Hi Neal!

Those shakes are great for an occasional snack or meal - but you should probably try to get some "real" food in for breakfast or lunch. Need your fiber after all! According to the Atkins site, they are good for all 4 phases of Atkins - but the general thought around here is that during induction it is best to stay away from those types of things.

Some say that those shakes and bars do have hidden carbs in them. Read the label on one of them, I'm sure you will see a note that says totals carbs X, but the net affective carbs is Y. This is because of the sugar alchols - the FDA says they are carbs, but Atkins says that they do not affect an insulin resonse so that they should not be counted. Some people find that the sugar alchols do count, some don't. Some people also think that their sweet tastes causes more sugar cravings. Your milage may vary!