These clear liquid options are equally easy and tasty.
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
Key Points
- Colonoscopies are vital for preventing colon cancer and diagnosing other GI conditions.
- A dietitian prepares flavorful clear liquids, like dashi and lime Jell-O.
- Avoid red-colored liquids before a colonoscopy to prevent inaccurate results.
Whether you have a colonoscopy coming up or you’re thinking about scheduling your decennial visit, you may be dreading the mandatory clear liquid diet before your appointment. Fortunately, registered dietitian Kylie Sakaida took to Instagram to show what she personally preps ahead of a colonoscopy—don’t worry, there’s no plain chicken broth in sight.
“Colonoscopies are pivotal for preventing colorectal cancer and for early detection!” Sakaida wrote in a recent post. “Plus, they can also help diagnose other GI conditions, like IBD, microscopic colitis, etc.”
Sakaida mentions that she had her first colonoscopy at 22, and precancerous polyps were found and resected. So since then, the dietitian has made sure to get a precautionary colonoscopy every few years to be sure things are clear.
As someone that’s gotten multiple colonoscopies in her life, what clear liquids does she prepare ahead of her exam? Sakaida has some unique options for those that may be tired of the standard suggestions.
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“I’m making a simple dashi,” she shares. “Dashi is a basic Japanese soup stock that’s used as a base for many of the most popular Japanese dishes, and it’s a lot easier to make than you think. All you have to do is bring a pot with water and kombu (kelp) to a simmer over medium-low heat for around 15 minutes, then remove the kombu and add in dried bonito flakes. Remove from heat, let sit for 10 minutes, strain and store in a jar.”
This is a savory, pescatarian-friendly broth option that’s protein-packed and easy to prepare ahead of time.
“Something else that really helps is having something semi-solid that counts as a clear liquid so that I don’t feel like I’m drinking straight liquids all day long,” Sakaida says. “Which is why I’m making Jell-O, also because Jell-O is super easy and only requires mixing boiling water with powder, stirring until dissolved, adding cold water and refrigerating until it sets.” Be sure to choose a flavor with a non-red color—the dietitian notes that she loves strawberry Jell-O, but she opts for lime so she’s not eating something red right before the procedure. Having red liquids can lead to inaccurate results as it can be mistaken for blood in the colon.
On the day before her appointment, Sakaida had lime Jell-O for breakfast, strained pho broth for lunch, a fruit popsicle with no fruit pulp or dairy for a mid-day snack and had her homemade dashi for dinner alongside with her prescribed Dulcolax pills. She drinks Miralax and sports drink mixtures through the night into the morning ahead of her doctor visit.
“As someone who’s been overwhelmed by the prep myself, I get how stressful it can be,” the dietitian writes. “But having a couple clear liquid options that actually taste good can make the whole process a lot more manageable.”
And if you’re looking for more recipe inspiration, we’ve got you covered with some of our go-to clear broths and drinks below.
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