Monday, April 6, 2015

BLOGGING A TO Z CHALLENGE: LETTER E-ENSURE

ENSURE

I hope everyone had a nice Easter. It rained but I woke up to a cooked roast in my crock pot. How cool is that? Hubby and I spent it quietly at home.

My fellow bloggers and I have made a week in the Blogging A to Z Challenge.  I have to say it has been a challenge but I think I am in a rhythm. Some of you may assume that my challenge theme is Cajun. I guess it is in a way. But my theme is ME! I want to share more bits and pieces of my life. 

Ensure No, it is not about the verb I will talk about.  It is an adult's drink that provides balance nutrition.

When I was a geriatric nurse I gave the elderly Ensure. Some just didn't want to eat. Some couldn't eat. Some had a continuous tube feeding. Many wanted it because it just tasted good. 

I personally thought it had a bad smell. Maybe because at the time it was only Vanilla.

Through the years the company, Abbot,  developed many different flavors and varieties: Strawberry, Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Butter Pecan, Ensure Active Health, Ensure Active Heart Health, and Ensure Active Muscle Health, etc. They even have it in the clear form now.

It comes in powder form and 6- or 16- pack bottles.

A few years ago I became ill and lost over 20 pounds. My usual weight is about 95-100 pounds. The weight loss was a real concern. I know most of you struggle with losing weight. Don't hate because it is just as hard to gain the weight. 

When we finally figured out the problem and knowing it is hard for me to gain weight, the doctor told me to drink Ensure three times a day.  I dreaded it. I wanted to puke remembering the smell. While I was in the hospital they gave me different flavors for me to try. Creamy Chocolate was my favorite.

However, when I went to buy it, the cost was a problem. I wrote to Abbot Company and they sent me coupons. I was hoping they would give me some free but oh well. The coupons did help.

I have seen a 6 pack cost up to 10 bucks and a 16 pack cost up to 40 bucks. The cheapest I have found were at Amazon. It is a 16-pack costing $19.97. I did the Math. If I drank it 3 times a day it would cost me $119 a month. 

I just can't afford that much money so I buy 2 16-packs a month and drink one a day. My weight is back up where it should be. 

It's a shame that health food and drinks are more expensive than junk food. That subject is a whole new post.

You can also make shakes with the Ensure.

I also wonder if there is something addictive in it. Before I started buying two 16 packs I would run out in the middle of the month.  I craved it until I bought some more.

Every time I buy I wonder why these companies only have 16 pack. They have to know doctors tell the patients to drink it three times a day so why don't they offer a 90-pack or even a 30-pack. It makes no sense to me. Yes, I did ask them in a letter but they never gave me an answer. They just offered coupons. 

"Toasting with my bottle of Ensure to all of you awesome readers " CHEERS!




7 comments:

  1. This is an interesting post, Lisa. My father was in hospital for a heart operation and post-op they started him drinking Ensure because he just wasn't hungry. He lost weight he couldn't afford to lose.

    I read the label, I'm sorry to say, it horrified me. The first four ingredients (at that time, don't know if its different now) were: water, sugar, corn syrup and maltodextrin. I couldn't see how this much sugar was good for anyone.

    I hope the ingredients have improved. I know my dad stayed on it for quite a while. It is full of vitamins which I think is a good thing. Now, dad buys a really good protein and makes his own shakes.

    Have you tried making your own shakes? Might be way cheaper too, at least Dad thinks so. Ensure is costly here too.

    Either way - if it works and you feel great that's the main thing.

    This was a really great E post - thanks for sharing it.

    Sent with smiles, Jenny, Pearson Report
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @PearsonReport

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    1. Jenny, the first four ingredients are water, corn malt dextrin, sugar and milk protein concentrate. They want me to drink it mainly for the protein. I don't know why but I've made my own shakes but there is something in it that messes with my stomach, which defeats its purpose. It's my life, i can't simply do something..I always have to go the hard and expensive route. Thank you for commenting because I honestly thought it would be a boring one for others. Glad your dad is doing well. Hugs

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  2. My mother is a retired nurse and she too didn't like the smell of Ensure because of all the years she put it down feeding tubes. Now she's elderly and needs Ensure sometimes, but we get her the equivalent brand, Boost because the smell of Ensure still bothers her. I guess that is one of the hazards of the trade--being turn off by Ensure. I'm glad your weight is back up.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for letting me know I was not alone with the smell. Boost is more expensive than Ensure around these parts. Yea, what a trade-off for your mom huh? Yep my weight is back up and stable. Thanks for dropping by and commenting.

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  3. Oh my, I remember this. In the 1980's I worked in a nursing home. They made us taste the cans of Ensure so we knew what the patients were getting. It was nasty stuff back than.

    Sunni

    http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eww..if it was Vanilla..Vanilla still smells. Thankfully Chocolate is good! Thanks for dropping by and commenting!

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  4. I swear if their tummies can handle it Trim Healthy Mama's brand or Arbonne taste really, really good.

    Hooray for nutrition! E- Excellent post. :)

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