I use the Proto-Thin Cream of Broccoli Cheese Soup in place of the IP soup. I really love the IP broccoli soup. I've been buying one box of IP each week or so for the morning drinks, but I intersperse it with the ProtoThin Anytime RTD drinks. When I can, I get one or two IP Broc-cheese soups for a treat! But usually I have the ProtoThink Broc or Cream of Chicken soup. They're ok.

I sautee mushrooms and red peppers and garlic in a little olive oil. Then I add the mixed soup, stir, add salt and pepper, and voila! It's usually yummy. I add curry powder to the chicken soup, too.

Today my Nashua order came. I ordered a box of Healthsmart cream of tomato soup. I think that's what Nashua put in as a sample recently. It was pretty good, prepared in my usual way.

Oh dear. I placed my order the night before that free shipping day. Sigh.

Those looking for yummy "chips" might try rutabaga, sliced think and baked. With salt and pepper, it's yummy and can be thought of as chips, or fries, at least. I don't do it every day, but a couple of times a week it's yummy.

For those who didn't go back to the previous thread to find the info, here is info on how to pick an alternative product:

If you need specific info on WHAT to eat on IP, go here:
IP Protocol Sheets (this info is linked every day on the first post of the daily chat thread)

Here's a detailed breakdown to consider:
- under 160 calories = Unrestricted (though MOST IP packets range from 90-120)
- 160-200 calories = Restricted (once/daily)
slightly over 200 cals (or 30% fat) is super-restricted (once/weekly)
- less than 30% cal from fat (multiply cals from fat x 3; OK if lower than total cals.)
- under 8 g net carbs - unrestricted
- 9g-16g net carbs - restricted
- 17g net carbs - super restricted (only once/twice per week)
- above 17g net carbs is too high to be good for Phase 1
- at least 12-15g protein (don’t go much above 20g regularly)

* NET = Total carbs minus fiber (some people also subtract all sugar alcohols from total carbs; some subtract half; some choose to not subtract any...... sugar alcohols can affect your body similarly to sugar with spikes) Also remember NO Aspartame!

Here is a less-detailed infographic:

Thanks, Lisa, for reposting this. And for all of your helpful posts.

Just want to let everyone know: The Healthsmart Cream of Tomato soup is not the one I received as a sample a few weeks ago - but...

I really like it! Its a welcome new flavor for me and cooked in the pan with my sauteed garlic and red peppers, salt and pepper added, it's quite yummy for lunch with my salad!

I tried more of my Nashua order today -
Proti Diet Peanut Surprise - really good
Proti thin Sour Cream & Fine herbs zipper snack - really good

That along with the Proti Diet Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp is a big thumbs up.

The Atkins frozen meal actually had as much chicken as I would eat for one of the IP meals. I was told by my couch to estimate a piece of meat as least as large as your hand. The meat in these was not at all skimpy. And the veggie was brocolli! How IP is that!

If you question my assessment of them, I would highly recommend that you actually check them out at your own store. IP may eventually get on the frozen meal bandwagon, but until they do, it is very good to have an instant meal available in the freezer for what might otherwise be a temptation emergency!!

I would also encourage you to review the nutrition facts for 8 oz of raw meat - if you do then you will see that the Atkins meals offer about half of the correct amount of protein for a dinner meal.

Cream sauces and pasta are still not allowed on Phase 1 - so no, the Atkins meals are still not IP compliant.

Estimating is all well and good - ONCE you have spent some time weighing your foods and have a really good visual understanding of what 8oz of meat/1 cup of veggies looks like. If your coach is telling you to estimate the palm of your hand as a portion of meat, they are incorrect - that is closer to a general nutrition-sized portion of meat, which is about 4 oz. 8oz of raw meat is closer to the size of your entire hand, including fingers....but will vary depending on the meat you are choosing for dinner.

You posted that there was something like 26 g of protein in thE meal which doesn't match up with the typical amount of protein (from what I have seen) in 8 ounces of chicken. You absolutely can eat it if you want... I'm not the IP police.

