Diet Before Your Colonoscopy - White Diet and Clear Fluids Instructions

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Damian

Instructions for patients booked for a colonoscopy at Gastromedicine & Endoscopy explain how to prepare successfully by adjusting diet in the lead-up procedure. The document defines a three-day White Diet as a low-residue plan that includes only foods and drinks that are white or pale and excludes brightly coloured items. It provides permitted White Foods, a sample plan by meal, and guidance on Approved Clear Fluids to maintain hydration while completing bowel preparation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

What is a White Diet?

White Diet duration

White Foods permitted

White Foods to be excluded

White Diet Sample Plan

Breakfast

Morning Tea

Lunch

Afternoon Tea

Dinner

What are Clear Fluids?

Approved Clear Fluids

Fluids to be excluded

You are booked in for a colonoscopy at GASTROMEDICINE & ENDOSCOPY. It is imperative that you read thoroughly and follow the instructions below (and also your bowel preparation Instruction sheet which will have been emailed to you or given to you in person at one of our centres) in order to achieve a successful colonoscopy. In the lead up to your procedure you will need to alter your diet and follow a‘White Diet’. What is a White Diet? A‘White Diet’ is a simple low residue diet which is defined by eating foods or drinking beverages which are NOT brightly coloured. It is the eating of foods which are white or pale in colour ONLY. Brightly coloured foods and beverages in the bowel can compromise the quality of the bowel preparation and the views your gastroenterologist sees when performing the colonoscopy. A White Diet must be consumed for three (3) days in the lead up to your procedure. | White Foods Permitted | 􀁸 Milk, soy milk
􀁸 Milkshakes
􀁸 Yogurts (no fruits or syrups)
􀁸 Cream Soups
􀁸 Sour Cream
􀁸 Mayonnaise
􀁸 Butter / Margarine
􀁸 Cheese (all)
􀁸 White chocolates
􀁸 Vanilla ice cream
􀁸 Custard
􀁸 Tofu | 􀁸 White rice, rice noodles,􀁸 Rice bubbles
􀁸 Rice crackers
􀁸 White bread / toast / bread rolls, muffins
􀁸 White curry
􀁸 Potatoes
􀁸 Regular/White pasta
􀁸 Eggs,(egg white only)
􀁸 Fish (incl. tuna, salmon),􀁸 Chicken Breast (no skin)
􀁸 Pumpkin
􀁸 Bananas | 􀁸 Water
􀁸 Gatorade (Yellow in colour only)
􀁸 Lemonade
􀁸 Soft drinks (Lemonade or Lemon flavoured only)
􀁸 Tea / coffee
􀁸 White grape juice
􀁸 Apple Juice
􀁸 Icy pole (Lemonade or Lemon flavoured only)
􀁸 Salt, pepper, oils, cooking sauces | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | White Foods to be EXCLUDED | 􀁸 Anything not listed above
􀁸 Other white coloured foods such as, pears, parsnip, cauliflower, onion , coconut, porridge, mushrooms, semolina, couscous, popcorn | | | White Diet Sample Plan Breakfast 􀁸 Rice Bubbles with milk and white sugar 􀁸 Regular white toast and scrambled egg – egg white only Morning Tea 􀁸 Plain rice crackers with fetta cheese Lunch 􀁸 Sliced chicken breast, butter, regular white bread sandwich 􀁸 White chocolate 􀁸 Lemonade icy-pole Afternoon Tea 􀁸 Plain vanilla yoghurt or 􀁸 Vanilla milkshake Dinner 􀁸 White fish fillet with white rice or mashed potato or 􀁸 Regular pasta with diced chicken breast and parmesan cheese or 􀁸 Chicken soup (clear chicken broth/stock) with rice noodles and sliced chicken breast 􀁸 Bowl of ice cream 􀁸 Glass of soda water or lemonade What are Clear Fluids? Clear fluids are liquids which are clear in colour. The goal in ingesting clear fluids is to keep you hydrated while you are taking your bowel preparation. | Approved Clear Fluids | 􀁸 Water
􀁸 Lemonade
􀁸 Apple/Pear Juice (no pulp)
􀁸 Coffee/Tea without Milk
􀁸 Clear coloured fruit cordials
􀁸 Clear Broth
􀁸 Clear coloured soft drinks
􀁸 Clear coloured sports drinks | | --- | --- | | Fluids to be Excluded | Anything not listed above |

FAQs

What is a White Diet for colonoscopy preparation?

A White Diet is a simple low-residue diet that includes foods or beverages that are NOT brightly coloured. Only white or pale foods should be eaten because coloured items can compromise bowel preparation quality and the view during the procedure.

How long do I need to follow the White Diet before my colonoscopy?

A White Diet must be consumed for three (3) days in the lead up to your procedure.

What clear fluids are allowed, and what should be avoided?

Allowed clear fluids include water, lemonade, apple/pear juice with no pulp, coffee/tea without milk, clear coloured cordials, clear broth, and clear coloured soft or sports drinks. Fluids not listed above must be excluded.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Damian