Transitional Diet

Description: 

This diet is designed to be used after colorectal and other types of surgery prior to advancing to regular diet.  Patients will be allowed to self-select foods and beverage items from the list below.  It consists of patient and research-reported tolerable foods and beverages after surgery and is more nutritionally adequate than the traditionally used clear liquids diet.  Once the patient demonstrates tolerance to this diet, their diet can be advanced to a regular diet or another therapeutic diet based on the patient’s clinical condition.

 

Indications:  

The objective is to provide foods and beverages that are well tolerated after surgery, in patients who have nausea or are just beginning to take an oral diet after a prolonged period NPO.  

Nutritional Adequacy: Adequacy varies significantly based on the items selected by patients.  The nutrient content can be inadequate to meet DRIs but this diet is meant to be used for a short period of time.

 

Available Items:

 

Beverages:

 

8 oz serving will be given unless requested differently

•    Juices

•    Milk

•    Soda

•    Coffee or tea (hot or iced)

•    Supplements: Ensure, CIB, etc.

 

Foods:

 

•    Tuna, Egg,  or Chicken Salad (alone or on a sandwich)  ½ cup

•    Grilled Cheese sandwich

•    Regular soup (not cream based)  6 oz

•    Eggs ½ cup

•    Hot or Cold Cereal  ½ cup

•    Toast or Muffin

•    Saltines, Graham Crackers, or Vanilla wafers

•    Fresh Fruit, Canned Fruit, or Applesauce ½ cup

•    Cooked vegetables  ½ cup

•    Potatoes  ½ cup

•    Cottage cheese  ½ cup

•    Yogurt  4 oz

•    Pudding ½ cup

•    Popsicles

•    Jello  ½ cup

•    Jelly, Sugar, creamer

 

How to Order the Diet:

Under “Diet” → “Adult” → Order “Transitional”

 

References:

  1. Warren J, Bhalla V, Cresci G. Postoperative diet advancement: surgical dogma vs evidence-based medicine. Nutr Clin Pract,2011;26(2):115-125.
  2. Hancock S, Cresi G, Martindale R. The clear liquid diet: When is it appropriate? Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2002;4:324-331.
  3. Willcutts K. Pre-op NPO and traditional post-op diet advancement: time to move on. Prac Gastroenterol. 2010;(90):16-27.
  4. Kasparek M, Mueller M, Glatzle J, Enck P, Becker H, Zittel T, Kreis ME. Postoperative colonic motility increases after early food intake in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Surgery. 2004;136(5):1019-1027.
  5. Yeung S, Fenton T. Colorectal surgery patients prefer simple solid foods to clear fluids as the first postoperative meal. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009;52(9):1616-1621.
  6. KPascal HE, Teeuwen P, Bleichrodt R, Strik C, Groenewoud J, Brinkert W, Van Laarhoven C, Van Goor H, Bremers AJ. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) versus conventional postoperative care in colorectal surgery. J Gastrointest Surg. 2010;14:88-95.
  7. Gianotti L, Nespoli L, Torselli L, Panelli M, Nespoli A. Safety, feasibility, and tolerance of early oral feeding after colorectal resection outside an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2011;26:747-753.