Kate Farms Renal Support 1.8 Nutrition Drink Review

I have struggled with being underweight for many years and one way I try to get more calories in my diet is by drinking high calorie nutrition drinks. My go-to has always been Ensure Plus because they taste good and have a lot of calories in a small bottle, but the problem is they have gotten way too expensive. Even with a coupon at the cheapest store, they are still too expensive.

Recently I started looking for alternative nutrition drinks and found a brand called Kate Farms. They make a full line of nutrition drinks like Ensure but one of the main differences is they use plant based pea protein instead of milk based protein. I looked into them and found they are even more expensive than Ensure drinks so I figured I would not be able to try them.

Just for the heck of it, I searched for them on Facebook Marketplace and found a listing for the Kate Farms Renal Support 1.8 shakes at a great price. I was not sure about them because this specific variety is marketed for people on dialysis, but I compared the nutritional profile to the other high calorie drinks in their lineup and found them to be pretty similar to the other high calorie varieties. This one actually appears to have the highest calorie concentration at 1.8 calories per mL which gives you 450 calories in just 8.45oz.  

The reviews were pretty good so I decided to try them out. Upon first taste I thought they were ok. Compared to Ensure they taste a bit more "healthy" like you can taste the vitamins and nutrients mixed in there. Ensure tastes more sugary and thick while Kate Farms tastes a bit more chalky and slightly bitter. But given the nutritional profile being very healthy and not too high on sugar, it is pretty good and fairly easy to drink. 

I was surprised that with the high calories packed in there, it is not overly thick as you might expect. I have been starting slow with them by just drinking half a bottle in the morning and half a bottle in the evening. After a week or so of this, I have not had any issues. They seem to be easy to digest and they make it easy to get extra calories. I think I may have already made some weight gain progress even in just 1 week. I have a lot more bottles left so I will plan to continue with them to see if they help with the weight gain. 

If you would like to try them out, Kate Farms Renal Support 1.8 nutrition shakes are available here on Amazon. (Affiliate link. Purchases through this link may earn commission.)

Update 10-3-26: I got through 5 boxes that had 12 drinks each. I also added Ensure drinks to my routine. Overall I was able to get up about 5 or 6 pounds which is pretty good considering I have not been able to gain any weight in at least 10 years of trying. 

Overall I like the drinks and would like to buy more but the retail price is too expensive so I will have to keep looking for better deals.

Also I was able to sample the Kate Farms Peptide 1.5. These ones are a few ounces larger and they have hydrolyzed protein which is supposed to be easier to digest. Compared to the Renal Support 1.8, they actually taste very similar. I don't know if I could tell the difference. The Peptide 1.5 is a lot more expensive. The Renal Support seems to be more calorie dense. 

Update: 10-21-26:

I was able to try a couple more varieties of the Kate Farms: 

Standard 1.4 Vanilla - These were pretty similar to the Peptide 1.5 Vanilla. Taste is maybe slightly different, but not very noticeable. Consistency is a little less thick compare to the 1.8 which is more calorie dense.  

Nutrition Shake Chocolate - I also got to try the regular nutrition shake variety, this one in chocolate. This has the least calories compared to the others and is more watery in comparison. Overall taste is good and easy to drink. It has a cocoa flavor that is pretty good and a nice alternative to the vanilla.

 Overall I am pleased with all 4 varieties that I have tried. 

 

Can you freeze and eat rice pudding cups?

I’m a big fan of rice pudding cups from the store and recently I was wondering if you can put them in the freezer to make them like an ice cream pop. I couldn’t find a good answer to this online so I decided to just try it out.

After putting a rice pudding cup in the freezer for a few hours I tried it out. Unfortunately it was pretty frozen solid so it was too hard to eat with a spoon. I decided to put it back in the refrigerator to thaw. 

After a few hours of thawing I tried it again. It was now able to be eaten with a spoon but it was still icy and the texture was not as good compared to the normal refrigerated texture. Also the flavor seems to have diminished and it just tastes more icy. 

Based on this experiment in freezing a rice pudding cup to eat, I would not recommend it. The rice pudding is better in its original refrigerated state both in texture and in flavor. 

Favorite Products List - 2026

I don't buy a lot of things but I decided to take some time to review all the things I have and come up with a list of some of my favorite items. These are everyday items that have proven to be very useful and worth the cost. Here are my recommendations for my favorite products right now:

1. Motion Sensor Closet Light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For years I had been fiddling with this little switch on the light in my walk in closet. It was always annoying and hard to turn on. Finally I looked into some options and found this rechargeable motion sensor light. It charges with a usb cable and then you can easily attach it wherever you want. 

The light has options to change the brightness and color temperature. The motion feature works great! As soon as you walk into the closet, it turns on. After you leave, it turns off by itself. It is like living in the future!

2. Uniball 207 Signo Pens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As someone who writes a lot of notes, having a good pen is important. Having tried many different kinds of pens, my favorite is the gel ink kind, specifically the Uniballl 207 Signo. It is comfortable in hand and writes smooth and reliably. I have used them for as long as I can remember and they are still my favorite to this day! 

