People resort to a liquid diet for different reasons, such as digestive issues, weight loss, cleansing, dental problems, preparing for medical tests or due to swallowing difficulties. With increased awareness chefs around the world share different drinks that are packed with vital nutrients for such times.
Some people might think that a liquid diet may not get you enough nutrients but that is just a myth. It can give enough fluids to help you stay hydrated and active. You can also get the electrolytes such as potassium and sodium that can help you stay active throughout the day.
Looking out for the right liquid diet can be a hassle, no matter if we have got it covered. Follow the liquid diet chart below for a 7 day guide on what and how to eat.
Liquid Diet Chart for Weight Loss
A liquid diet emphasizes offering fewer calories approximately between 400 to 800 per day. By burning out more calories than you intake through your food, you can lose weight. You can lose between 2 and 4 pounds a week if you resort to a liquid only diet that offers between 800 to 1200 calories.
To cut back on calories while promoting weight loss you should have high protein drinks in place of meals. The main advantage of a liquid diet is that it eliminates the temptation to eat as it makes you feel fuller. You can enjoy lots of delicious foods such as vegetable soups, fruit smoothies, broths and low calorie yogurt.
Now that you have an idea of what the liquid diet is all about, consult the table below for a comprehensive guide on liquid diet plan. Make sure to consult a nutritionist or a medical practitioner before starting a liquid diet.
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | – Green smoothie made with spinach, kale, cucumber, and almond milk |
| – Meal replacement shake with low-fat milk or almond milk | |
| – Vegetable or fruit juice (freshly squeezed or store-bought), diluted | |
| – Clear broth or vegetable-based soup | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or infused water with lemon or cucumber slices | |
| Snack | – Low-calorie protein shake or smoothie |
| – Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with a sprinkle of cinnamon | |
| – Vegetable juice or green juice | |
| – Clear protein drink or liquid supplement | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or flavored water with no added sugars | |
| Lunch | – Vegetable soup or broth-based soup |
| – Protein shake or smoothie with added vegetables | |
| – Homemade vegetable or fruit juice | |
| – Clear protein drink or liquid supplement | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or infused water with fresh herbs or citrus slices | |
| Snack | – Low-calorie protein shake or smoothie |
| – Blended fruit or vegetable puree | |
| – Gelatin or sugar-free pudding | |
| – Clear broth or consommé | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or sparkling water | |
| Dinner | – Vegetable pureed soup or blended soup |
| – Meal replacement shake or smoothie | |
| – Homemade vegetable juice or green juice | |
| – Clear protein drink or liquid supplement | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or infused water with berries or mint leaves | |
| Evening Snack | – Low-calorie protein shake or smoothie |
| – Unsweetened almond milk or soy milk with added cinnamon | |
| – Vegetable juice or herbal tea | |
| – Sugar-free gelatin or pudding | |
| – Water or herbal tea |
Liquid Diet Chart for Patients
People going for a medical procedure or before surgery, require to be on a full liquid diet. This is to avoid problems during the procedure, and the patients are also required to continue this diet even after the surgery.
Patients on a liquid diet cannot eat mashed foods such as mashed potatoes or avocado. Also, you need to refrain from all kinds of cheese, meats and cereals. On top of that, you have to let go of all your guilty pleasures such as chips, chocolates, cookies, nuts and frozen desserts.
Looking at the bright side you can enjoy fruit juices popsicles, jell-O, frozen yoghurts, butter, cream, custard and pudding. To know more about what food options you have for patients on a liquid diet consult the table below.
