Body fortress at Walmart, 14.99 a jug and I love love love the taste!!

I use the low carb Slim fast or Atkins...for now that does the trick. My pre op diet consists of 2 protein shakes a day plus either 2 Lean Cuisines OR 6oz lean meat, 1/2 cup starch, 1 fruit and all the green leafy veggies you want. NO sauces, fats or dressings permitted.
The day before surgery total liquid. I'm only 2 days out and it's been quite easy!

I love the taste of Jay Robb shakes. They sell the powder at health food stores. He has whey protein and lactose free protein.

strawberry body fortress with vanilla silk milk and maybe a couple frozen berries. I make mine with or without berries and after it is mixed, I put in freezer for 15 + minutes and make it very cold almost a slushy consistency. It taste like a strawberry milkshake...yummy!

I always suggest people try several brands prior to surgery, so they know what they can use right after..honestly thats not the time to research something you have to take every day.

I know you want inexpensive, but remember you will be eating less food-honestly don't go cheap, unless you find one you really like. I tried inexpensive ones and thought they tasted like caulking.

I'm trialing Unjury right now-bought their trial package for $25.00 and so far I like them. I mix the strawberry with a had cup of frozen mixed berries and 5-6 ice cubes in my blender and make a smoothie.

With vanilla I added half a banana and frozen mango and peach slices a bit of vanilla and again ice cubes. I've also used kiwi, seedless grapes, fresh pineapple and about any mellon with both vanilla and strawberry. This is my main lunchtime meal every day so I make sure it's good.

plantcrone

I use ELITE by Dymatize. It cost around $24 for a big container 29 servings per container and you can use water. I got the rich chocolate flavor.1 scoop gives you 117 cal, 2 g of fat, 2 g of carbs and 24 g of protein. Add a scoop of carnation powdered milk and it gives you even more protein without having to eat xtra calories. And it doesn't thicken so you can drink it slowly and not have it get like mud on you. ENJOY!

I like Maxpro from musclemax. I was allowed To have
Protein drinks
Diet v-8 splash
Crystal light
Sf cool aid
Sf Popsicles
Broth creamy or liquid
Cream soups
Drinkable yogurt
Milk
Any pourable fluids
NO milk shakes or malts

I had to do liquids for a week with clear liquids a day or two before. You have talked to your boss to take the time off I hope. Surely you can ask her/him for discretion and privacy. You could even just say you are having stomach surgery which you are.

After 6 months post op I finally found some that I really enjoy drinking. There are two. The shake kind that I use is the Wonderslim vanilla. Mix it with Soy Slender vanilla soy milk and it tastes just like an ice cream malt. to me anyway lol. The second one I use is ProtiDiet brand. This one is the fruity kind. They have several flavors. I've tried most of them and they are pretty good. The really good part about these is that they are liquid. No powder balls! lol. Both of them have 15g of protein in them, but for the vanilla shake, if you mis it with the soy milk, that's 22g which is about a third of the min you need post op. I get them both from bariatricchoice.com.