got my welcome letter!

Woo hoo...it came yesterday! I start the program June 18th...nervous, worried about work hours, wondering "can I really do this?"

I am to come in early the rest of the 4 days at work to cover the time off, just hope I can manage that with three kids who have a tendency to drag their feet in the mornings. How am I going to be able handle going on vacation for a week while on opti? Need some great ideas on how to make it taste different and appealing...hmmm...any help with variations of making opti more "pleasurable"? I remember people commenting on flavouring from Starbucks but can you only purchase the syrups from them or anywhere else?

Congrats on getting the letter.

As for the kids, all I can suggest is have everything ready for them the night before (if you don't already).  I tend to make lunches the night before when I know I"m leaving early to go to work.  Get everything else ready as well.  Other than that, I can't help much.

Check out the recipe forum, it has lots of ways to change flavors of Opti.  You can also make it thicker so it's more like a pudding if you want.  I think I've heard someone say they've found them at Winners.  I'm not sure where to get them as I never used them.  You can also use extracts from the baking aisle to flavor the shakes, or instant coffee crystals.

As for a week of holidays on Opti, it will depend on where are you going.  But just take shakes and shaker with you and make sure you can get good cold water to mix them.  You'll find a way.

To your question I'll paraphrase Bob The Builder "Can you do this?  YES YOU CAN!"

Enjoy your journey.

Cathy

Thank you!  I will be altering my nightly schedule to fit it in now...it's not me I'm worried about though, it's the kids not wanting to get ready, I have a 9 year old daughter who takes her time in getting dressed already, and I dare not pick out her clothes the night before cause I never get it right anyway...LOL

I'll have to make a trip to Winners and see if I can locate some...

Going camping in Parry Sound, pretty excited as this will be my first time taking all three kids by myself with our own campsite.  We have family going up too but I am hoping I can handle it.

LOL...thanks for that, my youngest loved Bob (and Handy Manny!)

I have an 8 year old boy and 5 year old boy.  They aren't always in a hurray to get ready (especially when I want to get going) either.  Perhaps you could get your daughter to pick out her own clothes the night before.  If she doesn't know what she wants to wear, suggest she pick out 2 outfits and from that she can choose in the morning.

If you have a trailer with a fridge, just keep some bottles of water in the fridge for your shakes (take lots extra, kids tend to sneak things like that when you don't plan on it).  If you don't have a fridge, take a cooler with water and lots of ice, that will help keep the water cold.  You may have to replenish the ice half way through the week.  I didn't have to do opti while camping, but I have camped with babies (dreaded having them cry until 10, worrying about the neighbors calling the park officials) and had to keep milk cold for up to a week.  We also now have a coolatron that plugs in to keep things cold.  It won't be ice cold, but decently cold as long as you don't over fill it.  Just keep an eye on it on day 4 or 5, make sure it's not running too long.  We've overfilled ours and by then it needs a couple hours break.  Not sure what your centre allowed, but we were allowed SF Jello, that goes well for you and the kids for dessert if you want.

Mine still like Handy Manny.  They met him a couple years ago in Disney World, it was cute to watch their reaction.  It was the first Character restaurant we were at so my anxious son (now 8) took a bit to get into it, but liked it when he did.

Good luck camping!

Cathy