Some tips for the liquid diet I found make it tolerable

My doctor requires that I'm on a shake and clear liquids diet for two weeks before surgery... Here are some things that help... in case some of you need to do the same... plus after surgery we are ALL doing this. I found the beef broth goes better with some spicy seasoning (we use sesame oil, chili oil, tex mex seasoning, 2 fresh mint leaves, onion powder, red vinegar and red hot sauce). It makes it taste really good like a real meal! I haven't tried the chicken broth yet, but I will this weekend. I crave that beef broth concoction that my honey makes for me while I type here. He is pretty sweet to me most of the time. I am using IsoPure zero carb shakes... 40-50 grams of protein and no carbs - between 160 and 210 calories. They are pretty good, but you need to have more than one flavor so it doesn't get old fast. I have tried the Melon-Apple powder flavor and it is pretty good but I need to try something new. They have pre-made bottles that are like cool-aid. Grape is good. Blue Raspberry is excellent!!! I'm having that now. The ready to drink bottles are clear like cool-aid, but the shakes are cloudy but not like the other shakes that are very thick. The shake mix for 22 shakes is 50.00 at GNC but I'm looking for a cheaper place. The pre-made bottles at GNC cost 3.50 a piece which seems expensive but I guess it is a cheap meal and costs less than a dinner out. Did I mention that the Blue Raspberry rocks??? Wow... not even like a diet/protein taste to it. I hear that adding a 1 inch cube of banana or pineapple frozen in an ice cube tray (one cube) to the vanilla shake makes it rock so I'm going to try that for breakfast tomorrow morning. Jello also helps make you feel full and I keep 4 flavors made in individual cups (8 ounces now - will change to 4 ounces after surgery).

ummmmmmmmmm, do you put all those seasonings in the same batch of broth?????

Sure did.. in small quantities. It simulates hot and sour soup. I know those sound funny together - but it really is excellent.

Hmmmmmm...I LOVE hot and sour soup..........is there a specific recipe, or is it one of those pinch of this, a few drops of that kind? (All the good stuff that people concoct seem to end up this way, darn it!) We "kitchen impaired" types can use all the help we can get.

Here is how my fiance has been making it, I know, I'm spoiled The spices are to taste - so trial and error per individual taste One can of beef broth (5 grams protein, 0 carbs, 0 sugar, 0 fiber, 920mg of sodium, 1/2 gram of saturated fats, 6% RDA iron, - 2 servings per container and 25 calories per serving) we got the cheap Albertson's brand A heavy pinch or two of "1 Step Beef Seasoning in Tex-Mex chili flavor" by McCormick 1/2 teaspoon Asian Gourmet Sesame Oil 1/2 teaspoon Asian Gourmet Chili Oil 2 capfuls of Red Wine Vinegar (about one tablespoon) 1 heavy tablespoon of Durkee Red Hot A heavy pinch of onion powder 2 mint leaves (torn to pieces) 1 Tablespoon of egg beaters Bring all the ingredients to a boil except for the egg whites. Egg white liquid (like egg beaters) are dribbled in after the broth is put in bowl so it can be cooked to a egg drop soup consistency.

Thanks so much! This sounds yummy! Luann

The drinks sound yummy. I have to get out and buy some for post-op. I have been drinking carnation instant breakfast. Maybe I can get some this week-ed just so I can find the right flavors for me. I wonder how the Blue Raspberry tastes? lol Thanks... Shannon

The Blue Raspberry is my favorite... so far.

LAURA!! You are my hero!! Thanks so much for taking the time to post the soup recipe!! It really sounds tasty, and is something to look forward to! I will have to go to the "big" grocery store on the mainland tomorrow and get all the good things that go in it. HURRAY!!

UGHH! I start this oh-so-yummy liquid protein diet tomorrow morning. I wont tell you what I had for my last meal tonight..hehe. Thanks for the tip. I guess this time next week I will be tracking you down in horror wanting something new. I bought the slim fast shakes. I dont know how I am going to do because I have hated them in the past. Im going to go and get those fruity drinks you mentioned. Keep up the good work. When is your surgery?