I know taste is subjective but I tried my syntrax nectar samples. I definitely like the fruitier flavors better in this brand than the savory flavors (like chocolate).

Lemonaide: I liked it. It is lemonaide. Lol.

Crystal sky: This was tangy. It was like a tangy citrusy fruity drink. I liked it...still deciding if I'm going to buy a jug.

Caribbean Cooler: This one was different. For me, it tasted like a cross bewen a virgin Pina colada and coconut milk. I didn't hate it but didn't love it. Not getting a jug of this one. My son didn't like it either.

Twisted cherry: Another one in the category of didn't hate/didn't love. It tasted like a Ludens wild cherry throat lozenge to me. Lol. My son didn't like it which sealed the deal on not getting a jug.

Strawberry kiwi: I'm a big strawberry kiwi fan so I liked this one.

I definitely recommend trying samples of flavors you think you might like so that you don't get stuck with a ton of it if you dont actually like it.

Good Morning,
I am a newbie to this site and I am looking for inspiration to restart my weight loss. I successfully lost 40 pounds following IP with my husband who lost 80. We both went off program. My husband lost more than his weight goal and I needed a change. I had surgery and had been on a medical leave for 12 weeks. Almost 1/2 of my weight went back on and I am looking to get rid of it.
Mentally I know what I really need to do. The expensive of IP is not something I can do right now.
I have read the posts in this thread and it appears that Proti, Simply Protein, and Quest are spoken of often. Heads or Tails which is the best option for good tasting and comparative products to IP?

Looking forward to a successful start on my new journey.

Does anyone know of an alternative to the Caramel and Vanilla Flavored Bars by Ideal Protein? They are my absolute favorite and it kills me to spend 30.00 for 7 bars! Also wanted to know about the pudding cups,Love them also and would like an alternate. Thanks!

I haven't done a lot of alternatives but the ones I picked were from recommendations that I've seen here. I can attest that I enjoyed them. Here's what I've tried -

EAS advantage carb control vanilla RTD. okay (but, I didn't like the IP one so much either)
EAS advantage carb control chocolate RTD. okay (I like IP better but for the price this isn't bad)
Proti diet Peanut butter and smooth caramel crisp bar. Love
Proti diet Peanut surprise bar. Love
Proti diet BBQ crisps. really like
Proti thin Sour cream & Herbs zipper snacks. Love

I've been struggling with this as a newbie so the general rule of thumb is helpful but I know not always accurate (palm=3/4 oz). I'm lucky because my aupair is helping me with the diet (she does a lot of the dinner preparation/cooking) but it's difficult for me to weigh the pre-cooked food because I'm at work. I realize I should probably spend some time before I freeze our meats to portion them but realistically I probably won't do it too much. I can offer what has helped me alittle. My grocery store started having some of it's meats in "portion size" chunks. The steak I bought this weekend was 4 oz (packaged 2 or 3 together) so I knew exactly how much to have. I realized I can ask the butcher to do it for me.

Is there a rule of thumb of pre-cook weight to post-cooked weight? I have been weighing the post cooked food but wasn't sure what a good number was...

The term "pre-cook" gets a little confusing because it can be interpreted both as "before cooking" or "cooked first". For clarity, let's use "cooked" and "raw".

We are to weigh 8 oz raw meat. Depending on what it is and how it is cooked, I've found it cooks down to anywhere from 5-6.5 oz, as water & fat cook off. So, you see why it is so difficult to measure after cooking. I've learned it takes work to get this right. Over the last couple years, I've weighed meats many times before and after cooking. I've also measure veggies before and after cooking so I knew what I started with and what was left.

The "rule of thumb" for guesstimating meat portion still depends on thickness of the cut.

Personally, I had to take responsibility for myself in the kitchen so I could teach myself how to stay OP. These have been good lessons and have served me well.

Where are folks buying the samplers if syntrax? I just got a big jug of twisted cherry and love it but am interested in other flavors. The sampler pack sounds fun!

Hello, Has anyone tried the Quest protein chips? I think they are new. It looks like they are "IP friendly" let me know if you agree.

Thanks!