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | – Clear broth or vegetable-based soup |
| – Nutritional supplement drink (e.g., Ensure, Boost) | |
| – Strained fruit juice or vegetable juice | |
| – Sugar-free gelatin or pudding | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or infused water with lemon or cucumber slices | |
| Snack | – Protein-rich liquid supplement |
| – Yogurt or pudding (if tolerated) | |
| – Homemade fruit or vegetable smoothie | |
| – Clear broth or consommé | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or flavored water with no added sugars | |
| Lunch | – Blenderized soup or pureed soup |
| – Protein shake or smoothie with added nutrients | |
| – Homemade vegetable or fruit juice | |
| – Clear protein drink or liquid supplement | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or infused water with fresh herbs or citrus slices | |
| Snack | – Protein-rich liquid supplement |
| – Blended fruit or vegetable puree | |
| – Sugar-free gelatin or pudding | |
| – Clear broth or consommé | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or sparkling water | |
| Dinner | – Pureed or strained vegetable soup |
| – Meal replacement shake or smoothie | |
| – Homemade vegetable juice or green juice | |
| – Clear protein drink or liquid supplement | |
| – Herbal tea or decaffeinated tea | |
| – Water or infused water with berries or mint leaves | |
| Evening Snack | – Protein-rich liquid supplement |
| – Unsweetened almond milk or soy milk with added nutrients | |
| – Vegetable juice or herbal tea | |
| – Sugar-free gelatin or pudding | |
| – Water or herbal tea |
Semi Liquid Diet Chart
People recovering from a medical procedure or surgery often follow this diet to turn towards food swallowing slowly. This form of diet is best for people suffering from gastrointestinal problems. Semi-liquid diet is low in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and energy hence it should not be continued for a long time with a doctor’s consultation.
The diet also lacks fibre hence the doctor may prescribe you to take fibre supplements to avoid constipation. A semi liquid diet can include several small meals in a day that include soups, thin meat purees, eggs, strained fruit juices, pasta, thin purees of vegetables, yogurts, and almond-free desserts. To know more about what you can eat on a semi-liquid diet follow the table below.
| Meal | Semi-Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | – Cream of wheat or rice cereal |
| – Blended oatmeal or porridge | |
| – Soft scrambled eggs or egg custard | |
| – Blended fruit or vegetable smoothie | |
| – Pureed or mashed fruits (e.g., bananas, peaches) | |
| – Yogurt or cottage cheese (if tolerated) | |
| Snack | – Smooth fruit yogurt or pudding |
| – Applesauce or fruit puree | |
| – Blended soup or broth | |
| – Protein shake or smoothie with added nutrients | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice (strained or blended) | |
| – Water or herbal tea | |
| Lunch | – Pureed or mashed vegetables |
| – Soft cooked or mashed proteins (e.g., fish, chicken, tofu) | |
| – Blended or strained soups | |
| – Yogurt or cottage cheese (if tolerated) | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice (strained or blended) | |
| – Water or herbal tea | |
| Snack | – Blended or mashed avocado |
| – Smooth fruit or vegetable yogurt | |
| – Protein-rich smoothie or shake | |
| – Gelatin or pudding | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice (strained or blended) | |
| – Water or herbal tea | |
| Dinner | – Pureed or mashed proteins (e.g., meat, poultry, beans) |
| – Soft cooked or pureed vegetables | |
| – Mashed or blended potatoes or grains | |
| – Blended or strained soups | |
| – Yogurt or cottage cheese (if tolerated) | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice (strained or blended) | |
| Evening Snack | – Smooth fruit or vegetable yogurt |
| – Blended or mashed fruits | |
| – Protein-rich smoothie or shake | |
| – Gelatin or pudding | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice (strained or blended) | |
| – Water or herbal tea |
Indian Liquid Diet Chart
A liquid diet plan is great for weight loss and detoxification. It helps in retaining electrolyte balance and keeps you energized. When a diet regime is followed for too long it loses its effectiveness, in this case, you can resort to an Indian liquid diet plan to weight lose effectively.
Indian cuisines have a wide range of foods that you can try on a liquid diet that includes upma, lentil soup, lassi, think lentil curry, blended khichdi, carrot soup, and much more.
