Diet Order Abbrevs.

As you can imagine, there are many different diet orders in the hospital. Techs and clerks use abbreviation/s on tickets for patients' meal orders. The tickets are on the tray with the meal and have the patient name, DOB (date of birth), room number, diet order, and a list of all items on the tray.  Before trays are passed, diet orders are read off the tickets to the charge nurse or secretary in each unit.  This is done because a diet order may change after tickets are printed (i.e. a patient may move from a liquid to puree diet or from a regular diet to no food by mouth).  Keep in mind different staff or hospitals may use different abbreviations.  Do you know some abbreviations? Let's find out!

1. ClLiq
2. FlLiq
3. GBPs
4. LctOv Veg
5. LactI
6. CarbCont
7. LoFt
8. Viet
9. 18Cal
10. 15Fl
11. GERD
12. TF
13. NPO
14. GlutF
15.  MinFib
16. LoFib
17. Microb
18. NAS
19. 2gNA
20. Card
21. Lo Res
22. Veg
23. Kosh
24. Dys 1/2/3
25. HnyThc, NctThc
26. K
27. HiFib
28. Reg
29. RnlStnd

1.  ClLiq: Clear Liquid

taken from be-kind-have-faith.blogspot

Clear liquids include juice, tea, coffee, water, jello, broth, and popsicles (anything clear that melts at room temperature).  May be reserved for patients with digestive issues or prior to medical procedures.  Post-partum patients that have undergone a Cesarean section will be put on this diet post op.  Should be followed short term as it contains minimal energy, fat, and protein. (I had a patient this week on a Cl Liq who kept asking for a pitcher of beer, I mean he kind of has a point...)

taken from sparrowhawkseries.com

2.FlLiq: Full Liquid
Full liquids include cream based soup, pudding, custard, ice cream, milk, milkshake, supplemental shake, and creamer.  Patients usually transition from a clear liquid to a full liquid or may be on this diet prior to or after a procedure.  As you can imagine, a full diet can offer more energy, fat, and protein than a clear diet.






3. GBPs: Gastric Bypass
After a patient undergoes gastric bypass surgery it is absolutely essential that their intake is monitored.  A patient will start with a clear liquid diet, but only when the nurse allows them to begin eating.  In fact, a GBPs patient's first tray will not be delivered but put in the fridge.  A nurse/doctor will decide when the patient is ready.  This is because the body must heal and adjust to eating patterns.  Post op patients will transition from clear liquid, to full, to puree, to mechanical soft, to regular foods.  Straws are NOT allowed for GBPs patients because you don't want them to be in-taking anything too rapidly. 

4. LctOvVeg: Lacto Ovo Vegetarian
Does not eat any meat, including fish.  Does eat dairy and milk products.

5. LactInt: Lactose Intolerant
Does not eat dairy products.  This includes ice cream, milk, cheese, ranch dressing, some shakes, etc.

6. CarbCont: Carbohydrate Control
Usually for patients with diabetes.  Need to make sure patient has protein  with carbohydrates and encourage whole grain sources and fiber.  Limit fruits, juices, and other starches.

7.  LoFt: Low fat
Limit fat.  For example if a patient has had their gallbladder removed.

taken from Stanford School of Medicine: eCampus Gariatrics

 8.  Viet: Vietnamese food
Some hospitals may offer Vietnamese food for patients who are Vietnamese.  A nurse has to request this order.  Items may include a pork based porridge for breakfast, tofu, stir fry, chicken, won ton soup, fish, rice, soy milk, and tea.





9. 18Cal: 1800 calorie diet
May have any number (i.e. 20 for a 2000 kcal diet).  Patient may have to limit calories for weight loss or diabetes.   

10.  15Fl: Fluid Restricted to 1500 mL
A patient may be on a fluid restriction if suffering from edema or swelling.  Fluid may be distributed evenly (i.e. 8 oz at breakfast, 8 oz at lunch, 4 oz at dinner).  This includes soup, broth, beverages, jello, and popsicles.

Taken from gerdremedies.info

11. GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Want to discourage food from refluxing up from stomach.  No pepper! Avoid spices, caffeine, fat intake, chocolate, mint, carbonation, citrus, and tomato products.  Small frequent meals are encouraged over large meals.  




12.  TF: Tube Feed
Patient is intaking food via enteral or parenteral feeds.  The type and rate is calculated and orders by a doctor or Registered Dietitian. 

13. NPO: Nothing by Mouth
 These patients cannot have a tray of food, not even liquids.  Usually there will be a NPO sticker by their door number to alert food service workers not to bring them a tray if it was ordered.  These patients may be awaiting surgery or a medical test.  They also may be receiving a tube feed.

14.  GlutF: Gluten Free
Patients with gluten allergies cannot have many bread products.  Can consume corn or rice products.

15.  MinFib: Minimal Fiber
Extremely low fiber intake.  Very limited amount of wheat carbs, fruits, and vegetables.

16.  LoFib: Low Fiber
Low fiber intake.  Can intake a little more fiber than MinFib.  Again, limit wheat based carbs, fruits, and vegetables.

17.  Microb: Microbial

taken from http://tripsons.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

For patients with compromised immune systems or have undergone intensive cancer therapy that may get sick easily from  microbes found in raw/fresh fruits and vegetables or undercooked meat.  These patients can eat canned products which have had microbes safely eliminated in the canning process.  It is highly likely that these patients will be in isolation rooms, which means visitors must wash hands and put on a gown, gloves, and mask before entering. 


18.  NAS: No Added Salt
No salt on tray; patient may get a no sodium seasoning packet instead.  Also limit processed meats and soups.

