I've been wanting to find this ever since having a high sugar version at a local restaurant! Thanks for posting :)

It depends on your program, I wasn't permitted anything extra except up to one cup (total) of a very limited list of vegetables (as in a salad) seasoned only with red vinegar. 

I liked to add the vanilla to my coffee in the morning.  I flavored them with the sugar free davinci or torani syrups.  The strawberry ones I drank cold and i didn't care much for the chocolate shakes, but they weren't bad with the SF syrups added, like raspberry or hazelnut. 

I hated the soups.  I only used the shakes and bars.  The chocolate bars are soooo gooood! Nuke them for a few secs and they serioulsy are like a warm brownie! 

I was on Opti for 6 weeks, and it was tough, but you can do it.  It's the beginning of an amazing journey! 

(I'm about 20 months out, and 174 lbs down!)

Canadian programs allow, sugar free syrups and water flavour mix ins like Crystal Light and Mio. Also, you can add it to decaf coffee and tea, cold or warm, (if adding to a hot liquid remember to temper it first, or it may turn lumpy).. A lot of people in my group mix half chocolate and half vanilla. Try it warm, or frozen like a popsicle. Do not add fruit or other 'food' as the prior poster suggested it is not allowed before surgery in the Canadian system. Good luck with your surgery!

This sounds like a cool idea.  :)  Question... does the 'crust' harden up to a crispy type crust?  Or is it semi-soft?   Is it hand held eatable?

I would add a piece of chicken or salmon to bump up the protein.

Pearl Couscous Salad with Lemon Asparagus and Tomato
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 5 • Size: little over 1 cup • Old Points: 3 • Weigh****cher Points+: 4 pt 
Calories: 170 • Fat: 4 g • Carb: 30 g • Fiber: 5 g • Protein: 6.3 g • Sugar: 0.0 g
Sodium: 10 mg (without the salt) • Cholest: 0 mg 

Ingredients:

• 6 oz whole wheat pearl couscous
• 3/4 lb thin asparagus spears, tough ends trimmed
• 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 cup red onion, minced
• 1-1/2 lemons, juiced
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
• Kosher salt, to taste
• fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Chop it into small 1/2 inch pieces. Drain the couscous and rinse under cold water, place in a large bowl.

Add the chopped asparagus, tomatoes, red onion, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper to the bowl.  Taste for salt and pepper and serve room temperature or chilled.

Makes 5 1/2 cups.

So, I've been exploring, looking at recipes, food ideas, etc.

My Nurse Practitioner friend at work is doing the "Wheat Belly" diet - which is appears to be another form of a low carb diet.

Anyhow, I was looking at the recipes in her "Wheat Belly diet" book and they had the shirataki noodles listed for use in making all kinds of pastas. Sooo..I proceeded to Google and looked them up.

This is what I found through Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirataki_noodles

I found some nutritional info on them too and a serving ranges from 5 calories to 20 calories. The carbs are low as can be as well.

There's no protein benefit to these - but they might be awesome as a base for some meaty type recipes! ..

Has anyone tried these? Wikipedia gives a few different ways to cook them and I'd probably go for the 'dry roast' method myself.

I'm thinking I may need to discover where they are and give them a go. :)