Being on a liquid diet doesn’t mean you have to eat boring stuff, you can enjoy blended fruit smoothies with yogurt, fruit juices, coconut milk-based thin curry, and much more.
However, liquid diets are low in calories and are not sufficient to fulfill the calorie requirement for a long period of time. Hence, it should be followed for a short period of time to avoid deficiencies. For a complete breakdown of the Indian foods best for a liquid diet, have a look at the table below.
| Meal | Indian Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | – Rava (semolina) porridge or upma |
| – Moong dal (split yellow lentil) soup | |
| – Buttermilk or lassi | |
| – Blended fruit smoothie with yogurt | |
| – Coconut water or herbal tea | |
| – Water or infused water with lemon or mint leaves | |
| Snack | – Tomato or beetroot soup |
| – Thin dal (lentil) or sambhar | |
| – Blended fruit or vegetable juice | |
| – Protein-rich smoothie with yogurt or tofu | |
| – Water or herbal tea | |
| Lunch | – Blended khichdi (rice and lentil porridge) |
| – Pureed dal (lentil) or rasam | |
| – Vegetable soup with blended vegetables | |
| – Curd or yogurt (if tolerated) | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice | |
| – Water or infused water with herbs or spices | |
| Snack | – Blended spinach or carrot soup |
| – Coconut milk-based curry | |
| – Protein-rich smoothie with yogurt or protein powder | |
| – Blended fruit or vegetable juice | |
| – Water or herbal tea | |
| Dinner | – Pureed or strained dal (lentil) or soup |
| – Blended or strained vegetable curry | |
| – Mashed or blended rice or roti | |
| – Buttermilk or lassi | |
| – Fruit or vegetable juice | |
| – Water or infused water with citrus slices or herbs | |
| Evening Snack | – Blended or strained fruit yogurt |
| – Raita or blended cucumber with yogurt | |
| – Protein-rich smoothie with yogurt or protein powder | |
| – Blended fruit or vegetable juice | |
| – Water or herbal tea |
Also read: Caffeine Level in Drinks Chart
VRK Liquid Diet Chart
Veeramachaneni Ramakrishna’s suggests following his liquid diet plan first for as long as you are comfortable. This liquid diet boasts to make you lose more weight than any other diet. In the VRK liquid diet you are allowed 70 to 100gms of fat which can be olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, butter or cheese.
Take 500 ml of water and add 20 – 30gms of fat of your choice and drink it. This should be repeated several times in a day until you consume 70-100gms of fat. You are required to drink atleast 4 litres of water and 2 multivitamin tablets.
To make it easy to stay hydrated you can add 2 tbsp of curd and 1 lemon in 1 litre of water to enhance it’s taste. Don’t be startled there aren’t any more guidelines for the VRK liquid diet chart, have a look at the VRK liquide diet chart below to know the different meal options.
| Meal | VRK Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Morning | – Warm water with lemon juice and honey |
| – Herbal tea or decoction | |
| – Fresh fruit or vegetable juice (strained) | |
| – Tender coconut water | |
| – Buttermilk or lassi | |
| – Vegetable clear soup or broth | |
| – Herbal concoctions prescribed by VRK followers | |
| Afternoon | – Fruit and vegetable juices (strained) |
| – Tender coconut water | |
| – Herbal tea or decoction | |
| – Sprouted moong or lentil water | |
| – VRK-approved herbal drinks or potions | |
| – Nut milk or almond milk (strained) | |
| Evening | – Herbal tea or decoction |
| – Fresh vegetable or fruit juice (strained) | |
| – Tender coconut water | |
| – VRK-approved herbal drinks or potions | |
| – Nut milk or almond milk (strained) | |
| – VRK-approved herbal concoctions | |
| Night | – Herbal tea or decoction |
| – VRK-approved herbal drinks or potions | |
| – VRK-approved soups or broths | |
| – Nut milk or almond milk (strained) | |
| – VRK-prescribed liquid offerings | |
| – VRK-approved herbal concoctions | |
| Before Bed | – Warm milk with turmeric and spices (as per VRK guidelines) |
| – Herbal tea or decoction | |
| – VRK-prescribed liquid offerings | |
| – VRK-approved herbal concoctions | |
| – VRK-approved herbal drinks or potions | |
| – Nut milk or almond milk (strained) |
7 Days Liquid Diet Chart
If you are looking to reduce weight through a liquid diet then there are several different types of diets you can try.
