Nuts and seeds

[ny biker]

I finally have scheduled a screening colonoscopy. I turned 50 more than a year ago, and have been putting it off because I really just do not want to do it. But my health insurance is changing next year which means it will cost me much less if I do it now. So it's scheduled for next month.

The diet instructions say no nuts, seeds, popcorn or corn for 1 week prior to the procedure. This includes fruits and vegetables with seeds.

So which fruits and vegetables have seeds? Berries, yes. Tomatoes, yes. What about figs? One of my go-to snacks is Nature's Bakery fig bars. I assume red and orange peppers are okay if they've been sliced and the seeds have been removed. Broccoli is okay, right? What about smooth peanut butter -- the idea is to avoid little things that can linger in the colon.

This is really going to mess up my ability to eat for a week. The bread I like has bits of nuts and seeds in it. I eat a lot of Clif bars because they've got a decent amount of protein. I eat blueberry Nutri-Grain bars and blueberry yogurt. I know these are processed foods but I would think that even blueberry filling in a cereal bar could have stray seeds in it. When I eat raisins I end up with little things stuck in my teeth -- are they seeds?

I guess pineapples, peaches, apples, oranges are okay. And beans -- kidney beans or chick peas. And cauliflower?

What about jelly or jam? I prefer blueberry Polaner preserves -- really I do like blueberries! But would grape jelly or jam be okay?

BTW for the clear-liquids-only day, I asked if Gu would be okay. The doctor said one should be alright. I guess I will be stocking up on ginger ale, chicken broth and jello. (The last time I made jello I was in college and there was liquor in it.)

I don't even want to think about the last four hours where I can't have anything at all by mouth, since the appointment is not until early afternoon. I will probably faint!