PET-CT Scan

/ Diet Plan

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