Have you read through this thread? That info is in here.

I haven't found a whole lot of information about how alternatives stack up taste wise as compared to IP so I ordered various products from NashuaNutrition and began comparing to IP.
So far, cream of chicken from Healthsmart does not compare at all to IP. IP chicken soup is superior in terms of flavor and texture.
IP maple oatmeal is better than protidiet maple brown sugar oatmeal.

IP RTD chocolate drink is superior in taste to EAS advantage chocolate fudge and premier protein chocolate drink.

Healthsmart aspartame free hot chocolate is head and shoulders above All chocolate IP drink products in taste, texture (creamy), better nutritional values. This solved my hot chocolate dilemma!

Next couple of days I will compare healthsmart's pancakes and maple oatmeal to IP. I will also be trying protidiet cinnamon spice oatmeal.

I have had 6 family members and friends start IP this year as a result of my success and most are concerned about cost so I was doing this research for both their sake and mine, and so far for what I have tried in the way of alternatives, I unfortunately had to tell them that I could not have seen staying on this program for 5+ months (strict, no cheating) with what I have tasted thus far from alternative products. Only favorable item so far is the hot chocolate.

I have some more being delivered to try so will post my comparisons.

Besides taste, IP chicken soup at 1 carb with that great taste and texture gives me lots of flexibility for rest of day by being a carb saver.

Any ones you have comparison tasted?

I agree that IP maple oatmeal tastes better than Proti Diet Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal but I buy both -- I make up the IP version to eat when I want to eat oatmeal on its own. I use the Proti Diet to mix with other IP packets (e.g. the potato puree) and protein powder (e.g. Designer Whey, or Quest) to make muffins or pancakes. It is much cheaper, and it does just fine in recipes.

I have made up and eaten the Proti Diet oatmeal as a breakfast item and I find it tolerable, but you are right - not as good as the IP version.

I have 3 flavors of Quest chips and also have the Sea Salt & Vinegar IP Crisps (their version of chips). Lisa describes the Quest chips as an 'acquired taste' -- they do have a paper like quality and little depth of flavor, and they are much less salty than IP, but the price is MUCH less than IP and even lower than usual if you find a sale as I did at GNC a week ago(buy 2 get 1 free).... The IP chips are each thicker, and you can down 20 oz of water easily when eating them because they are pretty salty.

I appreciate you sharing your comparison evaluations. As I do more comparisons, I will share, too.

Thanks, oneuh2. That is a great idea to use the cheaper ones in recipes!
Also, I forgot about listing IP chips - I think they are superior too, especially BBQ ones. Love them!

Congrats on being the family and friend spearhead to better health. I bet they are so grateful for the experience and knowledge you have amassed! :)

I just wanted to point out that the taste comparisons that YOU are doing are based on YOUR personal taste and experience of IP foods. If your family members haven't been on them long, they won't have a basis on which to form a comparison and may adapt more easily to cheaper options.

Don't limit them to only foods that are available via Nashua Nutrition or a specific brand. Many other options are just as effective.

I loved the IP chocolate drink when I started. Now I prefer the ChocoLite Protein shake in chocolate supreme and the chocolate fudge brownie, and find the IP variety a little too sweet. Taste does change during the IP program.

Some people also prefer more of a meal choice than a shake or pudding - and some of the choices from NN fill that need for something hot. Personally, I don't, but my husband does and is prepared to accept the higher carb count as a result. :)

Agreed but so far our tastes seem to be similar. I have provided them with the overall alternative product guidelines so they can choose for themselves. I have provided all sorts of locations as to where to get them and provided a spreadsheet that has all the info compiled so they are well-armed with information and just use my input to taste comparisons as one data point. Having bought boxes of food, they have the luxury of trying the packet from me for themselves without having to wait on an order.

Can someone please comment on healthsmart's golden delicious pancakes in regards to IP compliance? I find I like them better than IP's, but I noticed on the box that fructose is listed as one of the ingredients. I have read a ton here and have only seen aspartame routinely mentioned to avoid and it is the only ingredient listed to avoid when choosing an alternative product. Please advise if this product is ok. I don't want to slow my results.

I may have answered my own question using Advanced Search. I found that in Daily Chat from 9/18/14 that Lisa noted that even some IP products have fructose listed as an ingredient so I am going to assume I'm ok.

Nashua sale today: ProtiDiet Bars 10% off this week only. Code: PDBAR10

Some items are identical. These are the ones I found:

The Protithin Anytime drink is exactly like IP's
Protithin wafers are exactly like IP's

ProtiDiet Pink Lemonade is exactly the same as IP's
ProtiDiet White cheddar crisps are identical to IP's

I've not found puddings nor soups to be as good as IP's but "you get what you pay for" applies. Some items I've found are "good enough"

For those that get their supplements from proteinstore.com, do you get the complete multi with copper and iron or just the multi?
Not sure which best matches IP.

I am so happy to have found this forum. My friend had great success on IP, but it's just not economically feasible for me on a teacher's salary. With all of your great suggestions and recommendations I have made my first purchase via Nashura. I hope to get started as soon as they arrive. Thank you for all your help.

After a tough year and regaining some weight I am back on track but due to the cost issue I am doing the alternatives route. I had a stockpile of IP packets that I am finished with and now really looking at other brands that are similar. I placed an order with Nashua and will be trying some of those items. Premier Protein drinks and Quest bars are now in my plan, but one of my favorites IP drinks was the Peach Mango Smoothie. Does anyone have any suggestions for a decent substitute for that? I have read through this entire thread and love all the suggestions and help. Thanks!

I found this dressing at my local grocery store and thought it looked good, but...I haven't seen it mentioned here in any of the threads and thought maybe it isn't after all for the IP alt plan?
Bragg Organic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

That one is thick and creamy. I haven't seen a RTD alt for that.
However...
One of my favs was the strawberry banana RTD.
I accomplished an alt with a Health Smart Berry Delicious smoothie and a banana pudding/shake mix. I combined the two into 2 RTD bottles (I had actually saved some of the strawberry banana bottles).

There is a peach-mango protidiet liquid concentrate but it isn't as thick.
Perhaps you could mix it with a vanilla pudding/shake to get a thicker consistency? When I did that, I just made more than one at once and kept them in my refrigerator.