Food Recommendations
 

Today is my first day on the program and I don't like any of the food I choose :(
I have cinnamon pretzels (2boxes), mixed berry cereal, gingerbread, wild rice soup and garlic mashed potatoes. What are some other options that might taste better than what I choose? I really want to follow the program and be successful but this food is making it difficult :(

Check out youtube for optavia hacks, this one is my favorite:

Mallorie in the Making

I like many of the shakes:
Vanilla
Hot Cocoa as shake
Caramel Macchiato
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Cherry

Cinnamon Cereal

Bars:
Peanut Butter Chewy
Cookie Dough Chewy
Smore's
Chocolate Mint Crunch
Lemon Crunch
Honey and Cranberry Granola

These are just to name a few!

I wasn't a fan of the garlic mashed potatoes either. One of my favorites is the beef veg soup.

The key to any of the soups is to let them soak for a couple of hours before heating and eating. I put the soup mix in a bowl with the one cup of water and then cover it and let it stand at least two hours. This lets the little vegs, meat pieces and other things in the soup plump up so that when you heat the soup it's very nice. The tomato bisque soup has bits of tomato in it that come to life with soaking.

One thing you will find as you are on the Medifast plan for a while is that these meals start to taste pretty good. I think it's because there isn't so much to eat. ;)

I really like the honey mustard pretzels but don't buy them often because they make me want to eat more. The s'mores bars are very nice. I like the oatmeal, but some people new on Medifast find that disgusting. heh heh If you get the pancakes you can make a mug muffin, which I do instead of making the pancakes. Put the mix in a mug with about three tbsp. water and microwave for about 85 seconds (may be less in a powerful microwave). It makes one plump muffin and it's easy and you can take that muffin on the go.

I hope these suggestions help. :)

I agree the soups all need to soak. I mix up my soup for my lunch when I do my first fueling at breakfast.

I wish we could order single packets so we could try things out. I still have things from my first box. Most of the hacks haven't helped. The mac and cheese and the oatmeal is O.o no matter what you do to them. The garlic potatoes and the sweet potatoes are tolerable if you waffle them. The pancakes are kinda bland. They would be okay if I could put butter and syrup on them. :D

A lot of the fuelings are better if you waffle them. Some people use a Dash mini waffle iron. I use my regular one.

I like the cinnamon sugar sticks with a wedge of Laughing Cow. Counts as one condiment.

One thing that has helped me is to split my meal. I use 3/4 of a Lean at dinner. That gives me 1/4 lean to eat as a mini meal. 3 oz Cottage Cheese with 1/2 tsp of Brown Sugar Splenda is one of my favorites.

Sometimes I eat 2 Greens and save one so that I can do 1/2 cup Buttercup Squash (20 cal 4.7 carb 0 fat) with 1/2 tsp of Brown Sugar Splenda (10 cal 2 carbs 0 fat) . See a pattern here. Did I mention I have a sweet tooth.

I've never tried to waffle things. That's a good idea!

I know what you mean about the pancakes, Phaedra! hahaha

You need to waffle. Trust me it helps. A lot. This morning I had Cinnamon Cream Cheese Swirl Cake. I wasn't too impressed with it when I did it in the microwave. Its one of my favs waffled.

Its not much more work than microwaving. Get your iron hot. Spray with Pam etc. Mix up your fueling per the package. Usually 3 Tablespoons of water. Don't make too thin or it will ooze out. Plop in the iron and cook for 3 mins.

If you use the Dash mini iron you might need to do two waffles. I already had a small round 8" iron.

Thanks for the tip! I do have a small waffle iron hidden somewhere in the basement. ;)

I'll dust it off and try it. :carrot:

Well. Have you waffled yet. Inquiring minds want to know. :dancer:

:) I haven't yet! Ha. I hadn't bought anything in my last order that would be good for waffling. I was going to try it on my next.

Well. Have you waffled yet? LOL

Muahahaha! Hi Phaedra! No, I never did. haha

I've just started transition. :carrot:

Im in transition too. How are you doing in transition.

Got another so so coach. Must be me.

I get a bit miffed when some coaches don't put the effort in. They are guaranteed an income from our orders and should work for it.

