Post operative diets

NPO diet

• NPO is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “nil per os,” which means nothing by mouth. When you are labeled NPO by your doctor you cannot have anything that would go in your mouth including food, beverages and oftentimes medications. You can be made NPO for a variety of reasons including an upcoming surgery, medical procedure or test. You cannot have anything to eat or drink prior to surgery so honoring the NPO status is very important.

Regular (“house”) diet

• This is simply a well-balanced diet. There are no restrictions on specific foods or condiments (for example, salt, pepper, ketchup, salad dressing). There are many variations to the regular diet. For example, a high-calorie or low-calorie version may be ordered to promote weight gain or weight loss. A low-residue or high-fiber version may be ordered to either decrease or increase dietary fiber for people with certain digestive problems. A bland diet contains foods that are easy to digest and will not irritate the digestive tract.

Mechanical diet

• A mechanical diet is a diet that has been changed slightly to remove foods that are hard to chew or digest. The texture of the foods is altered to make them easier to eat, and fried or high-fi ber foods may be eliminated or very limited. A mechanical chopped diet provides foods cut in small pieces to make them easier to chew. Some people need only chopped meats. Others may also need vegetables chopped, depending on the vegetable. A mechanical soft diet includes foods that are ground up. For example, a sirloin steak would be put through a meat grinder to make a sirloin patty. Vegetables and other foods may also need to be altered to make them easier to chew.

Pureed diet

• For a pureed diet, the food is blended to a smooth consistency, similar to that of pudding or very moist mashed potatoes. Some people may require a drinkable puree. To create a drinkable puree, the food is blended to a liquid, milk shake–like consistency. Pureed and drinkable puree diets are often prepared for those who have very poor dentition, are very frail, or who have end-stage disease. Pureed food may not be very appealing to you, but it is important not to voice or show that opinion while serving or feeding this diet to others!

Carbohydrate (CHO)-controlled diet

• This diet, which contains limited amounts of carbohydrates, is ordered for people who have diabetes. The person’s specific energy and nutritional requirements determine the amounts of fat, protein, and carbohydrates that are permitted. Because these amounts vary among individuals, this diet is different for each person. The amount of carbohydrates that should be eaten daily is calculated by the dietitian. This amount is then spaced out throughout the day between the three main meals and snacks. This helps to maintain steady blood glucose levels throughout the day. Carbohydrate intake needs to be balanced with any medications that the person may be taking to lower blood glucose levels. When caring for a person with diabetes, you must make special note of the amount of food the person eats at each meal.

Clear-liquid diet

• Clear liquids are substances that can be poured at room or body temperature and that you can see through. Foods that are considered clear liquids include water, gelatin, fat-free broth or bouillon, popsicles, clear juices (for example, apple, cranberry, grape), clear carbonated sodas, and coffee and tea (without cream). Some medical tests require a person to be placed on a clear-liquid diet for a short period of time. A person who is nauseous or vomiting, or who has just had surgery or is recovering from an acute illness or trauma, may be given a clear-liquid diet initially. Clear liquids do not contain enough nutrients to maintain health for very long, so a person is usually progressed into a more nutritious diet as soon as the body can tolerate it.

Full-liquid diet

• A full-liquid diet is the clear-liquid diet, plus any food that can be poured at room or body temperature. For example, milk, plain frozen desserts (such as popsicles, ice cream, or frozen yogurt), pasteurized eggs (egg custard or eggnog), cereal gruels, and strained soups and juices are all considered full liquids. Full liquids contain more nutrition than clear liquids, but a high-calorie, high-protein liquid dietary supplement may be added if the person must be on a full-liquid diet for mare than 3 days.

Sodium-restricted diet

• Sodium restriction is helpful for the treatment of certain types of heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and kidney disease. A person on a sodium-restricted diet may be allowed to have a small amount of salt, or none at all. For example, some people may be able to eat foods that have some salt in them, but they will not be allowed to add extra salt at the table or eat very salty foods, such as pickles. Other people may have severe restrictions placed on their salt intakes. For these people, food will be prepared without any salt at all, and of course, the person will not be able to add salt to the food at the table. Some people on sodium-restricted diets may use salt substitutes. If you have a patient or a resident who has been placed on a sodium-restricted diet, make sure you know whether he is allowed to use a little bit of salt or salt substitute, or note at all.

Low-cholesterol diet

• Following a diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol is good advice for everybody, but it is especially good advice for a person with heart disease. Foods are chosen that are lower in animal fat and prepared in ways that do not add additional fats. The addition of butter, shortening, and margarine to foods is avoided, and foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and skim milt are encouraged.