You are getting ready for a colonoscopy and you are overwhelmed with the idea of having to cleanse your bowels the day before the surgery. Then, your physician hands you a list of foods you cannot eat several days before the procedure. But just because you have to follow a restricted diet does not mean you have to eat bland flavorless foods the week before your procedure.
There are several reasons your physician is asking you to follow these restrictions before your procedure. High-fiber, high-fat, and complex protein foods take time to digest and may reside in the colon for several days if not adequately processed. These residual fibers are difficult to flush out of the system, even with the laxatives you are given the day before the procedure. Inadequate bowel preparation can have the following consequences:
Five days before your colonoscopy your physician will ask you to avoid high-fiber foods and restrict your diet to proteins and foods that are easily digestible, well-cooked, tender, and peeled. In addition, there may be other restrictions to your diet which often include avoiding the following:
In addition, one day prior to your procedure you will be asked to cleanse your bowels and be on a clear liquid diet, with no exceptions. It is highly important you follow the directions ordered by your physician to be sure no food or fibers are left in the colon which can restrict the visualization of your intestinal lining.
With some meal planning and a trip to the grocery store, you will be able to prepare and eat meals that are flavorful and healthy and will not cause any problems during your colonoscopy. In this article, you will find that there are quite a few food options and recipes available to you and the preparation does not have to be a bland and tasteless dining experience.
The following shopping list and recipe suggestions are for reference use only. Be sure to check with your physician to be sure that what you eat or drink before your colonoscopy does not interfere with any medications or the procedure itself.
Beverages
Sports drinks
Coffee or tea
Water
Condiments
Margarine, butter, oils
Ketchup and mustard, and mayonnaise
Sour cream
Plain gravies
Spices, cooked herbs, and bouillon
Salad dressing
Sugar, honey, and syrup
Clear jelly
Milk and Milk Products
Sherbet
Evaporated or powdered milk
Low-fat cheeses
Skim or low-fat milk
Buttermilk
Custard
Smooth nonfat or low-fat yogurt (no seeds, berries, rinds, or nuts)
Fruit
Canned fruit (no pineapple)
Ripe bananas
Ripe melons
Strained fruit juice
Vegetables
Lettuce
Potatoes (skins removed)
Strained vegetable juice
Carrots
Asparagus tips
Pumpkin
Spinach
Meats and other proteins
Eggs
Smooth nut butters
Ground, well-cooked and tender beef, lamb, ham, veal, pork, fish, and poultry
Canned tuna
Grains
White or refined flour bagels, bread, and/or rolls
White rice
White or refined flour pastas
Cooked cereals like creamy rice
Crispy rice cereal or cornflakes
White or refined flour crackers
Fruits
Strained fruit juice (no prune juice)
Canned, pureed, and soft fruit (except pineapple)
Ripe banana
Ripe melons
Sweets or snacks
Gelatin
Hard candy
Plain cake or cookies
Plain pudding or custard
Sherbet
Popsicles
Pretzels
Low-fat ice cream
Days 2-5 Before Colonoscopy Recipes
Breakfast
Bagel and cream cheese, banana with honey
Scrambled eggs, white toast, and jam
Greek yogurt with honey and bananas topping
Half cantaloupe filled with greek yogurt and topped with honey
Pancakes (not whole-grain) with maple syrup
Lunch
Chicken tenders, lettuce salad with salad dressing of your choice (no seeds)
Turkey sandwich on white bread with avocados and baked potato chips
Tuna with olive oil and lemon juice on sour dough bread with honeydew melon cubes
Turkey sandwich on sourdough bread with honeydew melon cubes
Smooth peanut butter and honey sandwich, cottage cheese, and canned peaches
Dinner
Grilled chicken thighs, sauteed mushrooms, and white rice cooked in mushroom broth
Cedar plank wild salmon (not farmed), sauteed spinach with garlic, and Israeli couscous
Orecchiette with garlic and tender-cooked asparagus tips with olive oil and lemon
Grilled chicken breast, mashed potatoes (no skins), and tender carrots
Spaghetti with mushrooms, olive oil and garlic, lettuce salad with dressing (no seeds), plain ice cream
Day-before Colonoscopy Diet
You will typically be restricted to clear liquids. Clear liquids are any food or beverage that you can see through, are clear and transparent, and are not opaque or cloudy. Your clear liquids should not have any solids, pulp, or fibers like pieces of vegetables or noodles.
The bowel cleanse will remove a lot of water from your system, so it is important you stay well-hydrated during the preparation. The following list of clear liquids are options for you to consider to help you stay hydrated and help you feel satiated through the day.
Broths
Chicken broth
Vegetable broth
Beef consommé (clear)
Chicken or beef bouillon
Beverages
Flavored/sparkling waters
Clear fruit-flavored protein drinks (not red or purple)
Root beer
Ginger ale
Clear soda
Electrolyte sports drinks (no red or purple)
Coffee or tea (no creamer or dairy)
Clear fruit juice (no prune, red, or purple)
Powder drink mixes
Sweet Treats
Ice pops
Italian ice
Banana, green apple, lemon, or lime popsicles
Lemon-lime gelatin
Lemon, lime, green apple hard candies
Fruit-flavored gelatin
References
Colorectal Cancer Alliance Writing Staff. (2021). Sample six day colonoscopy prep guide. Retrieved from Colorectal Cancer Alliance: https://www.ccalliance.org/pdfs/resources/CCAlliance_ColonoscopyPrepGuide_SampleSixDay.pdf
Danahy, A. (2019, July 09). The definition of a clear liquid diet for a colonoscopy. Retrieved from Livestrong: https://www.livestrong.com/article/275954-the-definition-of-a-clear-liquid-diet-for-colonoscopy/
Gastro One Writing Staff. (2015, June). Pre-colonoscopy diet plant. Retrieved from Gastro One:
https://www.gastro1.com/images/Pre_Colonoscopy_Diet_Instructions.pdf
Kahi, C. J., et., al. (2016, March). Colonoscopy surveillance after colorectal cancer resection: recommendations of the US multi-society task force on colorectal cancer. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 83(3), 489-498.e10. Retrieved from Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016510716000468
Lahey Health. (2019, April 01). Low-fiber diet for colonoscopy. Retrieved from Beth Israel Layel Health: https://www.lahey.org/article/low-fiber-diet-for-colonoscopy/