Ok here goes.....

Absolute Least favorites? Beef Chow Mein and the Salmon (actually swallowed without chewing, LOL), but it's probably because I do not eat either, even prior to JC. Never have been a cold cereal person, so I switch those out with other options.

Tuna and Chicken Salad, I'll say are not favorites, but I can at least tolerate them when I need a meals that does not require heating. I have found that I do not care for many, if any of the meals that are NOT frozen. Just something about those meals being in the cabinet, instead of the frig, that makes me leary.

Lemon cake feels like I'm over the top cheating, I LOVE it. Cookies and Cream Cheesecake is another favorite. I have had the PB Anytime bar every day for 3 weeks now, and I'm not to a point of hating it, but it is getting old as each day passes, BUT it is really convenient for me, when I'm running around the office busy, and I can woof it down in 3-4 bites.

Loved the Gumbo (although my JC Center was OUT today), chili totally tore my stomach up, love the Tortilla Soup, and I throw any carrots AWAY, from any meal, because I just do not like them. I like the turkey burger, but I have to eat it on a very small dessert plate, or I feel like I've not had anything at all, just because it's so tiny.

I have found that adding pepper and NO salt substitute helps with flavoring on just about all the food choices.

Oh, and I never thought I'd say this, but I detest the ranch dressing (only ate Ranch prior to JC) for my salad, ceasar is just OK, but balsamic is perfect to me.

Now, with all that said, I'm only 3 weeks in (WI today and down 12.4 lbs total!!!), so I'm far from expert, but it's not taken me very long to decide what I do and do not like.

Pam

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for this great thread.. After my 1st week and the cat food lunch (guess I picked the best one.. chicken..) I decided to "personalize". Here are a few things that I have been learning..

My counselor says that the calories should be 800-850 (3 meals + a snack) which is still hard to get to when you look up the calorie content on-line. Also when you personalize, you need to eat the extra fat, starch or whatever the system tells you. For instance, I was surprised that I needed 1/2 a starch after eating Mac-n-Cheese? Yep.. and it doesn't matter when you eat it that day.

Also, I have seen some saying they use FF dressing...be careful to get your fat! The Jenny dressing actually has 90 calories and FAT which is what you need to continue to loose weight. If your body doesn't have the fat you will not loose weight.. So, for 90 cal - I use my own Ken's Greek dressing that I adore.

I have tried almost everything once and can honestly say I am glad that I don't mind eating the same thing all the time!

Hate: Cat food kits, shelf food..

Disliked: microwave soups, cheese ench (bummer), chick sand (bland..); salmon (cook your own); fish/chips

Living on: Turkey burgers, beef chow mein, meatball pocket, chick burrito, Mac-n-ch; meat loaf, chick fetticine, Lasagna, mesquite chicken is prob my favorite and it is satisfying.

The only thing I've truly hated so far is the chicken sandwich. It would be very good if the chicken didn't have the texture of a wet tire.

After a week I finally found a meal that i really didnt like at all. the chicken and cashews. I couldnt even finish it. Everything else so far has been good.

my favorites are beef chow mein, breakfast scramble, the pizzas and the stuffed chicken sandwich

I didn't like:
SW Chicken (I had heartburn all afternoon from it).
Swedish Meatballs (The meatballs were way to mushy for me).
Ranch Dressing

Not fond of:
Cookout Chicken & Beans
Breakfast Stuffed Sandwich (Eggs were slimey)
Bruschetta Chips
Chocolate Graham Cracker Twists
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Bar (I was told it was like a snickers. Someone lied!)
Peanut Butter Bar

[/font][font="Comic Sans MS"][color="#0000FF"][/color]
Oh, I love the turkey burger -- I add one slice of 2% cheese, sliced pickles, and sometimes onion slices. I did hate the chicken sandwich though.

Hi, Mary...

I love the pizzas but I do not use the microwave... I like the oven better... takes longer but it tastes so much better. I add fresh sliced mushrooms and red onion and some italian seasoning... I also use a pizza pan (the one with the holes punched in it so the crust is nice & crispy). I spray the pan with PAM. They turn out great!

