Nectar Carribean Cooler - HELP!

Personally, I can't STAND any of the Nectar's. Everyone, I have tried made me gag. I have to chuckle when I see people rave about them. It just goes to show everyones tastes are different.

shellbell, what are your favorites since you and I both don't like this Nectar stuff?

You've got samples of other brands and flavors, right?  There are lots that I hate but several that I like.  And sometimes I like some flavors of one brands but hate other flavors.  Like, I thought the roadside lemonade from syntrax nectar was ok but thought the lemon tea one was horrible.

Don't decide you hate all protein shakes yet, because you haven't tasted them all.

What you need to do is experiment with different ways to make them.  All these possibilities won't work with every flavor.  I mean, I'm not putting a banana in the blender with lemon tea protein powder and I'm not putting a little instant coffee in lemonade protein powder.  But experiment.

Try mixing with water.  Try  mixing with milk.  Try putting in the blender with a handful of ice cubes.  Try mixing with crystal light instead of plain water.  Try adding a spoonful of (decaf) instant coffee.  Try adding a spoonful of sugar free pudding mix (just the dry powder).  Try adding some sugar free syrup, the kind you find in the coffee aisle at the store (you can get lots of different flavors).  Try using more water or milk, or try using less water or milk.  Try putting protein powder in hot drinks like coffee or sugar free hot chocolate.  To do that, mix the powder with a little room temp liquid so it forms a paste, then stir that paste into your hot drink.  Try mixing the powder in yogurt or sugar free pudding and eat it instead of make a drink with it.

Thanks Kelly! I will keep experimenting, it's just a pain to do so before surgery since apparently my taste buds will change.

I appreciate your help as always.

I'm about to go to Walmart to get some last minute stuff before surgery and I need to get some iron.

Is there an iron chewable or something that is not gross? I know you've probably answered that question a million times at least! lol

Also, my nut says we only need to take ONE sublingual B-12 per week (2500-3000 mcg). Do you agree with that?

THanks everyone!!!!
Wynter

Also try a straw.   That has helped me a lot.

Yep, was using a straw, lol. I got it all down by adding the crystal light sugar free lemonade flavoring to it, it was an improvement but still something I had to choke down.

Your tastes might change, yeah, but if you gotta get through the next couple of days with protein shakes, might as well try to make them taste as good as you can now.  And whatever you like now will give you a starting place after surgery.  It seems like a lot of people don't like super sweet things right after surgery, so when you're trying different shakes out, you might want to try less sweet ones right after surgery or ones that you don't add additional sweet stuff to.

Check out theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com and bariatricfoodie.com for lots of really yummy sounding protein drink ideas.

I've never taken chewable iron.  I don't know if places like Walmart even carry it.  I know Celebrate and Bariatric Advantage both sell it, but I've never tasted them so I don't know if it's gross.  I think it's like protein shakes - some people really like chewable vitamins and some really don't.

Yeah, that's enough B12, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.  Unless your labs show you need more.

Thanks Kelly, I appreciate it as always! You are a big help to a lot of people here!

Wynter

My favorite by far is Pure Protein in vanilla. It was chocolate, but then I learned from this site you can add sugar free pudding mix and change up the flavor. Right now I am drinking a banana cream shake. YUMMO. Made with vanilla Pure Protein, some banana cream sugar free pudding and skim milk. It doesn't taste chalky or gritty and I just use a shaker bottle.
I usually get mine @ Target for 17.99 I have seen it @ some Walmart. I liked it before surgery and after my tastes really didn't change other than pre-op I loved the chocolate and post-op I love the vanilla (with additions).

I also keep bottles of Isopure to take with me if I know I am going to be on the run. That way I get my protein and fluid. Do I enjoy it? Umm, not really, but it's better than worrying where to stop etc. I worked a health fair last weekend and I ran out of Isopure and I took a packet ofNectar Roadside Lemonade. OMGosh, I am glad I saved it for the way home b/c I was gagging on the protein taste. Blech. I want to drink things I enjoy. But, there are times that I do have to drink things I don't just to get my protein in (not very often. LOL)

My favorite is About Time.  You can go to tryabouttime.com and gt 2 samples for $2.99 with free shipping.  I can't taste the protein at all with these, but again as  you know everyone is different.