For those looking for recipes to help start, try
http://www.facebook.com/idealproteinlohja
This was created specifically for easy recipes (with pix) for Phase 1 Ideal Protein.
If you don't like the shakes or puddings, but have packets left, there are many things you can do to improve the taste.
1. Flavor Extracts: Add 1 tsp of extract such as peppermint, almond, rum, vanilla, or a variety of the Torani/ Da Vinci Sugar-Free syrups. Sometimes a splash of flavor can transform something just ok into something you crave.
2. Sweetener (Splenda/ Truvia/ etc): For the puddings, I often make them into shakes (using up to 2 cups of ice cold water + ice) but find that I need to add the sweetener (allowance from morning coffee) to help perk up the flavor. This was especially important at the beginning of the diet when I was weaning myself off mega-carbs and sugar. The extra water also helps to balance the flavors as well as increasing your portion. I use a blender.
3. Mix & Match: When making the fruit flavored shakes alone in a blender, they foam like crazy. (I like this for evening so I feel fuller). But if you arent crazy about the foam, but still want a smoothie texture, in a sealable container, mix 1 packet of the fruit flavor (Orange/ Pineapple Banana/ Peach Mango) and 1 packet of vanilla pudding. Pour half into the blender and add water, saving the rest for another meal. The vanilla pudding makes it thicker and gives a subtle body to the fruit flavors so the stark orange tranforms into a Creamy Dreamsicle.
4. Spices: Cinnamon is fantastic for your body and also turns a plain drink into something special. Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie spice gives almost any drink a warm Autumn flavor. Cardamom (crushed) gives a sweet, nutty exotic flavor. Chili...especially good Indian Chili Powder...gives a great kick... especially to cinnamon chili chocolate shake.
5. Replace your water with herbal tea or coffee. I love using Celestial Seasonings' BENGAL SPICE (cinnamon, cardemom) in place of water for amazing Frappaccinos. The other day I used an herbal Lemon & Ginger Tea with Vanilla IP Pudding and 1 TB of poppy seeds + 1 packet of sweetener for a beautifully subtle lemon poppy seed Frappacino (I think the lemon pudding would have been too strong.)
6. Try it Hot: The chocolate drink warms up gorgeously for a rich cocoa. Friends say that adding hot coffee to the cappucino drink is also lovely. (Or making the vanilla pudding with cold water, then adding it to hot coffee for a dreamy, creamy vanilla Latte.)
7. Straws: If you still have a hard time with the tastes, straws help.
8. Or if you just hate something, there are usually many other alternatives. The raspberry Jelly tastes like real Jell-o (and is great for your skin and nails.) You can mix the raspberry jelly with the puddings (for 2 separate servings) if you dont like the puddings by themselves.
The Ideal Protein diet actually has an enormous range of delicious possibilities... it just might take a little time to find your groove. Check out the recipes also in the DAILY THREAD stickies for other ideas how to hack your packets or find what works for others.
This diet really DOES work...and FAST... so it is well worth digging a little for ideas on how to make it work for you.
Good luck!
I will be starting IP Diet on Monday!
