Your Diet and Preparing for Surgery

Adult Patients

Pediatric Patients

Download Guidelines in English or Spanish (pdf)

PREOPERATIVE FASTING GUIDELINES – ADULTS

The pre-surgical diet guidelines below are for general purposes only. Your physician or surgeon may require you to follow an alternative plan. In that case, follow your physician's instructions rather than the guidelines below.

Fourteen Days Prior to Surgery

Stop all nutritional and herbal supplements (vitamins/minerals/herbals)
EXCEPTIONS – the following are okay to continue: calcium, iron & vitamin D

The Day Before Surgery

Follow your regular diet
Do not eat any solid food after midnight (CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY after midnight)

Day of Surgery

If instructed, drink carbohydrate-rich drink (ENSURE CLEAR®, 6.8 oz) 3 hours before procedure
Take clear fluids only up to 3 hours before surgery or up until arrival at the Hospital.
Do not eat or drink anything after arriving at the hospital.

Clear Fluid Diet (Any Meal)

Allowed	Not Allowed
Water Apple, Cranberry & Grape Juice Gatorade Black Coffee or Tea Clear Broth Ginger ale and Seltzer Jello and Italian Ice Ensure Clear® – (IF instructed)	Milk or Dairy Products (including in coffee and tea) Citrus Juices Prune Juice Juices with Pulp Any food or beverage not listed in the “allowed” column

PREOPERATIVE FASTING GUIDELINES - PEDIATRICS

Eat a light dinner the day before surgery

Type of Food	Minimum Time Before Surgery
Clear liquids (water, fruit juices without pulp, carbonated beverages, clear tea, black coffee)	Allowed up to 3 hours before surgery
Breast milk	Allowed up to 3 hours before surgery
Infant formula	Allowed up to 6 hours before surgery
Non-human milk (cow milk, soy milk, etc.)	Allowed up to 6 hours before surgery
Solid meal	Allowed up to 8 hours before surgery