Proti-thin barbecue chips, berry smoothie, ProtiDiet chicken noodle soup, double berry bar and Soma-Vit bottle on a counter

What to eat on an IPA plan, phase by phase

By Nashua Nutrition Editorial · Last reviewed September 2026

Quick answer: An IPA plan is a structured, high-protein way of eating in three phases. Phase 1 limits carbs and puts protein first, with packets at the center of the day. Phase 2 brings carbs back slowly. Phase 3 is about long-term habits. Your clinic, coach, or provider gives you the exact plan for each phase.

Many people who find us are looking for an alternative to the Ideal Protein protocol. Nashua Nutrition does not sell Ideal Protein products. We sell Ideal Protein Alternatives, or IPA for short. These are high-protein foods from other brands that fit the same style of phased plan.

This guide describes each phase in our own words. It is not a protocol food list or phase chart. The foods, portions, and packet counts for each phase come from your clinic, coach, or provider. Their plan comes first. What we can add is how our store sorts IPA foods, and how those foods can fit into a day.

A quick note on phase numbers. Community Pharmacy explains that the original program had four phases and moved to three in 2020. Some older sheets still mention a phase 4. Today the three phases are weight loss, stabilization, and maintenance. If your plan looks different, ask your provider which version you're following.

IPA phase 1: Weight loss

Phase 1 is the most structured part of the plan. Carbs are limited, and protein comes first. Coryell Health explains that this phase limits carbs to encourage the body to turn to its fat stores for energy. At Christie Clinic, people stay in phase 1 until they reach their goal.

Packets sit at the center of a phase 1 day. A packet is one serving of a high-protein food made for structured plans, such as a shake, soup, pudding, or bar. Most days also include a whole-food meal of lean protein and vegetables, as your provider outlines. Which vegetables, how much, and how many packets are all part of the plan your clinic gives you.

What a phase 1 day can look like

Our IPA page shares a simple daily example. It has two unrestricted packets and one restricted packet, plus a lean protein and vegetable meal. Here's how IPA foods can fill that shape, as long as it fits the plan your provider gave you:

Fluids matter too. Many people spread water through the day. Some add an electrolyte drink mix. Ask your provider before you add one.

A new routine can take some getting used to. If anything you notice worries you, contact your provider or coach the same day rather than waiting.

IPA phase 2: Stabilization

Phase 2 is stabilization. It starts once you reach your goal. Carbs and healthy fats come back, a little at a time. St. Tammany Health System describes this happening with a nutrition coach's help. Christie Clinic adds them at a slow, measured pace, with weekly visits. The aim is to find your own balance of protein, carbs, and fats.

The structure stays, but there is more room to adjust. Packets are still part of many phase 2 days. Some people keep one for the evening, such as a Weight Loss Systems custard toffee protein pudding.

Which foods come back first, and how much, is your coach's call. Some people find it helps to add one new food at a time. That way, it's easier to notice how each one feels.

IPA phase 3: Maintenance

Phase 3 is about long-term habits. As our IPA page puts it, portion control and protein-first eating continue. Christie Clinic says the balance you found in phase 2 guides your choices. It also lets you start to explore foods from other groups.

Packets become optional here. Still, many people keep a few on hand for busy days. A bag of protein chips or a protein soup is quick when there's no time to cook.

How our store sorts IPA foods

Every IPA food we sell goes through the same check. We read each product's own nutrition label and ingredient list, per serving. Then we sort it as unrestricted, restricted, or neither. These are our store's shopping filters. They are not the protocol's rules, and your clinic's list may draw the lines differently.

  • Unrestricted: Estimated Net Carbs under 9 g, 160 calories or fewer, 12 g of protein or more, and fat under 30% of calories.
  • Restricted: Estimated Net Carbs of 16 g or fewer, 200 calories or fewer, 12 g of protein or more, and fat under 30% of calories.
  • Left out of both: any food with aspartame or MSG, and any food whose protein is wheat-based.

