Well its hard to say which is the most tasteful because everyones tastes are different. And the fact that our tastes change after surgery doesn't help either. I use the Atkins protein shakes an sometimes the muscle milk ones. All premade. I haven't used the powder yet but am looking into it. I'm looking for ones with a higher protein level. I suggest after your surgery you sample a few to find the ones you like better. I wouldn't go an buy a case of any now cause there's a chance you wont like it later even if you did before. The whey protein is better absorbed from what I understand an I believe its only in powder form.

I lived on GNC Lean Shakes
And Pure Protein which I found at Walmart
Only by one and try it
My tastes have changed so much!

I like the Syntrax. They are offering a variety sampler for $13.99 delivered- a great deal. Gives you the chance to try lots of different flavors:

http://www.si03.com/medical/med_index.htm

Then I buy them by the 2 pound canister at Drugstore.com for the best price.

When I mix the Lattee flavor with 8 oz of low fat milk and some ice cubes, it tastes like a frappicino, if you like that.

Sally the cat ;-)

I made my own. From the second week out, I was allowed full liquids, including Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce. That evolved into Dutch Apple Protein Shake. 1/2 cup Fage 2% Greek yogurt, 1scoop vanilla protein powder (Syntrax Nectar vanilla bean torte flavor), 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (I bought those little individual ones to save spoilage instead of those big jars), 1/2 teaspoon each nutmeg and cinnamon, 4 ice cubes and enough water to make a consistency that is pouch pleasing to you. Blended it in a Magic Bullet. 31 grams of whey protein isolate in one shake. Two shakes a day will give you close to the minimum protein requirement, and depending on how much water you use, it will provide some of your liquid requirement as well.

I have used Designer Whey in the past, but found Syntrax Nectar or Jay Robb to be much better in mixability, taste and texture. If you use Designer Whey, you may want to add 2 tablespoons vanilla Torani's sugar free syrup for sweetness and additional vanilla flavor.

I also did (and still do) mix 1 scoop Nectar ( any flavor you like ) with 1/2 cup Fage 2% Greek yogurt in a 1 cup Rubbermaid container with the screw on lid. Freeze for about 45 minutes or so depending on your freezer. Makes a great protein meal that you can chew from the time you can have full liquids and beyond. I eat two or three of them a day.

The ready to drink varieties have a "preservative" or canned taste to me. Yuck. Just can't drink any of them.

Hope the ideas give you some inspiration to experiment! Also, check Shelly's blog theworldaccordingtoeggface if you haven't already. She's got lots of shake ideas!

Blessings!
Spotz

Ready made are nasty and more calories than I would like. Just my opinion. Before surgery I liked A couple of the Nectars but they are too sweet for me now. I love Maxpro from Muscle Max now. As long as it is whey protein isolate

For me it doesn't really matter if its ready made or powder, lately its more about taste. My Doc said like gwaters said above don't stock up, just get what you will need to get through surgery and enough time for some healing.

I also agree with stlucia29 so far the Pure Protein tastes the best at least to me it does your tastes may differ, but I have only had the protein bars they offer 20g protein and they are pretty small, but I still have to split it between a snack and lunch, I just had my surgery on the 5th so its only been 2 weeks.

If you want designer protein, ie. top end (Whey Isolate Protein) there is the Unjury @ unjury.com and Nectar @ syntrax.com both are medical grade, you can get samples at either site I think Syntrax has a 12ct Nectar packet you can get for 12.99. Unjury you can order individual packets for tasting, I will say that Nectar had more flavors, but some ppl really like the chicken soup Unjury makes. I have Nectar at home I personaly tried Unjury I didn't like it, but after surgery I don't stomach Nectar well, my Doc suggested the Costco brand he said it tastes like chocolate milk :shrug: I haven't tried it yet.

Also I am not sure if GNC still does this but when my hubby was taking it to help build muscle GNC had a policy if you didn't like the protein you could take it back opened and get a full refund. They have several brands there.

I love love love atkins advantage cafe caramel. It's ready made. I get them at wal mart. Pre op I would drink the shakes that you would mix. Chike. But since surgery just have no desire for them and when I tried them they were blah to me :-/

i use a pure isolate unflavored powder. I have a hard time with many things so the pure powder takes mostly things like soy, egg gluten. out

Im lazy these days so I do one cup 1% milk, 1 squirt of sf great value choco syrup (i cant keep the toralini syrup down sp?) and my scoop of powder.

when Im not lazy I take my yogurt cubes.(I buy my yogurt and freeze it over night in ice cube trays) one cup is 5 cubes. then my half cup 1% milk because the yogurt makes up the other half. add my sf chocolate and pro power and blend.............except i blend everything but the yogurt cubes first .......after i blend again with them otherwise it gets more like a thin shake instead of a smoothie .

These are all great ideas. I have tried many of the Isopure brand flavors and liked a lot before surgery and now can't handle most protien but have been using the whey so I am now trying something different just don't know what yet. This should help. Thanks

I like Nectar brand, Jay Robb and Unjury. I have used Nectar Chocolate Truffle for my pre op liquid diet and then after surgery too. Still have a morning shake with skim milk and PB2 for breakfast almost every morning. I also like Nectar Fuzzy Navel also. I bought a bunch of packets of shake mixes to have on hand after surgery since many times what you like pre op you can't tolerate post op. I still have a bunch left I need to use up. I spent about $90 online buying packets from Nectar, Unjury, Jay Robb, About Time, Chike and some other brands.
I know if you buy stuff from GNC or Vitamine Shoppe and you don't like it, you can return it for store credit. Online Baratric Choice is like that with anything you buy, food, shake mixes, vitamins and so on. I bought a bunch of chewable vitamins I couldn't tolerate post op and exchanged them for capsules at Bariatric Choice. Thank goodness as they were kinda expensive. They have free shipping on orders over $50 too.
Good luck!

Thepbourn - Thanks for the great question! I need to get back into protine drinks and I was not sure where to start. I hated protine shakes so once I could eat normal stuff - I lost my mind for a little bit.

They had some really great tips! I am going to try some of them to see if it makes me like protine a little more. My taste buds are carb lovers : (

While on the subject, has anyone purchased premade protein shakes from a wholesale store? If so, do you reccomend them? Around here on Philly we have BJ's and Costco.

Costco carries Premier Protein Shakes... I prefer the vanilla to the chocolate.

If you can find Oh Yeah RTD's those a delicious too. Vanilla Creme or Strawberry are my favs in those.

Tami...

I started drinking Bariatric Advantage powder protein before surgery. It was ROUGH and I gagged a few times...hahaha...

Now I LOVE it! It has 27g per serving which is nice. I found that 1 scoop of vanill aand 1 scoop of chocolate is just right. When my mom gets here tomorrow we will venture to the grocery store so I can find the Fage Greelk yogurt everyone is talking about so I can make some frozen yummies and the PB2 to make the Reese's cup shake.

I also have a box of samples I haven't tried yet. I think samples are the best way to go,
Tracie

Thanks Eggface :)