I love the fact that I can go in there and get anything I want... I customize my menu everyweek, that way I only choose my favorite foods.... I love the turkey burger and will eat that a couple times a week, along with pizza and I still loose the weight. I will get only my favorite dinners. When I went with a fixed menu I did dread the days when the salad kits and the shelf foods were on, it doesn't have to be that way and I LOVE IT!!

I am only on the first week of my diet and am on week menu plan # 1, yesterday I had the sunshine sandwich, not the best, but try it again 0nly next tim I will use regular salsa!
Then for lunch I had the Mexician soup........ I will never have that again yuck Thank God dinner was good.

Least fav, by far, are any of the shelf stable foods ( Chef Boyardee, hello) and chicken fajitas. The tuna salad was okay but I like mine better. Haven't tried the chicken salad and don't want to. Not shot down with the soups.

All the rest I enjoy!

Love this thread!

It's hard for me to understand why it's so great to have pages and pages of making sure people know that certain foods taste like cat food, and others taste like vomit. If I were brand new to this, I'd be very nervous to try anything, and very discouraged!

If you're new - try everything at least once, and if you hate it, try it again, and be creative with it! No one honestly, is going to like or even love switching from our favorite foods to eating low cal, low sodium, low fat foods. But if you've tried other similiar programs, we should be really thankful for how good the Jenny food really is - not to mention you're getting healthier and losing weight. It's also about learning to try new things, and learning to be open about it. If you hate something, then you hate something - switch the day out, that's great. Brainstorming ways to sub foods from the store instead, is not. Though it may work for some, it's compromising everything Jenny is about, and if you're eating your own substitutions on the weight loss part, your counselor can't help you when you get stuck.

There's nothing wrong with not liking something, there's nothing wrong with having a thread where everyone can commiserate about all the things they hate, and I realize that's why this thread was created. But in addition, a few positive suggestions on how to either volumize or season something, or a different way to cook it so it doesn't get ruined in the oven - would be a lot more encouraging than just complaining. It just seems we should be lending our support to the newbies and encouraging attempting new things rather than discouraging it just because we've decided it's horrible.

Well, it may sound as if I do not like anything on this program, but it is far from the truth. As a new client, I was sure to try everything (well almost) on the menus, and kept an open mind. These are items I really wanted to like, but just couldn't. I really should weigh 10lbs as picky as I am, so here it goes:

I dislike the following:

1. All shelf stable meals (there were a couple that if necessary, I would eat, but the majority I personally could not tolerate)
2. Microwaveable soup bowls (except the gumbo with a little lite salt added).
3. Salmon
4. Turkey burger (I tried this a few times...even doctored it, but I cannot bring myself to enjoy it).
5. Breakfast stuffed sandwich
6. Fruit and granola cereal
7. Tuna Salad Kit (I do not like chicken salad in the real world, so I did not try it).

There are plenty of things that I do like...I love the broccoli and cheese potato, the self rising pizza and the fajitas to name a few. The snacks are great too...oh, and the french toast...yum!!

Everyone has their own opinion...luckily we have plenty of choices!!

Trishkaa: Very well said!! There are so many choices and varieties of food on Jenny Craig that everyone can enjoy something. I try lots of things that people slammed and found out that I personally enjoyed the flavor...different strokes for different folks. We should embrace these differences and try not to slam the foods because someone out there probably likes it or it wouldn't be sold anymore. I like the tuna kits and some of the shelf stable foods...if it's totally gross or not my taste, I just don't order it again. It can be a good reference to read about other foods that people enjoy or prepare a certain way, but describing foods as vomit and cat food is a bit much. Maybe a simple rating scale from 1-5 would be a little more appealing to JCraigers. Have a great week!