19. 2gNA: 2 grams of Sodium (or 2000 mg)
Again, could be 1gNA for 1 gram.  Patient's sodium is being limited, usually for cardiac patients.  Patient will not be allowed meat besides poultry or fish (no ham, sausage, bacon, or beef).

20. Card: Cardiac Diet
Patient will be limiting fat and sodium.  Usually will not be allowed sodas, coffee, tea, some red meats, margarine, butter, regular salad dressings.  May offer diet dressings, sugar free puddings, jellos, custards, and ice cream.

21.  LoRes: Low Residue
Limit fiber and other foods that are harder for your body to digest are restricted.  Usually for patients with Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, or Diverticulitis.  

22.  Veg: Vegetarian
Patient doesn't eat meat but does eat fish.

taken from http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=28664

23.  Kosh: Kosher
Follows Jewish guidelines.  Some patients may follow the guidelines stricter than others (i.e. will eat chicken or fish not killed in accordance to law but won't eat any pork).  A Kosher diet allows fruit and vegetables but not pork.  Dairy cannot be eaten with meat (flesh of animals).  Approved animal products must be killed in accordance to Kosher guidelines.  Some Kosher patients may also be concerned of utensils used with non-Kosher food used with Kosher food.  Some hospitals may have pre-prepared Kosher meal packs available that are ready to eat.  

24.  Dys 1/2/3: Dysphagia 1, Dysphagia 2, or Dysphagia 3
Different levels according to patient's ability to swallow.  Patients with dys1 especially will not be allowed any straws due to risk of aspiration which could cause pneumonia (largest concern).  Remember that 1 is pureed foods, 2 is usually mechanical soft foods, and 3 is no sticky or crunchy foods.

Taken from Hormelhealthlabs.com

25. HnyThc, NctThc: Honey Thickness, 
Nectar Thickness
Usually in addition to a liquid diet. Remember that honey thickness is thicker than nectar.  Thickening agents can be added to beverages for patients at risk for aspirating. 




26. K: Potassium
Some patients may need to increase certain minerals such as Potassium, which can be found in bananas, potatoes, orange juice, beets, white beans, yogurt, and tomatoes.  Grapefruit is a good source of potassium, however products such as grapefruit or grapefruit juice are typically not allowed in hospitals because it harmfully interacts with many drugs including Lipitor, Valium, and Xanax to name a few.

27. HiFib: High Fiber
Encourage wheat carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. 

28. Reg: Regular
Patient has no restrictions.

39.  RnlStnd: Renal Standard
There are 5 stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and are defined by different glomerular filtration rates (GFR).  GFR is basically the rate at which wastes are cleared from the blood plasma by the glomeruli, which are capillaries surrounded by an epithelial membrane in the kidneys.  Patients in stage 5 usually undergo dialysis, which is a procedure that uses a machine (hemodialysis at a medical center or peritoneal dialysis which can be done at home).  Patients in the hospital that have any stage of CKD or undergoing dialysis must follow a very strict diet.  When the kidneys deteriorate, it becomes more difficult for it to remove products from protein, fluid, and minerals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. 

• Stages 1 and 2: focus therapy on controlling diabetes, hypertension(blood pressure), and hyperlipidemia(cholesterol).  
• Stages 3 and 4: monitor and limit protein intake (as kidney function slows, it becomes harder to excrete protein products).
• Stage 5: differs between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.  Hemodialysis patients have a diet high in protein and must limit foods containing potassium, phosphorous and sodium.  Must also limit fluids.  Peritoneal dialysis patients have a diet higher in protein, sodium, potassium, and fluid than hemodialysis because peritoneal have higher losses during the actual dialysis process.  Peritoneal patients still have to limit phosphorous.  

High sources of Potassium (avoid): bananas,orange juice, melon, spinach, tomatoes, beans, broccoli, bran, milk, nuts, yogurt, salt-free broth, potatoes
Low sources of Potassium (ok): apple, pears, pineapple, asparagus, carrots, corn, peas, squash, rice, noodles,

High Phosphorous sources (avoid): chocolate, coke, dairy, fish, organ meats, beans, bran, caramel, seeds, whole grain

**Post partum patients will not be allowed caffeine due to breast feeding and cardiac patients may also be restricted from caffeine due to heart defects or testing that needs to be done.


Keep in mind that many of these orders will be combined.  For example...

Viet, Veg, MS: Vietnamese, vegetarian, mechanical soft.  This patient could eat tofu, chopped steam vegetables, and possibly fish

MinFib, Veg, K: Minimal fiber, increase Potassium, vegetarian.  This is tricky because the patient needs to decrease sources of fiber (fruits and vegetables) but needs to increase potassium which is found in fruits and vegetables.  Patient will receive potato products (mashed, hashed browns) and orange juice.  Encourage eggs and cottage cheese for protein.

Card, CarbCount, 18Cal: Cardiac, carbohydrate control, 1800 kcal.  Encourage fruits and vegetables.  No red meat, pork, caffeine, butter.  Limited non-fat dairy.  Diet jellos, pudding, custard, and salad dressings.

LctI, GlutF, LoFib: Lactose intolerant, gluten free, low fiber.  No dairy, carbohydrates, fruits, or vegetables.  Encourage rice, corn products, and proteins.  Patient may need to be on a lactose free shake for supplemental calories due to limited choices.  

15Fl: Patient is limited to 1500 mL fluids per day.  Could do 8 oz at breakfast (4 oz juice and 4 oz milk for cereal), 8 oz at lunch (4 oz soup and 4 oz juice), and 4 oz at dinner (4 oz milk).

NPO: sorry Charlie.  No choices can be made because no meal delivered to patient.