My Hunt for an (Actually Good-Tasting) Premade Protein Shake

When weinterviewed two extreme protein eatersabout their favorite high-protein snacks and protein powders,Ilanamentioned the Core Power vanilla-flavored shake and described it as tasting “like a milkshake.” I’m partial to chocolate, and I’ve been drinking Core Power on and off for several years since it’s readily available at most grocery stores and can even be found in some vending machines. But in my hunt for a truly great premade shake, I’d skip it: It contains the artificial sweetener sucralose, and it has only 26 grams of protein (though I would have to agree that it reminds me of a Shake Shack milkshake).

In my search for a cleaner shake, I stumbled upon this dairy-free Forager one at Whole Foods. Unfortunately, it contains only 14 grams of protein, but it does have a pretty minimal ingredient list of filtered water, strawberries, cashews, coconut cream, cane sugar, rice protein, and organic flavor. Unlike other blends on this list, that means it’s perishable and needs to be refrigerated, so it may not work for everyone, especially if you’re throwing it into a gym bag to have a few hours later. It’s verywatery, so I’m actually not sure I’d even categorize it as a premade shake, but because it’s so thin, it goes down smoothly and there’s no grittiness. I love the subtle strawberry flavor and the fact that it has a natural sweetener (cane sugar), but again, the lower protein profile and higher caloric amount (300 total) meant it wasn’t quite right.

While Evolve has only 20 grams of plant-based protein, it did a great job of filling me up post-workout class thanks to the ten grams of fiber. This one is sweetened with cane sugar and purified stevia leaf extract, and the double-chocolate flavor I tested definitely leans more fudgy, so beware if you’re not a cocoa fan. It has pea protein isolate as the sole protein source.Technically,pea protein has all nine essential amino acids, but it is low in one called methionine, which plays a key role in various cellular processes. I always try to opt for a blended protein source because it creates a more complete amino acid profile, so this single-source one didn’t make the cut. That said, the ingredients are pretty solid, minus the single-source protein and gellan gum filler.

Orgain’s protein powder appearsin our guide, so I had high hopes for this premade shake. Compared to the Evolve, it’s a protein blend of pea protein and chia seeds, so if you’re vegan or vegetarian, this is another nice option. While it has only 16 grams of plant-based protein, it contains over 21 vitamins and minerals and ten fruit and vegetable powders (including spinach and kale), so I’d say it’s a pretty well-rounded shake even if it didn’t live up to my protein expectations. It does, however, have gellan gum.

With Muscle Milk, we were off to a great start with 32 grams of protein, 16 vitamins and minerals, and 5 grams of fiber. I just wasn’t the biggest fan of the taste, which came across as being highly artificial and left an odd aftertaste (that might be from the sucralose or acesulfame potassium).

This is the premade version of ourBest in Class whey-protein powder, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard. It provides a protein blend of milk protein isolate, milk protein concentrate, and whey protein concentrate; each has varying protein and lactose levels and thus different absorption rates. What I didn’t love to see is that it contains the filler carrageenanandartificial sugars like sucralose and acesulfame potassium.

Right off the bat, I knew the Huel wasn’t going to be my top choice purely because at 400 calories, it’s meant to be a “nutritionally complete” meal replacement rather than a snack. It’s also the largest shake on this list at almost 17 fluid ounces. The ingredients list is honestly a bit intimidating, but that’s because it has 35 grams of protein (pea protein and faba bean protein), 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 27 essential vitamins and minerals. As for the taste, it’s very creamy, and the chocolate flavor isn’t overly sweet thanks to the small amount of organic coconut sugar and stevia. If you’re vegan, it does not contain lactose or any animal products, and it is also without soy and GMOs and is gluten free.

We’ve written about Vital Proteins and its celebrity-loved Collagen Peptides, so I was eager to test out the premade shake. It has 30 grams of protein from milk protein concentrate and 10 grams of bovine-based collagen peptides. I was impressed with how smooth the shake tastes, and there’s no weird chemical notes here. Of course, thanks to the animal-derived collagen, it’s not vegan- or vegetarian-friendly, and it does contain monk fruit extract and stevia as the sweeteners. The other ingredients that gave me pause were the additives: cellulose gel and gum as well as gellan gum.

I first learned about OWYN after Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst wrote aboutbecoming a gym ratand how she increased her protein levels. OWYN offers a few premade shake options, and I tested theregular formula, which has 22 grams of protein, and the Pro Elite, which has an additional 10 grams of protein, totaling 32 grams. In the recent studypublished byConsumer Reportsthat showed several popular protein powders and shakes contained elevated levels of lead, this OWYN shake was categorized in the “better choices for daily consumption” section, which meant it was in the all clear for lead exposure per serving.

It contains a multi-source plant-based protein blend (pea protein, organic pumpkin seed protein, flaxseed oil), superfood greens blend (spinach, kale, broccoli), and vegan omega-3s. There are a few additives, including acacia gum/gellan gum, guar gum, and sunflower lecithin, but the OWYN shake only contains cocoa powder and monk fruit extract as the sweeteners. That means it’s chocolaty without being overpowering, and the extra-smooth texture is something I can easily chug with no tummy upset, even when consumed on an empty stomach.