PET-CT Diet Plan
Before Your Exam
If your PET-CT scan is for cancer:
- Follow a low carbohydrate diet for 24 hours.
- Do not eat for six hours. This includes tube feeding.
- Do not chew gum.
- You may drink only water.
If your PET-CT scan is for a sarcoid heart scan, infection or inflammation:
- Follow a low carbohydrate diet for 48 hours.
- Do not eat for 18 hours. This includes tube feeding.
- Do not chew gum.
- You may drink only water.
Suggested Foods
- Protein: non-breaded beef, chicken, turkey, fish, pork, lamb, ham (without honey), hot dogs, lunch meats, fish, shellfish, crab, peanut butter (1 or 2 servings total), most nuts and sunflower seeds (2 ounces total) and eggs
- Dairy: Low-fat cottage cheese, cheese, one serving light yogurt with artificial sweetener (Dannon light or Yoplait light), sour cream, butter and half and half
- Vegetables: Green beans, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, lettuce, mushrooms, radishes, spinach and zucchini
- Condiments: Mayonnaise, salad dressing and barbeque sauce (those with 3g or less per serving of carbohydrates), oil, vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, tartar sauce, olives and dill pickles
- Beverages: Diet soda, black coffee or tea (may add artificial sweetener and half and half), water (diet flavored included) and sugar free crystal light
Menu Suggestions
Breakfast
- Bacon/sausage and eggs
- Ham and cheese omelet
- Light yogurt
- Veggie and cheese omelet
Lunch
- Egg salad
- Chef salad (no tomato)
- Ham and Cheese wrapped in lettuce leaves
- Cottage cheese
Dinner
- Veggie/Meat soup made with canned broth
- Cheeseburger no bun
- Chicken with barbecue sauce
*For a snack, try celery and peanut butter, light yogurt or cottage cheese.
Foods to Avoid
- All foods containing sugar and most processed foods even “low-carb” items.
Fruits and Vegetables
- All fruits
- Potatoes
- Corn
- Carrots
- Legumes (beans)
- Tomatoes
- Peas
- Squash
- Veggie burgers
Breads and Grains
- All types of grains
- Rice
- Breaded foods
- Pastas/noodles
- Rice cakes
- Rice (brown and white)
- Crackers
Beverages
- Beer, wine, liquor
- Juices
Snack Foods
- Chips/pretzels
- Candy, gum
- Cough drops
- Breath mints
Other
- Syrups
- Jams
- Ketchup
- Sauces and gravies