A liquid diet is a temporary diet that, as the name suggests, involves consuming only fluids. There can be various reasons for following a liquid diet — weight loss, digestive issues, or post-operative dietary restrictions. Regardless of the reason, this is a temporary diet that essentially replaces all your meals with fluids. But, don’t worry. Even within this seemingly restrictive diet, you can take your pick of some of the most delicious foods.
Here’s a list of 30 liquid diet recipes ranging from rich smoothies and hearty soups to decadent mousse to help you get on top of your liquid diet.
#1. Tropical Smoothie
Whip up a delicious breakfast smoothie by adding exotic fruits like mango, pineapple, and papaya along with pineapple juice and coconut milk in a blender, and blitz until smooth. With the flavor this healthy smoothie sports, you’ll be revisiting this recipe more frequently than you’d imagine.
#2. Banana Almond Milk Smoothie
Made with frozen bananas, almond milk, flax seeds, vanilla extract, and just a hint of cinnamon, this wholesome banana almond milk smoothie is as delicious as it is healthy and filling. Smooth, creamy, and rich in protein, this smoothie is the perfect liquid breakfast to jumpstart your day.
#3. Healthy Unicorn Smoothie
Make this uniquely colorful smoothie by blending pitaya/dragon fruit puree, spirulina, orange juice, and frozen mango and banana to a thick and smooth paste. This is everything you’d want in a smoothie and more! Pipe blue-green drizzle around the sides of the serving glass, fill it with the smoothie, and add some whipped cream and enjoy!
#4. Blueberry, Banana, and Orange Smoothie
Blend fresh or frozen blueberries with your preferred milk option, wheatgrass strands (optional), and vanilla extract or essence to create a perfectly filling smoothie rich in vitamins and minerals. You can also add a sweetener of your choice if needed. This recipe is refreshingly delicious and can easily make the cut for meal rotation.
#5. Apple Pie Smoothie
Filled with the sweet and warm aroma of cinnamon, this recipe turns a classic apple pie into a drinkable, light, smoothie! Just blend apples, almond milk, rolled oats, pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, greek yogurt, and maple syrup in a blender until smooth and serve chilled to enjoy.
#6. Bloody Mary Green Smoothie
Spice up your weekend brunch with this green and healthy bloody mary recipe that is also alcohol-free. Add all the ingredients in a blender to make a smooth and creamy paste, adjust the seasonings, and serve! This fresh and delicious smoothie is destined to make your liquid diet enjoyable.
#7. Chocolate-Peanut Butter Shake
Looking to add a dose of protein to your diet? You can’t go wrong with this delicious and healthy protein shake. Made with just 4 ingredients — milk, chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, and creamy peanut butter — this inviting shake can be garnished with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup for added oomph.
#8. Chicken Consommé
Clarified homemade chicken and veggies infused with delicious spices, this chicken consommé takes its sweet time to simmer to perfection. To enjoy this rich bowl, make sure you cook it when you have nothing too important to do so you can accommodate the time (and stirring!) required to make this masterpiece.
#9. Pumpkin Mousse
Here’s a light, airy, no-bake dessert that tastes just like pumpkin cheesecake! Whip together brown sugar, cream cheese, and pumpkin pie spice, then add pumpkin puree and mix until combined. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon before serving!
#10. Cream of Broccoli Soup
The perfect comfort food, this cream of broccoli soup is a beautiful balance of creamy, satisfying, light, and nutritious. Cook yellow onions, broccoli with stalks, herbs, and spices until soft, and then blend until smooth. Garnish it with chives (optional) or a drizzle of heavy cream before serving.
#11. Banana Berry Smoothie
A popular favorite, this banana berry smoothie is made with wholesome ingredients and makes for a great breakfast or snack. To enjoy this fiber-packed dairy-free smoothie, add all the ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth. This recipe is versatile so feel free to switch the chia seeds with flax seeds or skip them entirely.
#12. Cream of Pea Soup
This velvety smooth, healthy, and creamy soup s perfect for warming you up on cold evenings. Make it with fresh or frozen peas, vegetable broth, onion, garlic, and heavy whipping cream, add salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh parsley or mint for a refreshing meal.
#13. Dark Chocolate Mousse
Don’t let your liquid diet stop you from indulging your sweet cravings. This sugar-free chocolate mousse recipe is a delicious, chocolatey, fudgy, and irresistible creation. All you need is dark chocolate (60% cocoa), salted butter, eggs, and salt. Serve chilled!
#14. Fresh Ginger Ale
This refreshing drink will quench your thirst on those hot days and be a great addition to your liquid diet meal plan. Fresh ginger, lemon peel, sugar, and club soda come together to make the perfect drink for a hot afternoon. Did we mention it can help you lose weight too?
