A liquid diet is often prescribed for the patient who is acutely ill, who is suffering from some gastro-intestinal condition, who has had surgery, or who for some reason is unable to swallow solid food. To satisfy nutritional requirements of the body, the patient on a liquid diet should be offered frequent feedings.

Fruit juices, tea or coffee, carbonate drinks strained soups, milk, eggnogs, thin custards, and ice cream are included in most liquid diets. Because sugar is a good source of energy, the doctor may request that certain drinks be sweetened, Cruel can be made by cooking cereal thoroughly, straining, and diluting with water or milk to make it easy to drink. Salt and butter or margarine may be added to make it more flavorful if the patient prefers. Flavorings such as vanilla and nutmeg are frequently added to milk or eggnog to make it more appetizing.

As the patient progresses toward recovery, the doctor may order a soft diet which will include buttered toast, breakfast cereals except bran, soft-cooked eggs, strained or pureed vegetables, and baked or mashed potatoes. As the patient improves, his meals gradually change from liquid, to soft, to light, and eventually to the general diet.

When the patient has a fever, body protein is destroyed in greater than normal amounts and the body’s need for fuel is increased above normal requirements. For these reasons, the doctor may order whenever he considers it wise, a diet that contains additional carbohydrates and protein for extra fuel and body building material.