Smoothies for Gastroparesis
Health ConditionsDigestive Health

Smoothies for Gastroparesis

Smoothies for Gastroparesis
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Updated on August 6, 2025
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Gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach digests food too slowly or not at all, can develop as a side effect of diabetes, digestive surgery, endocrine or neurological problems, or certain medications.

If you have gastroparesis, your doctor will place you on a special diet that doesn’t strain your digestive system. Smoothies can play a part in such a diet, but they may not be appropriate for all people with gastroparesis or during all stages of recovery. Talk to your doctor about how and when you can include smoothies in your diet.

When Smoothies Are Appropriate

The typical gastroparesis diet is divided into three or four phases, which transition gradually from full liquids to soft, easily digested foods.

The diet’s most basic phase allows only clear liquids — no type of smoothie can be consumed during this phase. The next phase includes thicker liquids like milk, plant milk, protein shakes, and yogurt-based smoothies. (Do not advance to this phase until your doctor or dietitian recommends it.)

Ingredients to Include

Smoothies that are acceptable during the thicker liquid phase of the gastroparesis diet should consist primarily of fluid and yogurt. The yogurt can be fruit-flavored, made from regular or plant milk, sugar-free, frozen, or in the form of kefir, but it cannot contain chunks of fruit or ingredients like granola.

Use milk, plant milk, water, or juice as the fluid. For additional flavor, add extracts such as vanilla or almond extract, fruit syrup, flavored gelatin powder, or pudding mix. To give the smoothie a thicker consistency, you can blend the mixture with ice or frozen ripe bananas.

Ingredients to Avoid

People with gastroparesis need to limit fiber, as fiber may further slow the stomach’s ability to move food through the digestive system, exacerbating symptoms.

While you’re on a gastroparesis diet, avoid adding high-fiber fruits and vegetables, such as berries, apples, oranges, or tomatoes, to smoothies.

Other than frozen bananas, you can include pureed peaches, peeled and pitted. Don’t add in any dried fruits, nuts, seeds, nut butters, or whole grains like oats or wheat germ.

Sample Smoothie Combinations

A good, basic smoothie combination for patients with gastroparesis is a blend of half a cup of smooth, fruit-flavored yogurt with one small frozen banana. Thin it with orange juice, milk, or, if you need to increase your protein intake, whole milk that’s been fortified with nonfat instant dry milk. Use 1 cup of the dry milk powder for every quart of regular milk. Other options include equal parts strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry yogurt blended with regular milk, or rice milk combined with frozen bananas, strawberry yogurt, and lemon juice.

Special Considerations

If you have gastroparesis and diabetes, you’ll need to monitor your blood sugar carefully when incorporating smoothies into your diet. You may need to reduce or eliminate canned fruit, bananas, and fruit syrups. People with diabetes should contact their doctor immediately if they notice fluctuations in their blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can interfere with normal stomach emptying.

The Takeaway

  • Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach is unable to digest food normally. When recovering from an episode of gastroparesis, it may be necessary to limit solid foods for a while.
  • Smoothies are nutritious and easy on the digestion for people with gastroparesis, as long as they don’t contain certain ingredients, such as high-fiber fruits and vegetables. People with diabetes may need to avoid ingredients with sugar.
  • Always consult with your doctor about what foods you can and can’t have while you’re on a gastroparesis diet.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Gastroparesis. Cleveland Clinic. February 12, 2025.
  2. Gastroparesis Diet: What to Eat and Avoid. Cleveland Clinic. July 9, 2024.
  3. Diet for Gastroparesis. Cleveland Clinic. 2016.
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Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kara Andrew, RDN, LDN, is the director of health promotion for Memorial Hospital in Carthage, Illinois. She is also licensed as an exercise physiologist and certified in lifestyle medicine by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Her experience includes corporate wellness, teaching for the American College of Sports Medicine, sports nutrition, weight management, integrative medicine, oncology support, and dialysis.

She earned her master's in exercise and nutrition science at Lipscomb University.

Andrew has served as a president and board member of the Nashville Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was recently elected a co-chair of the fitness and medicine group in the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

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Michelle Kerns writes for a variety of print and online publications and specializes in literature and science topics. She has served as a book columnist since 2008 and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. Kerns studied English literature and neurology at UC Davis.

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