# What's a good protein shake mix? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748 "2005-03-22T18:38:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/1 "2005-03-22T18:38:48Z")
OK, so I’ve decided to get back into shape. Started running at lunch and lifting every other day. I’m also going to give up the fast food lunches I was eating WAY too much, and am looking at going the protein shake route (for a while anyway). So, I bought a mix from the health food section of a local grocery store and tried it today. Delicious, if you like cat vomit. It literally took me almost 45 minutes to choke this thing down. Anyone know of a good protein shake/drink? I did a net search for reviews, and wouldn’t you know it, they all highly recommend whatever it is they’re selling. So I turn to you good people for unbiased consumer information. I mean, it doesn’t have to be $5 milkshake good (though if you know one like that, please do tell), but something that’s somewhat palatable would be nice. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/2 "2005-03-22T18:42:12Z")
Biotest’s Grow, only available through their [website](http://www.t-nation.com). It’s $3 milkshake good, is a whey/casein blend rather than straight whey, and costs $23 for a 3 lb. jar. Give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![ryanbobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ryanbobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryanbobo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/3 "2005-03-22T18:47:49Z")
Myoplex by EAS is actually pretty tasty but expensive. Supposed to be one of the better ones. You can find it at GNC. Idea for a cheap protein shake: Take a glass of milk, stir in 1/2 cup or so of powdered milk and some chocolate sauce. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/4 "2005-03-22T19:57:54Z")
_snicker_😃 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/5 "2005-03-22T21:09:24Z")
I’ve had good results from the GNC Brand Mega-Whey. Not overly cheap, but compared to MetRx and EAS it’s a bargain. The Strawberry is good, though it can be a little bit of a love-hate thing. The Vanilla is the best way to go if you plan on mixing in fresh/frozen fruit which I reccommend. The only downside I’ve found is that it can tend to not mix well if you just use a spoon. I always use my blender, so it works great. The high-end MetRx stuff is a little more mixable, though it’s not worth paying the premium to me. However if you’re looking to just do a quick stir-in at the office or something where a blender is a no-go, it might be worth trying both for comparison. A more ready to-go alternative is the EAS AdvantEdge Low Carb shakes. They are a excellent way to get a quick post-workout lunch. They actually taste decent by protien shake standards and can be gotten reasonably priced if you buy in bulk at Sams/Costco and/or watch for sales. I’ve recently switched (though I’ve been a lazy, fat-ass for the last 3 months or so) to EAS Myoplex Carb Sense bars. Great protein source and better for on-the-go eating than even pre-made shakes. The Apple-Cinnamon is actually tasty (though almost jarringly chewy) and the Cookies-N-Cream is decent, though not great. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/6 "2005-03-22T22:55:57Z")
I personally like Met-rx. The ones in the boxes and not the horrible gruel that is sold in the plastic canisters. They aren’t that expensive. I just bought 2 boxes today on sale for 24 bucks a piece. 20 in a box. Seems GNC has sales on them all the time. You can add all sorts of funky stuff to it. I add a banana and some graham crackers. Throw it all in a blender and its damn good. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/7 "2005-03-22T23:16:43Z")
Keep one thing in mind while shopping. It’s not always clear if they are selling meal-replacement mixes, or protein mixes. The MetRX ones that Burrido is talking about are the meal-replacement shakes. They generally tend to be tastier and mix alot better than the pure protein powder. They also however are way lower in protein and have alot of carbs/calories in there. Nothing inherently wrong with that if you do truly want a meal in a shake, just something to watch out for. If you opt for the meal-replacement type ones and add fruit, yogurt, ice cream and other mix-ins you could be creating a pretty calorie laden supplement without nearly the protein kick you’d expect. The moral, read all the labels. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/8 "2005-03-23T00:20:37Z")
> [@ryanbobo](#): > > Idea for a cheap protein shake: Take a glass of milk, stir in 1/2 cup or so of powdered milk and some chocolate sauce. Well, yeah, except chocolate sauce is devoid of nutritional value. If money’s a concern, straight-up milk is fine. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/9 "2005-03-23T00:48:17Z")
I use 100% Designer Whey Protein (or something like that), of the vanilla persausion. I mix it with milk, which is really actually kind of gross, but the trick is to mix in a healthy amount of strawberry syrup. Then, it’s pretty good. And good for you! ~S&S ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/10 "2005-03-23T01:54:59Z")
[QUOTE=jk1245] OK, so I’ve decided to get back into shape. Started running at lunch and lifting every other day. I’m also going to give up the fast food lunches I was eating WAY too much, and am looking at going the protein shake route (for a while anyway). So, I bought a mix from the health food section of a local grocery store and tried it today. Delicious, if you like cat vomit. It literally took me almost 45 minutes to choke this thing down. I had gastric bypass surgery in November, and use protein supplements. I can’t abide most of the powders, so I use GNC’s liquid protein. I am not sure of the exact product name, but it comes in a brown bottle and tastes (allegedly) like fruit punch. Sour cherries is closer to the truth. It comes in a syrupy form; you can mix it with water, or put in Crystal Lite or GatorAde or something. I chug it straight; 3 tablespoons has 18 grams of protein. You can also try Carb Countdown milk; the one in the green carton has 12 grams of protein per 8 oz. serving. Hope this helps. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/11 "2005-03-23T14:54:59Z")
I get protein isolate from [Allthewhey.com](http://Allthewhey.com). Pretty cheap. It mixes well, tastes pretty good (it’s flavored with splenda…the vanilla’s my favorite) and doesn’t give me gas. Can’t ask for much more than that. I tend to mix 2 scoops with a couple cups of water and a bit of sugar-free jello or pudding mix for flavor. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/12 "2005-03-23T17:29:39Z")
My son swears by the Opticen powder from [atlargenutrition.com](http://www.atlargenutrition.com/nutrition_detail.php?products_id=2). He says it’s easier to mix, silkier, and better-tasting than most meal-replacement powders. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/13 "2005-03-23T18:50:21Z")
Hmmmm… Thanks for all the replies so far. Looks like I’ve got some samplin’ to do. Good ideas on the mixing stuff in as well. ---
**Author:** ![OhFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@OhFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OhFace)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/14 "2005-03-23T21:15:12Z")
I’m going to second Myoplex. I had to take protein shakes for a while and found it to be the most tasty. Some were downright repulsive. I preferred to add fresh fruit to mine to give it some flavor, it even comes with a little packet of recepies to try out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Renob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-protein-shake-mix/295748/15 "2005-03-23T22:05:05Z")
I use the whey protein (banana creme flavor) from GNC and mix in a blender with yogurt, oats, frozen fruit and berries (usually a peach, some blueberries, and strawberries), a kiwi, and a banana. It tastes great.