I agree, it can be all about creativity with spices and such. There are a lot of the foods I can't deal with, but many I can. I have adjusted the amounts of water a bit and it seems to have helped. For example, the chicken noodle soup I add a bit less water and the maple oatmeal I add a touch more. With the mango drink, I blend it with a bit of ice as I find it very strong. I admit I did quit the diet the first time around but have started again because it's the only diet I felt better on as far as my stomach problems go. Good luck!

Yummy Raspberry-lemonade Pina Colada!
 

I just happened to make this tonight, I made the pina colada,(which is good by itself), added extra water, and a small addit. of Crystal light, raspberry lemonade. Poured over ice, it's the closest to a fruit drink, that I have found yet! Love it! Enjoy.:)

I'm totally going to get the piña colada mix! That sounds great!

I stand the food because I'm paying so much for it, and I love melting. :)

I have been doing this five days and have had the same reaction to most of the food. I have kept good notes on what was tolerable and what I just can't take and plan to make a better selection for next week. I feel that some of the sweet things are heavy on the artificial sweeteners and I hate that after taste. Most of the bars are pretty good. I agree with those who have said add veggies and spices. It does help. This is not forever but while it is my reality now I plan to make the best of it. Good luck.

Just remember to keep track of restricted vs unrestricted stuff - restricted items should only be used once a day unless your coach specifies otherwise in Phase 1. Bars are all restricted (I think that's partially why they are so yummy!!) and the drink mixes are all unrestricted. I believe the puddings are also all unrestricted, and I actually use those as drinks (I prefer the richness over the drink mixes) by using a lot more water and often blending with ice.

Keep experimenting, and look into the ideas others have posted here on how to make other stuff from the packets - I can't STAND the crispy cereal by itself but I am totally addicted to making it into pancakes! (and it's an unrestricted packet!)

For the most part, I haven't liked any of the food by itself. I use those packets in some of the recipes found here. But, typically, I stick with the drinks I do like and the bars, love the bars.

That sounds good, gonna try it!

I saw that pancake recipe earlier this week and bought the crispy cereal Friday at my WI. I can't wait to try it. I used to enjoy pancakes for dinner in my old pre-IP life.

I was actually surprised, they were pretty good! I made them into mini-pancakes and brought them to work as a snack with a little tub of WF pancake syrup for dipping. I also tried making pancakes out of the Maple Oatmeal - also very good, but that's a restricted packet so I'll do that less often.

I love to sautee mushrooms and broccoli to put in my mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup. I pour the soup into the pan with the veggies until it thickens up. I think it tastes sinful, so it's great to know it's not!

Just got through with the first week myself! I found that I enjoy the drinks more than the soups (except broccoli and cheese which I pour over the entire 2 cups of broccoli yummy!), so I take some of my meat from dinner and have it at lunch with a salad and a IP drink.

I have found that I enjoy the chips more than the bars. More bites per serving and they sure taste great!

The herb omelet is great with a lot of sauteed veggies! And I am hardly hungry anymore, it does get better! Lots of water helps plus my coach lets me have 2 Crystal Lites a day which helps as well. Oh! And a baby dill pickle if I really need something to munch on before a meal.

Hang in there!

Silly question here...but what brand of dill pickle is recommended?

Scorbett...you meantioned the crispy cereal pancakes, and for the life of me I can't find the recipe. Could you give it to me? Thanks soooo much!