I just made Pankcakes with cereal and oatmeal- very good!

There is also one recipe that uses shredded zucchini that would help you get your veggies in.

Same thing with Muffins. My downfall is eating the entire tray, since a recipe makes 12 (you get 6).

Also, I turn ALL my puddings into frosty shakes. You could easily add spinach into a smoothie and blend it all up. I LOVE adding decaf instant coffee into the shakes- so yum!

If you like the oatmeal try the oatmeal crisp with rhubarb (that's considered a veggie too)...also make your salad with all those veggies...if you're a salad lover. I also put radishes, red cabbage, fresh parsley, red onion, green onion to make it REALLY colourful.

There is Kale Chips...didn’t find them filling but an idea when you want 'chips'. Also, Pampered Chef has a microwave chip maker you could make zucchini chips with or even radish chips. Haven't tried it but heard people rave about it….lots of options you just have to try them.

Yes roast is allowed...I googled meat rubs to keep me interested in different options for cooking meat. You'll re-learn to cook mostly!

Finn Steven's recipe for his meatloaf is really really really good. It incorporates a cup of shredded zucchini and you dont even know that it is in there!!! My DH wants me to make another batch to freeze so there ready to eat whenever he wants one!

It is hard to make the mental shift that food is not our entertainment.

You can have 3 shakes a day if you want! I LOVE them, you can't taste the spinach - but it is green. I have used chocolate & vanilla both drinks and pudding in the shake and they turned out great. I use a full size cuisinart blender, throw in ~2 handfuls looseleaf spinach, 2 cups coffee or water, 2 cups ice - blend @high ~90-120 seconds - then add in pudding or drink and blend another ~60 seconds (I pulverize spinach first then add IP or else gets too frothy for my personal taste). I bet capp would be tasty too.

You can also make pudding cakes or muffins w/or w/out shredded zucchini in the mix, zucchini apples, rhubarb crisp w/crispy cereal or oatmeal , rhubarb spread for pancakes, I roast garlic & cauliflower (w/a little celery) and blend up with some chicken buillion, salt, & pepper for mashed fauxtatoes, roasted&blended garlic-poblano-bell pepper-jalapeno w/some chicken stock for spicy veggie soup, turnip fries, kale chips.

These are all my favorites, I wasn't a big veggie eater before and just about the 2-3 week mark I needed to find ways to mix things up after "powering through" the initial hazing period!

Get some miracle noodles and make spaghetti or stir fry....we love them!

Try the wf BBQ sauce. It is also good.

Think of what you used to like and figure out how to make it low carb. I love mashed cauliflower...who knew?!

Finally, try to look at food as fuel. Every meal shouldn't have to be gourmet. It should satisfy your hunger and keep you going. Sometimes it might be boring...but a few spices, a little salt, etc can make a big difference.

Wow, that is truly a profound statement. And 100% accurate.

Since you've just started I think it's reasonable to feel how you're feeling. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right combinations of food that work for your lifestyle and tastebuds! Do you like hummus? I find it SO satisfying with raw veggies.

Good luck!!

I've never posted--hope this works, trying to answer "bored"

you can take the wild berry yogurt mix it with crushed crispy cereal, add 1/2 tsp of baking soda, [divide mixture in half and save for another time] add 1/4c [2] egg whites and some water-cool in a pan-it makes a yummy pancake with the Walden Farms syrup and it's non-restricted!

Also--roast cauliflower with olive oil/ spray salt and pepper 400 for at least 40 mins I love it brown...

Cut turnips [hated them before this recipe] into fries, sprinkle with olive oil, salt/ pepper roast for 40 minutes - you will never want a regular french fry again!

I cheated - don't do it!

Thank you all so much.
We're not allowed hummus are we?

These are great thoughts (fromsalmon girl and mom2cs)to get me through the parties, bbqs, and happy hours-- think of food as fuel; and food is not for entertainment. I am going to be contemplating these thoughts as I host yet another dinner at my house.
The best tip of the week for me was everybody's suggestion to turn the puddings into shakes (I haven't tried the spinach yet, just adding more water). Wow, do I love these. It's like a rich and creamy milkshake--and filling too. Also, to alleviate boredom I suggest trying all the different products.

We are not allowed hummus (wish we were). I'm not sure about the other phases, but not in phase 1.

We can have hummus - on Phase 1? If so I missed that - cause I love hummus and definitely would look forward to having some.

Yes, if you make your own (commerical brands have tons of additives unless you can find hummus that would be IP allowable )
You just need....Roasted egg plant, roasted garlic, a little olive oil, a little lemon juice and a bit of sea salt....blend/puree it all together in Food processor and it makes for a wonderful veggie dip (remember to count the dip as part of your veggie allowance)or a spread for crepes. I've even stufffed a pork loin with this dip (roll/butterfly the pork loin out, spread dip on it, roll loin back up and bake) ...Yummo!!!

is that faux hummus then? because hummus is made with chickpeas which arent allowed on phase 1.

JackBsMom- I totally understand how you feel. I myself have had a hard time on this diet. In fact, i cant eat the packets mostly, because of all the artificial sweetner so my choices are even more limited. So....i totally understand...however.. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not cheat....I did it the first time i tried this program and not only regret it but it made it that much harder to stay on the program any other time. So far it has taken 6 times around before i have finally been able to make it this long without a cheat...I dont plan on cheating anymore...