Transition is going well, although based upon how slow my weight loss was I think I won't be able to add in many calories to my day.

How is yours going?

I do think that for some coaches it has become a business. I got a group email update from this coach that also went to 60+ other people. Probably forgot to BCC . That means she has 60+ clients and coaches under her. Wonder how long it will take her to notice Im not ordering.


So. Since I seem to be doing this transition dealie all on my own I decided I would do it all on my own. :D I quit ordering any new stuff. I eating mostly real food now.

As far as the transitioning goes I think Im doing okay. No coach guidance just stuff I read. I went on a little early at 172. My original goal was 170. My weight is staying in the 171's with an occasion 170 or 172.

Some of my old pants fit now. If I want to wear the unstretchy ones I will need to lose some more waist. :^: Hence the 160.

That's great, Phaedra! It's probably a good time to transition as the products had another price jump and I don't know how they do it, but some of the product got smaller. Same number of calories and ect...but definitely smaller, or less volume in the packages.

I noticed that too. Did you see that there is a new revised $50 book. Im sorry but all this has kind of put me out. Especially when I saw the video of our Guru all suntanned on his boat telling us we needed to buy his new and improved $50 book or the plan wont work.


Maybe I should just change my user name to Old & Crabby

Heh - yes. I don't need to buy that book. ;) We know the plan works, and if a person sticks with it and then eats well afterward the benefits of the program will remain. When I commented to my coach that the product had gotten more expensive she replied, "It's not an expense...it's an investment in your health."

I knew that was scripted. The problem is that I don't HAVE an extra minimum $18.00 to spend on the plan per month. The money has to come from somewhere and I just don't have it. They are going to make it a program that the average person can't afford.

I'll join you in the Old & Crabby Club. haha But more slender! haha

I do agree the plan works and if you eat well afterward the benefits will remain. That's going to be the hard part. Keeping it off.

"It's not an expense...it's an investment in your health." Yep Ive heard that one. Also "Its not a diet. Its a lifestyle"

Even if I had the extra cash I don't want to be dependent on their "fuelings".
According to my group even in maintenance you should be eating 3 a day. Forever. Anybody that says the cant afford it gets dinged by the group. especially if they mention cheaper alternatives.

That's not what I signed up for. My take was that all this weighing and measuring was to teach you proper nutrition So that after you reached your goal you would be able to eat real food.

Speaking of food. Do we have a maintenance thread on here?

Humph. Yep - I don't plan to be buying the product forever either. I have found a few alternative protein sources, such as SunWarrior and BuiltBar that are less expensive when I'll want to have something either than a regular meal. It is difficult to find protein sources that aren't full of carbs and calories, so it has taken me a bit to find them. I mentioned the SunWarrior to my first coach and she indicated that since it wasn't approved by nutrition support that I needed to buy product instead. Nope. ;) I understand they want to sell but it does get a bit tiresome.

I don't think I've seen an active thread on maintenance.

Ive been looking for alternative stuff too. I haven't tried SunWarrior but I do have some Built bars. I also like Protein One bars. I like Built bars best when I put them in the freezer for a minute to firm them up a little.

I found some tortillas that I like. They make great little faux pizzas. I crisp them in my toaster oven. Then I add cheese and toppings and put them back in to melt the cheese. OLE Mexican Foods Xtreme Wellness Tortilla wraps. One tortilla 50 calories 1.5 fat 16 carb 4 protein 310 sodium

I like the tomato and the spinach ones best.
https://www.kroger.com/p/ole-xtreme-.../0002733103202



I see we have some general maintenance threads on here but nothing specific.

I have also put the Built bars in the freezer. If you keep them in there they are still pliable to eat. Makes me take my time. Ha.

I've been rather amazed at many of the L&G recipes that lots of folks use. Many have cheese in them. I know it's low-fat cheese, but it's still cheese. ;) I like a really sharp cheddar so I don't bother with the low fat stuff. To me it's just added fat and calories with very little taste. Ha.

I drink the SunWarrior shake with water, but I think it would be good in Almond drink or in a smoothie.

