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24 Hour Clear Liquid Diet

24 Hour Clear Liquid Diet Protocol You are required to start a 24 hour clear liquid diet the day before your surgery. This will ensure an empty stomach the day of surgery and minimize the risk of a surgery complication. Recommended Choices for Clear Liquid Diet

Written byTrace Curry, MD, FASMBS

Published June 17, 2025 Updated June 17, 2025 1 min read

24 Hour Clear Liquid Diet Protocol

You are required to start a 24 hour clear liquid diet the day before your surgery. This will ensure an empty stomach the day of surgery and minimize the risk of a surgery complication.

Recommended Choices for Clear Liquid Diet

Clear broth or bouillon – chicken, beef, or vegetable
Water or ice chips
Crystal Light or sugar-free Kool-Aid
Tea and coffee (NutraSweet, Splenda, Sweet-n-low, Stevia allowed)
100% fruit juice (NO MORE THAN 8 OUNCES A DAY)
Sugar-free gelatin
Propel Zero, Powerade Zero, or Gatorade Zero
Sugar-free popsicles
Bariatric Advantage clear protein drink (Journeylite)
Journeylite supplements: fruit drinks, protein bouillon, and hot beverages (made with 8oz water)

Educational information: This article is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice. Treatment recommendations and eligibility vary. Please discuss personal questions with your JourneyLite care team or another qualified healthcare professional.

Topics clear liquid diet

About the contributor

Trace Curry, MD, FASMBS

Trace Curry, MD, FASMBS, is a board-certified general surgeon, founder of JourneyLite Physicians, and Medical Director of JourneyLite Surgery Center. He has more than two decades of experience in bariatric and metabolic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, gastric balloon therapy, revisional procedures, and comprehensive medical weight management.