No...More...Protein Shakes!

Ok, I just gagged down my last one. I can't stand them anymore.  Boy, people were NOT kidding when they said my tastes would change. I loved the vanilla bean premade shakes in the pre-op and week two phases. I can't stand to smell them anymore and the powder ones all taste like chalk. I KNOW there has to be another way to get all of my protein in. One friend suggested unflavored powder and just put it on all of my foods. I'm not so sure about it.

I use Syntrax unflavored, and it has a slightly milky smell and taste-- very slight. So I don't notice it in foods that have a strong flavor -- asparagus soup, broccoli soup, chili, unweetened soy milk (you might be able to mix vanilla powder there)  -- or Syntrax chocolate truffle in decaf coffee (i mix a little soy milk with it first to make a paste, then gradually add in the coffee).  Protein powders clump when mixed with hot liquids, but I've never had a problem with soups, just coffee.

If you look at the world according to eggface blog, she makes protein ice cream. I made some peppermint protein ice cream and liked it pretty well.  Then I'd use that to make a shake -- since I was starting with basically a frozen shake mixture, it make it cold and creamy.  Pretty good!

Best of luck!

Unflavored still has a protein taste. I have some Protein'd cheese sauce from Unjury. I made it and added it in regular mac'n'cheese and I could definitely taste the protein. I would give it a try, but it will change the taste of things.

In stage 2 I added unflavored protein powder to 1% cottage cheese and was able to eat it.  I tried that again after I had started stage 4 and couldn't eat it.  The proportions must have been off or something.  It mixed reasonably well with canned chicken in stage 3, at least to my palate.

Unjury Chicken Soup protein was my saving grace during the mandatory protein shake phase.  That savory taste was a welcome break from the sweet shakes, but I switched back and forth.  I had to add fiber powder to the Unjury, though. 

Thanks for all of the advice! I'm going to try some of those ideas. :)

Please try ready to drink (RTD) shakes. They go down much easier and doesn't give me the "sick" feeling. Just make sure it has some whey protein in it, preferably in the first 5 ingredients.

I've tried a bunch of shakes (order sample packs from mybariatricpantry.com) Also I really enjoyed Matrix Syntrax Mint Cookie powder. Now that one I can drink! I'm going to order me a jug of it soon. You can order sample packs off there to try if you would like.

I couldn't even gag them down my first few weeks after surgery. 

There are other ways you can try, especially as you get further out from surgery. 

Focus on high protein foods, beans, meats, eggs, etc.  don't worry about eating anything else right now.  Fluids and protein. 

I am 8 weeks out and have added in some protein bars now, they are much easier to get down for me, and beef jerky.  Try adding milk or cheese to things.  Greek yogurt saved me from being totally without protein some days. 

The unjury unflavored protein powder is the only one that I found I could manage through at all....add a little to each thing that you can. 

how long do the RTD shakes last? expiry date?  i'm worried about having troulbe with the protein powders,... so many people seem to have trouble.  recomendations?  particularly for right after surgery period.