#15. Green Smoothie
Made with just 4 ingredients — unsweetened almond milk, frozen spinach, frozen banana, and fruit of choice — this recipe makes room for add-ons like protein powder and collagen to boost its health quotient. Delicious flavor and lots of nutrition packed into a tall glass!
#16. Low-Fat Spinach Soup
Light, healthy, and filled with flavor, this low-fat spinach soup is a great way to get your daily dose of greens in. Cook and blend all the ingredients to create this warm, inviting meal. Season it with salt and pepper and add a dollop of Greek yogurt before serving.
#17. Magic Mineral Broth
This savory cleansing broth uses unpeeled carrots, red potatoes, sweet potatoes, garnet yam, garlic, onions, leek, celery, and a host of other ingredients to create a satiating, filling, and nutrient-rich mineral broth. Easy to make and incredibly healthy, you can even store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
#18. Nourishing Pumpkin Chai Latte
Made with a range of warm, aromatic ingredients, this comforting pumpkin chai latte is rich in vitamins that boost the immune system. In addition to sporting a rich flavor profile, the recipe is also incredibly versatile. This delightful latte makes staying on top of your dietary requirements infinitely easier!
#19. Pureed Sweet Potatoes
Pureed veggies are the easiest way to enjoy a variety of dishes even when following a liquid diet. To create this nutritious and flavorful recipe, simply roast the sweet potatoes, peel them once they’re cool, and blend them until smooth. Feel free to add a dash of milk for a creamier consistency.
#20. Peach Cobbler Smoothie
Satisfy your fall cravings with this smooth, healthy, and delicious peach cobbler smoothie. A liquid version of your favorite peach cobbler, this smoothie is nutrient-dense and wonderfully tasty. Just blend the ingredients and add ice/milk as required to achieve the desired consistency. Serve chilled!
#21. Sour Cream Crème Fraîche
Made with organic heavy cream and plain yogurt, this fermented sour cream is known to nourish the immune system and the brain. It is rich, creamy, and decadent, sporting a refreshingly light and subtle flavor. Use it as a base for frozen yogurt or ice creams — the possibilities are endless!
#22. Spinach Vegetable Barley Bean Soup
This nutrient-rich and gut-friendly soup is an excellent source of fiber, minerals, proteins, and vitamins. To enjoy the intense aromatic flavor of this recipe while maintaining your liquid diet, skip the spinach and blend the soup thoroughly. The smooth, creamy consistency of this healthy bowl of goodness will have you reaching for seconds!
#23. Sugar-free Apple Sauce
This versatile recipe uses apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, and water to create a flavorsome delight, perfect as a snack or condiment. In addition to being incredibly easy to make, this recipe can be made through three different methods — stovetop, slow cooker, and instant pot. And depending on which apple you use, this apple sauce will have distinct flavors.
#24. Thai Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
Made with lentils, lemongrass, kaffir lime, and other aromatic, flavorful ingredients, this Thai coconut curry lentil soup is rich in protein, fiber, and other essential minerals. Make sure you puree it with an immersion stick blender to get rid of the carrot chunks for a smoother consistency.
#25. Tomato Basil Soup
Roasted tomatoes simmered with onions, garlic, carrots, thyme, vegetable broth, and just a splash of balsamic vinegar, this recipe creates a picture-perfect nutritious soup. Garnish a steaming bowl of tomato basil soup with fresh basil to enjoy comfort food at its finest.
#26. Vanilla Bean Custard
Boasting an impressive velvety smooth texture and incredible flavor, this vanilla bean custard has just the right consistency to make the cut for your liquid diet. To control the thickness of your custard, monitor the amount of cornstarch you use in its composition. Serve warm or cold for a tantalizing dessert!
#27. Vegan Jello
To make this delicious jello, all you have to do is throw fruit juice, vegan gelatin (agar-agar), and sugar (optional) in a saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil, pour the jello into cups/glasses, and refrigerate. Remember to stir frequently with a whisk to get the consistency just right.
#28. Vegan Tofu Ricotta
This dairy-free, protein-rich tofu ricotta recipe has a melt-in-the-mouth texture that resembles the real ricotta cheese. Make this gluten-free recipe by blending tofu, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, lemongrass, nutritional yeast, parsley, salt, and spinach. To keep the consistency to your liking, simply add oat milk as required.
#29. Vegetable Broth
The flavorful, easy-to-make vegetable broth uses kitchen scraps and ingredients easily found in the refrigerator to create a delicious base for a range of different recipes. Once cooked, pour it through a fine mesh strainer to discard the solids. To use this broth as stock, skip the seasonings and keep the leftovers in the freezer for future use.
#30. Zucchini Cashew Thyme Soup
Featuring exciting flavors, this creamy and delicious soup is made with just 4 ingredients — cashews, onions, thyme, and zucchini! This zucchini cashew thyme soup is a healthy, vegan meal that’s extremely easy to put together and sports an incredibly silky flavor profile.
