of surgery

A liquid diet is a diet that mostly consists of liquids, or soft foods that melt at room temperature (such as gelatin and ice cream). A liquid diet usually helps provide sufficient hydration, helps maintain electrolyte balance, and is often prescribed for people when solid food diets are not recommended, such as for people who suffer with gastrointestinal illness or damage, or before or after certain types of medical tests or surgeries involving the mouth or the digestive tract.

A more substantial alternative to liquid diets is the mechanical soft diet, which accepts all types of liquids plus puréed or softened solid foods, such as overcooked pasta, scrambled eggs, bananas and cheesecake. For people who cannot swallow at all, a liquid diet may be delivered to the stomach or intestines through a feeding tube instead. When food cannot be delivered to the digestive tract, e.g., if the digestive tract needs to be empty in preparation for gastrointestinal surgery, then parenteral nutrition (nutrients by intravenous infusion) is the primary choice.