3. Blue Diamond Flat Toothpicks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat toothpicks like these are surprisingly hard to find. Round ones are pretty easy to find, but these flat kind seem to be hard to find in store. They are still available online thankfully. I like these because they are good for oral hygiene when you want a toothpick that is not sharp like the round kind. 

4. Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the high cost of consumer goods these days, it nice when you find something that is still a good quality product at a reasonable price. Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo is one of the most affordable options today and it works great! I use it for shampoo and bodywash. It leaves you feeling clean and a nice mild scent. 

5. Pittsburgh 6 in 1 Screw Driver 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This 6 in 1 screwdriver from Harbor Freight is my favorite tool. I actually got it for free as a promotion and I tend to use it very often at work. They are not necessarily the most durable as I have broken it before but it has a warranty on it so if that happens, you can get a free replacement. Keep an eye out for these as you may be able to get one for free too on the next promotion!  

Don’t lie. Honesty is the Best Policy. Honesty in the Work Place and in Life.

A few months ago I found a set of table and chairs that was being discarded from an apartment move out. They were in good condition so I decided to save them by putting them in one of the storage rooms on site. 

I posted them for sale online and found a buyer. The buyer was far away but they were willing to drive out to come pick up the set. We arranged for pickup the next day. In the morning, they confirmed they were on their way. I went to the storage room to get the items ready, but to my surprise, they were not there!

This was a locked storage room that was not easily accessible but apparently someone went in and took the items out. There were only a few of my co-workers who had a key to that room. I quickly asked them if anyone took the items out or know where they went, but everyone said no.

So I messaged the buyer and told them not to come because I no longer had the table and chairs. Unfortunately they were already on the road and did not check their messages. I wrote a few more messages, but they did not see them until they got all the way here. As you can imagine, they were very upset when they realized they drove all that way for nothing. I ended up getting a bad rating as a result. 

After this happened I asked our manager to check the cameras to see who went in the storage room. After checking the cameras, the manager was kind of vague about it and basically said it does not matter who took it at this point. Even though the manager did not confirm who took it, it was clear one of our employees did but she didn’t want to cause any conflict within the team. 

Cut to a few months later, we are doing apartment inspections and I happen to be assigned to inspect one of the units where one of our co-workers lives on site. As soon as I go in, what do I see? The exact table and chairs that were taken from the storage room.

The next day I decide to confront him about it. I knew it would not go well, but I felt like I should mention it because if I did not, it would be like letting him get away with it. 

So first thing in the morning I mentioned how I saw the table and chairs that was taken from the storage room and reminded him that he told me he did not take them. Immediately he got upset with me for accusing him and claimed he bought them.

The thing is, this is a very distinctive set that is not made anymore and the exact number of pieces that were in the storage room were now in his dining room. About 3 people had the key to that room where they went missing, and coincidentally it just so happened to appear in the apartment of one of those 3 people. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happened.

Despite this, he still did not admit to it. I didn’t want to keep pressing it because I knew the truth and there was no point in making matters worse, so I just let it go. 

I was pretty disappointed with him, not because he took the table and chairs, but more so because he was dishonest with me, not only initially, but because he continued to be dishonest even when being caught with indisputable evidence. 

We went on with our work day without any issue, but something like this stays with you and now I know I cannot trust him. Trust is very important, not just in the work place but in life in general.

I can see how people lie frequently to try to save themselves in the short term, but examples like this show how lying just makes things worse in the long run.

He had the option to admit his mistake and apologize for lying to me which would have been the mature thing to do. Instead he continued to lie even more and as a result he damaged his character even more. 

The moral of the story is don’t lie. Honesty is the best policy. Yes it might be tempting to lie especially if you think you can get away with it, but over time that dishonesty builds up and people see it. It will have a negative affect on you in the long run if you are seen as a person who is dishonest and cannot be trusted. 

Next time you are confronted with a situation where you might consider lying, do the right thing and just tell the truth. People will respect you more for doing this rather than lying to them. 

Bibibop Review - My New Favorite Restaurant

When it comes to restaurants, I love the fast casual style. I also like restaurants that are healthy and have a lot of variety to choose from. Because of this, my go-to style is places where you can get a bowl and just add whatever you want to it. 

I used to get Chipotle, but over the years I got kind of tired of it. Recently I tried Cava, which is very good and has Mediterranean flavors. I also tried Sweetgreen which I thought was just ok but seemed to be lacking in flavor and seasoning. 

Then I found out about Bibibop which is another place where you can build your own bowl. It has Asian inspired flavors, but they have so many ingredients to choose from that it really has a wide range of flavors.

So far I have tried it several times and it is always very good! I usually get the veggie bowl with ingredients such as sweet potato noodles, purple rice, black beans, curry chickpeas, pickled red onions, cucumbers, carrots, kale, and corn.  

The sweet potato noodles actually don't taste or look like sweet potatoes. They are clear like rice noodles and have more of an asian flavor. The purple rice tastes pretty similar to regular rice but it just seems better with the purple color. Both are good and you have the option to add both to the bowl.  