Hi - I totally agree with ya. Not everything is great; I don't care for Turkey w/Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and the Cheesy Enchilada I have to add Salsa and a tablespoon of Reduced Fat Sour Cream, but so far I haven't found anything I simply cannot stand. There seems to be a big variety with something new coming all the time. How about the Volumizing Soups? Have you tried those yet? I've had the tomato and the Chicken Rosemary; not bad. I didn't order them this time to help keep my cost down. I like volumizing with veggies and fruits instead.

pesto pizza

salad kits


mint bar ewwwwww

one of the beef with gravy ones reminds me of dog food

I just tried for the first time the breakfast burrito. I was starving so I had to force myself to eat what tasted like cardboard and mush mashed together. Never again! By far though the worst thing I have ever tried was the chicken rosemary soup. I could not taste one bit of chicken because the rosemary or whatever other spices that were added to the soup completely overpowered the taste. I thought I was going to gag and couldn't believe this soup was really supposed to be eaten by a human and not an animal. Actually I woulldn't even let one of my pets eat it. It is beyond horrible!!!!!
Beaner

Trishkaa, while I think it's certainly therapeutic to commiserate, I think the main purpose of this kind of thread is to let the JC company have some feedback on what their members *don't* like. There are many more threads about favorite foods and JC versus Nutrisystem, etc., that serve as far more encouragement for new people than this thread will ever serve as a discouragement. In my opinion, of course!

There are also many threads devoted to volumizing and making the most of Jenny foods by adding limited free foods and veggies all over the site, and I have been an avid contributor to those. I kind of doubt that a few threads about least favorite foods will take much away from those threads.

I'm in my second week and haven't tried everything yet but the two things I DO NOT like at all are the potstickers and the veggie sausage in the pancakes. They both made me gag. I've liked everything else so far... even the Swedish Meatballs

I've been on JC since October and would have to say that there isn't much to dislike on this program. I mean there's a little somethng for everyone regardless of preferences. My favs and least favs are:

FAVS
Cherries and chocolate Cheesecake> more please permanently!
Both stuffed sandwiches @ lunch
Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla> LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!
Potstickers, mesquite and meatloaf
Chocolate Mint Snack Bar> Heaven...I'm in heaven

LEAST FAVS
Sweet & Sour Chicken> not quite what I expected
Lasagna> just not quite up to par
Breakfast Burrito> What were they thinking????!!!!
Bean with Ham and Bacon soup> just bland

That's all I can think of as favs and least favs.

PLEASE BRING BACK QUESADILLA SOON!!!!!!

the chicken rosemary soupitizer....i liked it the first time but yesterday there were pieces of chicken fat in it and it made me gag...never had that with any JC item before...the gag reflex.

THis is my first post ever! I've been on JC since the week before Christmas. I know, bad time to start. It wasn't so bad. I lost 6 pounds the first week. Anyway, I have to say that I actually don't mind the Tuna kit. I use whole wheat bread, spray pam on both pieces and two slices of low fat cheese and make a tuna melt! It's much better that way.

I found the same thing with the chicken sandwich so the next time I sliced the chicken and put the bun in the toaster oven to make it crunchier. I also added some lettuce, tomato and FF cheddar cheese along with the BBQ sauce...not bad. I've been on the program since August and when I need to change things around I go back to that one.

It's so interesting reading everyone's likes and dislikes. I love Swedish Meatballs and the tuna kit is a great quick lunch..I put it over salad and enjoy it with the tomato side soup. Very filling.

I'd say that the two foods I never order are the cheesy enchilada and the chicken pasta parmesan.

Definately a "to each his/her own menu" but I have to say I like most of the food. The items I do not like are the same items I would NEVER order at a restaurant either. Many people love the Chow Mein, I tried it, and just didn't care for it, but again, if I were to go out and eat Chinese, I'd NEVER order Chow Mein, so it's definately a taste preference menu. Same goes for the Salmon.... I was raised in East Texas, and fish is to be FRIED with batter, not grilled there, so I couldn't eat the salmon. Again, I'd never order it in a restaurant either. Love the Gumbo, love the stuffed sandwiches for lunch, love the meatloaf (even though it's small), like the Turkey Burger (but I have to eat it on a desert plate, to do the mind over matter on the size). Never been much on desserts, but I love the lemon cake, heated in the microwave and eatten very warm, brownies are great, c&c cheasecake is my absotlue favorite! I just think everyone has to work their way thru their normal likes and dislikes and then buy accordingly. If I would never eat something otherwise, I do not buy at JC Center....

