Protein Drinks - Sample Parties?

Are there such things as "sampling parties" for protein drinks?

I'm going to have WLS in April 2010 and want to start researching the various
protein drinks.

Do the various companies ever provide samples for WLS support groups?
Or do any of them provide the means to purchase small sample packs?

In my past attempts at weight loss I drank shakes from Medifast - the vanilla ones.
I would flavor them lightly with coconut flavorings etc. and ice in a blender so that it
was like a frozen margarita.  I do not like strong drinks or flavors though.

what should I start out with to sample?

Cheers, Tee

I have seen a couple of different options. Sometimes samples are given at conferences and such. Or people have been known to make single serve pouches of powder, print labels of what it was, and passed them out at support group so everyone can try it. Or, we once held support group at a members house and everyone brought a snack. You could spin it into a protein sampling party.

There are several websites that offer sample packs of their various flavors so you might do some online research to find one.  Also sometimes organized support groups having tastings but not on a regualr basis.  Whatever you do, don't buy a bunch ahead of time cuz your tastebuds might change.  Anything you buy from GNC you can return for credit if you don't like it.

 Thanks Stephanie... I need to pass that GNC info on to my mother who just purchased some.  She's having surgery 1/4/2010 so she's in the "sample mode"

Oh I had I hard time finding a protein powder or drink that would not make me gag and want to throw up at the smell or taste of it. I had given up on protein powders altogether until a few months ago. One of my support groups had a meeting and the coordinator asked everyone to bring in samples of their favorite protein products. That is when I discovered the Max Protein that is sold at GNC. OMG! it has no after taste and smells like Nestle Quik chocolate powder....tastes like it too!

You could try asking a support group leader to have one of the Protein meetings and ask everyone to bring in their protein samples, etc.

Also, I know there are a few product websites like www.unjury.com that will let you order sample packs for cheap so you can try them.

Good luck on finding a protein powder or drink that is right for you and you can live with.

vitalady.com   offers sample packs of quite alot of the proteins she carries

The gnc on brody and 290 is family owned and will let you sample their chocolate shakes, they have them mixed up in the cooler. I found one that is really smooth there.

I also went to sun harvest on south lamar and picked up sample size packs of every protein powder they sold with in carb limits, etc. I've put them in pudding, jello, soup, etc. I've got a little protein science lab in my kitchen.

EAS carb advantage vanilla premixed doesnt have too much flavor. It makes me gag a little on the finish, but I also dont like milk flavor. It also keeps me fuller than anything I've tried so far.

Isopure premixed is tasty in alpine punch and grape... the other flavors I'm not too keen on... peach mango and apple melon.

I had a banana creme canned drink from pure protein today and it has been by far my favorite to date and I've been through several.

I have also ordered prostat which is 15g of protein in 2 table spoons for right after surgery. I should get it in the mail end of this week or early next week. I'll let you know how it tastes. I'm putting it in the medicine category so I can fudge myself into thinking "it tastes good for medicine."

Eas and Isopure both sell powder also and are differnet from the ready made - I live on EAS buy it in the 5 or 6 pound bags from sams or costco - I have dumped on every ready to drink EAS product I have tryed in the last almost 4 yrs.

went though a period of drinking isopure - got the first powder at gnc to try then found it for half the price on line once I knew I liked it - never have like the premade ones

I know that in almost 4 years - i have gone though the following

gns mixed berry 100% whey -
isopure - strawberry
isopure - peach mango (or something like that) and thier cookies n cream and chocolate
EAS choc only
EAS Vanilla mostly - choc in a pinch (could be b/c I have 10 more pounds of it - and I shipped 5 to Iraq already LOL)

when I find something that works it generally works well for 3 to 9 months then I wake up one day make my shake, grab my pills take my first swig and gag - no clue why just is a thing for me - otehr people find one they like early out and drink it for years

NOTE  - I mix the EAS with edge (sf caffine powder sold near crystal light) OR with a little milk or water and use as coffee creamer - both the van and chocolate work well for this 

I second not buying a whole bunch. My taste buds changed, and I have several that I can no longer stand to drink. They were fine before the surgery, and I used them for my two week pre-op liquid diet, but I can't stand them now.