I love the broccoli cheddar soup. It's been one of my staples all along. But yeah, much of this stuff doesn't taste exactly like we might expect. I'll echo what others have said: tastes change over the course of this plan and you never know what will be a fave down the road if you can get up the nerve to try it again. Re. the b/c soup...I add 1 cup of broccoli, dried dill weed, and Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb spice. Then I cook it a bit more than I should so that it thickens up nicely.

I just buy the cereal flakes (they actually taste like a bran flake cereal) and eat that just for filler and then eat a giant salad for lunch. I got sick of the soups after a week.

You have the right attitude about being open to trying the foods. I didn't enjoy any of the soups. I only had the ones in my start packet, I couldn't even finish most of them and can only buy by the box. However I did find lots of other things I liked.

My favorites are the strawberry wafer, caramel nut bar, premade chocolate pudding, crispy cereal made into a pancake and wildberry yogurt drink.

The food is definitely a trial and error thing. My first day on IP, I was so excited to have the tomato basil soup. I couldn't gag the stuff down, it was so bad (to me). After a week or two, though, you'll figure out what you like and it will get so much easier. The first few months, before I discovered the alternatives thread, Nashua Nutrition, and Quest Bars, I lived on the chocolate shake, the mushroom soup, the pottage, and bars. I've incorporated alternatives into my plan because I needed a wider variety, but if you're not ready for that, just try everything once, figure out which you can deal with eating, and stick with them. Once the weight starts melting off, it will motivate you to the point where you won't care that you're eating the same foods over and over. The other thing that saved me was Rainbow's threads- she figured out some amazing recipes using the IP packets (I still have her crab cake recipe using the potato puree packet once a week).

Good luck!

I've thrown away the Broc Soup a few times! I just can't tolerate it as well.

The soups I find that I do like are the Leek Soup (mixed with half/half cauli & broc puree) and the Chicken a la King (on it's own).

I guess I'm one of the weird ones too...I like the broccoli and cheddar soup. I just chuck 1-2 cups of raw broccoli in there after I heat it up and yummmm....

I also like the mushroom soup, but it is pretty salty. My favorite soup is the leek soup, hands down. It is also a bit salty for my taste, but I like to eat it with raw celery and it's super delish.

As far as mixing it up, I like my soups thick (so usually only add about 6oz of water) and my fruit drinks thin (at least 10oz of water).

Do see if your clinic has an exchange because it's the best way to try the packets without having to buy 'em 7 at a time. I had some friends on the diet and was able to swap with them too. Just don't be discouraged because of one bad experience. It works if you stick to it!!

I was so depressed on my first day of IP. I had the herb and cheese omelette for breakfast and the chicken a la king for lunch. I found them so horrible and didn't think I would be able to make it past a few days on this program. It's day 11 and I'm still hanging in there! I am still feeling sorry for myself that I can't have any Halloween treats though. :P

I have no idea why you threw away all your food. You can sell it ... on ebay or even on this board I bet ... or if nothing else give it away to someone on this board that is struggling financially.

All you need is to find 1 or maybe 2 things that you like and aren't allergic to. Just try 1 box of things until you stumble onto your staple.

I have been practically living on the chocolate drink and I've lost a ton of weight.

I didn't like a lot of the other foods, but strangely I liked the broccoli cheese soup.

The other thing is it's possible that the IP diet is just not the right diet for you, there are lots of ways to lose weight. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight.

That being said I have never lost as much weight or as many inches (i.e. as much fat) as FAST and as STEADILY as on the IP diet (the 100%, full-on, no-cheat version).

IP food takes getting used to. I love some, cannot tolerate others. Faves are Choco drink and IP cereal made into a pancake only. The peach Mango drink (pre-made) is DELISH.
I like the Brocolli soup, but I make it thick add a ton of brocolli and doctor it up. You will get your faves. And Thanks to the recipe threads, there are tons of ways to get around eating the packets as is.

Choco drink with morning coffee, I add cinnamon and a dash of chipolte. You can freeze it to make an ice cream too. DOn't give up, I will NEVER forget that 1st day and haven't touched the chicken a la king thing since!!

GL!

Don't want to speak for her, but I believe she only threw away her bowl of soup that she was eating for lunch today, not actual unused packets.

That's how I read it as well - just the bowl of soup!

My mistake!

Hang in there, it gets better. It took me 6 weeks to try a recipe - the crispy pancakes - and they were yummy. I retuned the box of tomatoe soup and told them to give it to people for free, hated it. i like the mushroom and tolerate the chicken ones. The chili is nice on top of a salad and hot sauce on pretty much everything.
Be careful you don't over heat because that breaks down the protein and makes it taste worse.

I'm going to suggest a trade basket where I get my food.

My favorite lunch was the chili. I would dice 2 cups of zucchini, mushroom and sometimes turnip and steam in the microwave before adding the chili... and yes add hot sauce! very good warm and filling lunch.

Day 2...how are you doing???