Pam

I think part of the reason Jenny has so many foods is because there is something for everyone. Every food you guys have spoken ill of, I have clients that love. Yes, even Lentils... Beef w/ Mashed Potatoes... Tuna Kit.

I'm a tuna kit guy. I love the tuna kit. I eat is 3-4 times a week; it's great for school, and so simple. I actually never tried tuna before I ate it, now I love tuna... same with the chili.

If one thing, I think Jenny has broadened my horizons as far as food goes. I was the ultimate picky eater, and now I love almost all of the foods offered, and when I eat on my own, I do great, because I have seen the right portion size, and I can't thank Jenny enough.

Well spoken by Trishkaa. Try the foods you don't like again. I actually made it a point to find a way to make all of the foods good, and there's only one I haven't gotten yet (so if anyone has a good Chicken Pasta Parm. recipe, let me know!!).

Food isn't love, or happiness... so saying you hate a food doesn't make much sense... you just haven't found a way to make it good yet.

I challenge all of you to take a food you normally wouldn't like, and find a way to make it good! I know you can do it!

~ Jason

Oh crap! I'm having the catfood tomorrow!

I didn't like the cookout chicken and beans.
The wedding soup was tasteless.
I bought some of the shelf items and have the feeling I won't like them either but don't want to waste them.
Don't care for the Anytime bars either.
I also prefer to eat my own cereal, like Cheerios or Rice Krispies.

On the bright side - love the fish and chips, BBQ pizza, lemon cake, salsbury steak, turkey dinner, and most of the other stuff!

Rose

I have to say, this is my second day on the program and I have a very strong stomach...but that chicken salad kit upset my stomach for about 4 hours yesterday. Yuck! Will NEVER order that again.

Dawn

The turkey and mashed "potatoes" were disgusting. The turkey is like a turkey lunchmeat loaf that was warmed up and the so called potatoes were like wallpaper paste. I had to add water to try to get them to soften up and be edible.

The beef mein was ok except for the beef, rubbery and chewy. At this rate, I'll become a vegetarian!!!

I'm only on my 3rd day so I haven't tried too much yet, but I will never get the Mexican Tortilla Chicken Soup again. I literally threw it out.

I didn't like the Toffee Bites. If the instructions weren't "eat everything on your menu", I would have thrown them out.

I ordered the chicken salad kit one time and will NEVER do it again. I got the can half way open and threw it out. I'm not a fan of the ravioli either. The filling seems dry and tasteless. I also HATE the anytime bars too. I don't consider myself a picky eater but theres definitely things I like a lot more than others. I alway order a variety of stuff so I don't get bored.

I dislike the tortelinni - don't like anything in a tiny can like that. I felt like I ate nothing. I also dislike the salad kits.

Hi everybody.


I guess I look at this program a little differently. I am half Chinese/half Caucasian and my dad was a longshoreman so he was gone 8-9 months a year. I grew up with my mom's "different dishes", many of which were weird soups. I had to eat everything from liver with creamed corn to ox tail stew, cow toungue, and seahorse soup. I'm pretty certain my childhood has made me tolerant of various foods: from the odd tasting to bland, to near-unpalatable. So when I look at my menu (I'm on Day 10), and see something that looks questionable, I try to keep an open mind. I realize that nutritious food can taste foul but the discipline needed to stay healthy should override the need to satiate the taste buds.
I don't know. It's hard to stay positive and focused but try to think of the countless people who die from heart attack/stroke/etc. each and every day and feel proud of yourselves for committing to JC.

Tina

The blueberry muffin - so gross.
Fish & Chips - not happening ever again.
Popcorn - so many other better choices.

Everything else, without a doubt, has been really good. Surprisingly good actually!