For proteins, I have tried the tofu which was pretty standard tasting, lightly cooked and not overly seasoned. I also tried the korean crispy chicken which was pretty good but a little spicy. 

For sauces, the yum yum sauce is flavorful and seems to go well with the bowls to add some richness. I also tried the sesame oil but didn't care for it. Same with the ginger sauce which I didn't really like much. The teriyaki sauce is tasty but pretty high in sodium. Overall the bowls are so flavorful, they don't really need sauce but if I had to recommend one, I would go with the yum yum sauce. 

They have 2 sizes for the bowls, regular and small. I read that the small was supposed to be half the size, but in store it looks almost as big as the regular bowl and the price is almost the same. Between these 2, it is probably best to just get the regular bowl considering the price is not much different.

Pro tip, there is also the Bibicup which is a smaller portion but is actually still a lot of food and plenty for 1 meal. It is hidden under the "Sides" category. They really should put it next to the bowls in that category. With the Bibicup, you get a good portion of food and it is a very reasonable price. 

Also I did try the snickerdoodle cookie since I have been into cookies lately. It was just ok but kind of dry. I would pass on it unless you really want a dessert to go with it.  

Bibibop also has a rewards program with the app. You get a free bowl after $10 purchase. They also have frequent specials with discounts.

With healthy delicious food and a good price, it has become my new favorite restaurant. I recommend trying it out if you have one near you!  

Home Buying Tips and Advice Learned from Going Through the Process

Recently I went through the home buying process and learned a lot along the way. I figured I would share what I learned to help others out there who are looking to purchase a new home. Here are some tips and advice on buying a house. 

When you see a property that looks good, act quickly. Make an appointment to see it soon. If you like it enough to make an offer, don’t wait. Put in the offer soon. The more time you wait, the more time it gives others to see the property and make competing offers. 

Don’t expect to get a good deal on a good home. In a competitive market, any good property is going to have a lot of interest which means it is likely to get several offers. If you want to get the property, you have to have the best offer. This means it is usually going to be at asking price or even higher. If you put in a low offer trying to get a good deal, someone else with a higher offer is going to get it. 

Seasons have an effect on the housing market. Home prices tend to be lower in winter and higher in the summer. There also tends to be less of a selection in the winter and more of a selection in the summer. 

Look at the sale history of the property. If it is being bought and sold frequently such as every few years, it means people don’t like it enough to stay. If it has a history of long ownership such as 10+ years it is a sign that the people like living there. 

When you are touring a house, try to visualize living there. Think about what it would be like to live there. Think about your every day life and what it would be like if you were there. It can be hard to get a full understanding of a house with one visit. If possible you may want to visit it again at another time of the day such as at night. 

See a lot of different kinds of houses and different locations. The more options you see, the more you can figure out what you like and don’t like. There are so many factors to consider when buying a home and getting out to see them in person is a great way to compare these different factors. 

Pay attention to the showing agent’s observations of the property. Often they will see things about it that you might have missed. Also it can help to bring other people with you too see the property also and they may also be able to notice issues that you might have missed otherwise. 

Expect to pay more than you thought. There are plenty of cost estimators out there but once you get into the process all of a sudden there are more charges than you thought and things are more expensive than you thought. Make sure you have plenty of buffer room and backup funds to cover it. 

Shopping for a house is fun. Buying a house is not fun. It is fun to get to tour houses and see what’s out there in the beginning. Once you get an offer accepted, that is when the fun stops and the work begins. Working with realtors, attorneys, and loan officers can be time consuming and stressful. Negotiations, contracts, qualifications, inspections, you name it. There is a lot to do and you have to get through it all if you want to make it happen. 

Buying and selling homes is very expensive with all the fees and commissions involved. Frequent buying and selling is not very cost effective. If you are going to buy, look for something that you will be happy living with for a long time. 

Crave Cookies Free Cookie for New Customers. Crave Review and Comparison

Cookies are one of my favorite deserts so recently I have been trying out some of the specialty cookie places. I started with Crumbl and recently I tried Crave Cookies. It is very similar in terms of the business model where they have gourmet cookies that rotate each week. 

One thing I like about Crave is they are more generous with the promotions and discounts. When you download the app, they give you credits for a free cookie right away. With Crumbl, it is hard to even get a discount let alone a free cookie. 

So far I have tried a few different flavors such as cookies and cream, caramel biscoff, and churro horchata. Overall they ok. Compared to Crumbl, they seem to be less sweet and more crunchy, so it will depend on your preference which one you like better. One thing I noticed is they seem to have a flavor like they have absorbed from the packaging or something which is not great. 

Another thing I noticed when placing an order on the app is they charge a .25 service fee. This even applies on the free cookie. I looked it up and I couldn't really find much information on this or why they charge the fee. 

Overall, if you like cookies I would recommend trying it out if there is a location near you. Also keep an eye on their social media pages where they post about other weekly specials and promotions.