Tips, Tricks, Recipes & Encouragement!

Hi, sashellenbarger. The overwhelmed feeling will go away, we promise! There is the getting-used-to-it-all effect, and you can continue to ask questions here, and hopefully find that our answers will help.
Yes, any flavor of unsweetened/uncoated rice cakes is fine. Regarding the recipes, we will be adding that information in the near future. In the meantime, those that you selected for and appear on your menu will have the portion size and corresponding nutrient exchange information (click on “View Menu Exchanges” off to the right).

Hi, vhill. Yes, the intention is for all of those items to be eaten at one meal. The exchanges refer to the portion sizes that come up in the menus through the Menu Planner application, and are very similar to those used by the American Diabetic Association.
Note, however, that patterns are dependent upon gender, height, and weight, and so are not necessarily the same for everyone. If you want to see yours, you can post your details here, and I will get back to you.

Hi, jhazelton. We are working on that as we speak!
Many recipes are in the Menu Planner, but they are multiplying rapidly, and we stopped loading them in because they would take over already full pages. Therefore, we are investigating alternatives that would increase the recipes available for this, and shakes will definitely be in there, due to their populartity.
In the meantime, swap out the ingredients in the shake for similar ones on your menu – i.e. fruits, vegetables, dairy – even trading between meals, if you wish.

Hi, pclavender1. The 14-day plan and Menu Planner menus provide a framework of foods to meet your nutritional needs, that you can prepare to your tastes – hopefully following the healthy cooking recommendations made in the program overview (https://www.trimdownclub.com/product/trimdownclub-program/).
The foods there were selected for their superior contribution to healthy weight loss efforts. They are less known to many people, which is part of their advantage – they are less manipulated and processed. However, in the Menu Planner application, you can choose regular foods if you like, though we do encourage you to try some new foods or healthier versions of what you eat now. You can also use the 14-day plan as a pattern, and put in whichever foods in those food groups that you like.
Regarding the issue you described in the food selection process in the Menu Planner application, I am forwarding your query to the tech support team. Because it is essentially the weekend, in the interest of things being resolved quickly, I would be happy to work with you on making the express menu plan work, if you wish.

Just got into the club (newbie)….not feeling yet. Reading..get ready to go to lunch. Any ideas?

Hi, eilis408. The 14-day “readymade” menu is definitely not enough food for you at your current weight – it is more in line with your goal weight. Have you tried going through the Menu Planner application? Even if you don’t want to follow it exactly, it can give you and idea of food groups, portion sizes, and timing. You can increase the health score by selecting more foods in the lightest blue. The basic pattern that would fit you right now is as follows (the units are similar to those used by the American Diabetic Association):
Breakfast: 1-2 starches, 2 proteins, 1-2 fats, 1 fruit,
Morning Snack: 0-1 starch, 2 proteins, 0-1 fat, 1 fruit, 0-1 vegetable
Lunch: 1-2 starches, 2 proteins, 1-2 fats, , 1-2 vegetables
Afternoon Snack: 1 starch, 2 proteins, 0 fat, 0-1 fruit, 1 vegetable
Dinner: 1-2 starches, 2 proteins, 1-2 fats, , 1-2 vegetables
Evening Snack: 1 starch, 1 protein, 0-1 fat, 1 fruit

Hi Ossie Sharon…in reply to your information request. I am female, 47 years old, 5′ 8″, 203.6lbs, and I do Zumba (latin dancing/aerobics class) 4-5x/week. Thanks for your help!

Just started my first day and maybe I’m being a bit dozy (entirely possible) but I can’t see rhubarb anywhere – perhaps it’s because it needs to be sweetened – is it ok to eat rhubarb?