I won't eat the broccoli stuffed potato !
I don't like the salad kits or soups, except
the creamy potato. My week would not be
complete without a cheesecake.

Italian wedding soup....never again!

For all of you chicken sandwich HATERS out there (hey I'm with you!)...here's a great tip. Cook the chicken in microwave as usual...then pull it into pieces and drop into mini-cuisinart and blend into oblivion...I also drop in FF mayo, some curry powder and anything else I have on hand. Also, I toast the buns after I lightly defrost them in microwave. I take each bun and put half the spread on each and top with pickle slices, onion, lettuce, tomato...and eat each separately...like you are getting TWO sandwiches.

I hope this helps.

I must be a rare breed. I pretty much love all of the food. The one thing I don't particularly care for, however, is the Caesar dressing. I would rather eat field greens plain. Otherwise, Im good!
I wish they would throw in some random lebanese/indian dishes to pick from tho. That would be super awesome!

The only thing I didnt like was the breakfast burrito! You cant stick enough anything on it to make it yummie (theres not enough cheese, hot sauce or salsa in the world!)


However, I will say the best suggestion Ive gotten from a client was to stick the tortelini in the tomato florintine soup! Yum!


Zed

Life is too short for the chicken sandwich, salad kits and ...yeah, popcorn.

I don't mind the tortellini as its only 150 calories and can sit on my desk for days. I actually have that some days as the mid morning snack rather then the sawdust bars. (250 calores for the bar) I don't have it as a meal because, yeah, the babyfood tin just cries : SMALL MEAL. Of course I suppose cutting up some red peppers, zucchini, fungus, onions and shrooms before nuking might make it a better sized meal... nah, too much work.

I had the BBQ chicken pizza last night and I didn't care for it. I had the soupitizer - tomato florentine and it wasn't too bad.

LMAo!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry...I goofed on last post...I was trying to copy and paste quote from someone who said "life is too short to eat the chiken sandwich...and for some reason it copied my stats twice...anyhoo...I'm still LMAO at their comment!!

I just ate ( for the first time ) The Cajun Chicken ( shelf food )

Can I just say I want to die right now, it's SOOOO gross, it shouldn't be ALLOWED.
Come to think of it ... ALL the shelf food ( except the ravioli ) has the same gross taste.

I will no longer purchase ANY shelf food in fear I will most certainly die of grossness !!!!

What is worse, is I purchased TWO of those cajun chicken disasters .. hmmmmm
Can you return them ? lol

LOL ---> die of grossness!!!

My first week completed, my least favorites were the cookout style chicken and the microwave sausage soup (no flavor at all, had to add salt.
My favorites were the meatball stuffed and chicken sandwich. This week I left out all the shelf stable food and added only frozen with the exception of breakfast. Cereals are OK.
My first check I lost 2.5 lbs

I don't like the Toffee Bites or those graham/chocolate pretzel things. I ordered more bruschetta chips and cheese curls instead.

When the Breakfast Burrito was introduced to me I was so excited to try it. I was so disappointed with it. I found it very bland. I might as well have been eating the box it came in.

I love the cheese curls. They help me get thru the day!
I like some of the snacks. Haven't had many of the desserts yet!

I didn't like the Penne Pasta either.

I'll have to try the meatball sandwich!

I have been on JC six months now and have started to retry foods I didn't like at first. I have learned how to "season up" or "add in" to make just about all JC foods taste good. Even the "cat food" tastes OK with some added zip and veggies. Experimenting with the shelf stable foods also worked well for me. I found I could make them all taste better by just adding to them. Talk to the folks at your center. That is where I got a ton of ideas on customizing my food to suit my tastes.
Experiment with your food. You may find with just a touch of "Personalizing" most JC food you didn't like the first time will taste better the second time. I did.

The Jenny Craig Creative Recipes cookbook really helps jazz up the meals. I now add spinach to my lasagne and pasta dishes. Pick up a copy the next time you go to your center and you will be amazed by the difference a few extra ingredients will add to your meals.