Detox Liquid Diet
A detox diet helps eliminate toxins from your body that causes fatigue, headaches, indigestion, etc. Such diets involve juices from fruits and green leafy vegetables.
Although this form of diet is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that are needed by the body but they lack energy, fats, protein, essential vitamins, and minerals hence it cannot be continued on its own for a longer time.
Meal Replacement Liquid Diet
As the name suggests, you’ll be replacing your meals with healthy liquid food alternatives such as soups and shakes. It is considered an effective way to lose weight.
Clear Liquid Diet
A clear liquid diet consists of clear liquids, and such a diet is normally used for a short time usually after recovering from surgeries. You can enjoy fat-free broth, juices, coffee without milk, and strained vegetable juices on this diet.
Full Liquid Diet
A full-liquid diet is usually used as a transition between a clear liquid diet and solid foods. Foods that can turn liquid at room temperature can be consumed on this diet such as milk, smoothies, fruit juices, and shakes.
Our 7-day liquid diet plan involves a combination of the four types of diet plans mentioned above to help you lose weight fast.
Day 1
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Meal replacement shake or smoothie |
| Lunch | Vegetable or chicken broth |
| Snack | Fruit smoothie or yogurt |
| Dinner | Blended soup or pureed vegetables |
| Evening Snack | Protein-rich smoothie or protein shake |
Day 2
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Protein shake or smoothie |
| Lunch | Clear vegetable soup or consommé |
| Snack | Blended fruit or vegetable juice |
| Dinner | Mashed potatoes or blended rice porridge |
| Evening Snack | Yogurt or cottage cheese smoothie |
Day 3
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Meal replacement shake or smoothie |
| Lunch | Protein-rich soup or broth |
| Snack | Blended fruit or vegetable juice |
| Dinner | Pureed lentil soup or dal |
| Evening Snack | Protein smoothie or yogurt |
Day 4
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Vegetable juice or smoothie |
| Lunch | Creamy vegetable soup or pureed vegetables |
| Snack | Fruit smoothie or yogurt |
| Dinner | Blended tomato soup or gazpacho |
| Evening Snack | Protein-rich smoothie or protein shake |
Day 5
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Meal replacement shake or smoothie |
| Lunch | Protein-rich vegetable broth or clear soup |
| Snack | Blended fruit or vegetable juice |
| Dinner | Pureed chicken or fish soup |
| Evening Snack | Yogurt or cottage cheese smoothie |
Day 6
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Protein shake or smoothie |
| Lunch | Creamy mushroom soup or pureed vegetables |
| Snack | Blended fruit or vegetable juice |
| Dinner | Blended butternut squash soup or puree |
| Evening Snack | Protein smoothie or yogurt |
Day 7
| Meal | Liquid Diet Options |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Vegetable juice or smoothie |
| Lunch | Protein-rich tomato soup or broth |
| Snack | Fruit smoothie or yogurt |
| Dinner | Blended pea soup or pureed vegetables |
| Evening Snack | Protein-rich smoothie or protein shake |
Final Words
Your diet has a strong impact on your health, so make sure to choose wisely what you eat. No matter which diet you choose you should know it’s pros and cons beforehand.
If you have a medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease then it’s best to consult a physician before starting any form of diet. Undoubtedly, a liquid diet is effective in enabling weight loss, you can consult the liquid diet charts above to help you plan your meals and make them delicious.