Those tortilla wraps look interesting! I haven't eaten a thing that's remotely like bread for nearly 8 months. I've been interested in cauliflower pizza shells, but those things are horribly expensive. I'll have to learn to make my own. :)

I haven't tried this recipe. I do not care for cauliflower pizza crust. Or chicken crust pizza. I do a crustless pizza or I use the tortillas.

Cheese isn't bad if you don't overdo it. Its on the meatless/vegetarian list along with cottage cheese, eggs, egg beaters, ricotta, etc. I don't care for the faux burgers. Jimmy Dean precooked turkey sausage patties and crumbles are really good though. Crumbles 4oz has 90 calories 5 fat 2 carb 10 protein 480 sodium. Two patties have 100 calories 7 fat 1 carb 11 protein 420 sodium.

https://www.jimmydean.com/products/s...usage-crumbles

https://www.jimmydean.com/products/f...ausage-patties


https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Veg...t71019CkUjy8xA




Waffled Cauliflower Pizza Crust

1/4 cup 2% Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese (1/4 Lean)
1/4 cup Egg Beaters (1/8 Lean)
1 cup Grated Raw Cauliflower (100 grams ) (2 greens)

Preheat waffle iron and spray with Pam.
Add your cauliflower crust.
Cook 5 min +/-- .
Makes one personal sized pizza. (or four Dash pizzas)
Add cheese and toppings and broil for 1 min.






Crustless Pizza

One serving .96 Lean 3 Green .75 Condiment

Preheat oven 400 Spray 9" glass pie plate with Pam etc.

2 oz Jimmy Dean Precooked Turkey Crumbles 1/3 Lean
1/2 oz Turkey Pepperoni (7 slices) cut in half 1/8 Lean
1/2 cup Moderate fat Mozzarella Cheese 1/2 Lean
1/2 cup Diced Italian Tomatoes 1 Green
1/2 cup Cooked Diced Mushrooms 1 Green
1/4 cup Kroger Pizza sauce 1 Green
1/8 tsp Basil 1/4 Condiment
1/8 tsp Oregano 1/4 Condiment
1/8 tsp Garlic Po 1/4 Condiment

Drain tomatoes well in colander. ( Get chunky diced not petite diced)
Layer your toppings in the pie plate. First Jimmy Dean on the bottom.
Then mushrooms. Then tomatoes. Then pizza sauce. Sprinkle Spices on top.Then mozzarella. Then pepperoni.

Bake at 400 for 20 minutes +/-. Keep an eye on it so cheese doesn't burn. BTDT

I really love meat and this recipe is one of my favorites.

club.cooking/recipe/how-to-cook-a-turkey/
Try to bake the turkey for sure.

Ingredients
15 lb whole turkey, thawed
1 lb grapes for stuffing
1 bread loaf for stuffing
2 medium carrots
...

No ideas for a dessert? Then take this cookie recipe.

club.cooking/recipe/jaffa-cake/
The recipe is quite light and very tasty.

Ingredients
3 small or 2 large eggs
50 g granulated sugar (for cakes)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla powder
60 g all-purpose flower
120 ml orange juice
....

No ideas for a dessert? Then take this cake recipe.

club.cooking/recipe/cassata-cake/
The recipe is quite light and very tasty.

Steps
Step 1
Whisk together 4 tablespoons of the milk with the flour until it smooth.

Step 2
Whisk in the rest of the milk and transfer the mixture to a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly. Remove the pot from the heat and continue to stir for another 30 seconds.
...

Maybe Smoothie?
I want to share one of my favourite smoothie recipe - Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie
Needs:
1 cup Strawberries
1 ripe Banana
3 ounces Baby spinach
½ cup Almond Milk
1 cup Water
Try!))

I know one good cake recipe! Vegan Blueberry Mug Cake
Ingredients:
⅓ cup Blueberry
5-7 soaked overnight Almond nuts
DRY INGREDIENTS:
4 tbsp Whole-wheat flour
2 tbsp Sugar
1 pinch Salt
½ tsp Baking powder
WET INGREDIENTS:
8 tbsp Almond Milk
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ tsp Vanilla extract
A lot of Vitamins and tasty!)