Estimated net carbs based on the nutrition label. Actual net carbs may vary based on manufacturer claims for sugar alcohols and other low-glycemic ingredients.

We work out net carbs as total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols. It's a handy shortcut. Still, the American Diabetes Association notes that "net carbs" has no legal definition. It is not used by the FDA, either.

You can browse what passes in our unrestricted IPA foods and restricted IPA foods. Want to check a food you already have? The IPA calculator on our IPA page reads a label for you. Our guide to IPA restricted vs unrestricted walks through a label check step by step.

Why people look for IPA foods

People look for IPA foods for different reasons. Some mention cost. Others want more flavors to rotate through the week.

Whatever the reason, the idea behind every IPA food stays the same: lower carbs and fat, protein first. If you work with a clinic or coach, let them know you're switching. Bring the label along, so they can confirm the food fits your plan.

Do you need supplements on an IPA plan?

Supplements are part of many IPA plans. Community Pharmacy notes that the plan uses supplements, at least during phase 1. Which ones you take, and how much, is up to your provider.

Once you have your provider's list, you can browse our IPA vitamins and supplements. They include a daily multivitamin such as Doctors Designs Soma-Vit. Bring your list along, since the form and amount your provider asks for are what matter.

More IPA guides

Key takeaway: one phase at a time

Each phase builds on the one before. Phase 1 keeps things simple, with packets and a lean protein and vegetable meal. Phase 2 brings carbs and fats back, one step at a time. Phase 3 turns what you've learned into everyday habits. Some days won't go to plan, and that's okay. The next meal is a fine place to pick back up. Your provider's plan sets the details that fit you.

Ready to stock up for your phase? Our unrestricted IPA foods are a helpful place to start.

Frequently asked questions

How many packets do people have a day on an IPA plan?

It depends on the phase, and your provider sets the count. A worry many people share is what happens when a day doesn't match the plan. Maybe you skipped a packet at a busy lunch, or wanted one more. Think of the packet count as a structure, not a test. The next meal is a normal place to pick back up. Many people find it helps to keep a few packets close by. Some keep them at work or in the car. If the count often feels hard to fit, tell your coach. They can help you adjust.

What if a vegetable isn't on my phase 1 list?

No list covers every vegetable, so this comes up often. People ask about less common ones, like kohlrabi. Your clinic's list is the one to go by, so ask your coach before you add it. Some people jot the name down as it comes up, so it's ready for the next check-in. Until then, many people stick with vegetables already on their list. The day still fits your plan, and nothing is lost by waiting.

Can you follow an IPA plan as a vegetarian?

Many vegetarians do. Coryell Health says eggs, fish, or tofu can be the protein at the evening meal. It also notes that strict vegans don't qualify for its program. So if you're vegan, talk with your provider first. Either way, check each packet's label. Many IPA foods get their protein from milk or soy.

Can I switch to IPA foods partway through a phase?

Many people do. What matters is that each food fits your phase, not which brand makes it. It helps to switch one meal at a time, so a new taste doesn't feel like a big change. Some people start with the packet they eat most, like a breakfast shake. If you work with a coach, tell them which foods you're using. For a quick label check, see our guide to IPA restricted vs unrestricted.

Do I need supplements on this kind of plan?

Your provider decides which ones, and how much. A common question is whether food alone can cover it. It's a fair question, since phase 1 limits carbs for a while. Your provider is the right person to answer it, because the answer depends on you and your plan. Ask them for a written list, with the form and amount. It makes shopping simpler, and it's easy to bring to your next visit. When you have it, our IPA vitamins and supplements are in one place.

Sources and further reading

This content is for general information, education, and encouragement only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Nutrition, movement, medication, and lifestyle choices should always be discussed with your healthcare provider, surgeon, or registered dietitian. Individual needs vary, especially for those using GLP-1 medications, living with diabetes, or recovering from bariatric surgery. Always follow the guidance of your own care team. Nashua Nutrition does not employ medical professionals and does not provide clinical care.

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