We suggest using a protein powder or shakes with no additional sweeteners. Choosing a sugar-free choice allows you to add sweetness naturally, such as adding the powder to a fruit-sweetened smoothie.
Protein is an essential nutrient that we all require for good health. It aids in a variety of bodily activities, including bone health, blood sugar balance, and muscular growth, to mention a few.
Americans are preoccupied with protein these days, with over two-thirds attempting to consume more of it and 21% believing they are protein deficient. However, according to some studies, most Americans are already consuming more than they need. It turns out average American adults consume 80 grams per day, which is 30 grams over the recommended daily goal.
However, protein requirements differ from individual to person. If you want to develop muscle, help with healing after surgery or illness, or work on healthy weight reduction or weight maintenance, consuming more protein can help. While entire foods are undoubtedly plenty, protein drinks and powders can assist in augmenting your diet. This is where this list comes in.
Avoid brands that include sugar, alcohols, such as xylitol, which can negatively influence your GI system when consumed in excess.
Many goods on the market use some form of artificial sweeteners, such as monk fruit or stevia, over added sugar, such as honey or maple syrup, to suit consumers’ need for zero-calorie sweeteners. Thus, some of these artificial sweeteners will be found in the recommendations below.
Because these powders and shakes are supposed to supplement rather than replace meals, we searched for brands with no more than 250 calories and 360 mg of salt per serving.
To restrict the field, we blind-tasted 24 dairy- and plant-based protein drinks and powders that matched the aforementioned nutrition criteria. We sampled each smoothie or powder as directed on the label, taking notes on the taste, texture, look, and aroma. Our own favorite? Fairlife Core Power Shake was the clear winner. Continue reading for our complete list of the best-tasting protein smoothies and powders.
This post contains referral links for products we love. Staying Fit With Aeran earns a small commission on these links at no cost to you, and the links will always be marked with an asterisk *.
Our Product Suggestions
Fairlife Core Power * is the best overall
- Fairlife Core Strength: Overall Winner
- Quest Nutrition Makes the Best Vanilla Protein Shake Shakes with Vanilla Protein Flavor
- Premier Protein’s Best Chocolate Protein Shake Protein Shake with Chocolate
- Best Dairy-Free Vanilla Protein Powder: Dymatize ISO 100 Gourmet Vanilla
- Plant-Based Vanilla Protein Powder: Essential Elements Protein with a Vanilla Flavour
In our blind taste test, Fairlife’s Core Power dairy-based protein shakes were the clear winner. The brand stood out in every way, from the flavor to the consistency.
While the vanilla flavor wasn’t as strong as we’d hoped, the shake’s subtle sweetness won our taste buds. Especially when compared to other protein drinks where the artificial sweetener flavor was overpowering. Fairlife’s shake contains sucralose, monk fruit juice concentrate, and stevia leaf extract. The texture of the shake was very good and smooth.
Our taste testers loved the chocolate protein shake’s robust chocolaty flavor. Along with its flavor, one tester appreciated the shake’s texture, saying, “It has a lovely creamy texture and mouthfeel.” This distinct texture set it apart from the other chocolate protein drinks, several of which were described as “thin.” Fairlife’s Core Power protein shakes are available in chocolate and vanilla flavors.
Fairlife Core Power nutrition facts(14 oz)
170 calories, 5 g of total fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 260 mg of sodium, 6 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 5 g of sugar (0 g added sugars), 26 g protein
Quest Nutrition Vanilla * Protein Flavored Shakes are the best vanilla protein shakes.
Fairlife Core Power technically won this category in our group testing, but we also included Quest Nutrition, which came in a close second in the vanilla category.
Unlike others that were gritty and unpleasant, the dairy-based protein shake had a thick, creamy consistency and a smooth mouthfeel. Furthermore, the shake was a creamy white hue, as opposed to some of the other vanilla protein powders. Unlike some, which were tan or even turned green after mixing with water. Yikes!
When it comes to flavor, a handful of our testers said it tasted like ice cream, with one claiming it “tastes like a melting vanilla milkshake.” Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, adds sweetness to the smoothie. While some people felt the sucralose to be too overpowering, it wasn’t cloying or harsh. This drink has 30 grams of protein per serving; this drink can assist you in meeting your dietary objectives.
Quest Nutrition
1 shake serving Vanilla Protein Flavored Shakes (325 mL)
160 calories, 3 grams total fat, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 250 milligrams sodium, 3 grams carbs, 0 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar (0 grams added sugars), 30 grams protein
Premier Protein Chocolate Protein Shake* is the best chocolate protein shake.
Premier Protein is a wonderful alternative if you want a nutritious chocolate protein shake that also tastes great.
The shake tasted just like chocolate milk to our testers, with one remarking that it had a smooth mouthfeel akin to a Yoo-hoo beverage. So you’ll not only be reminded of a childhood favorite, but you’ll also be receiving more protein.
An 11-ounce shake contains 30 grams of protein, which has more than three times as much as a standard 8 oz glass of chocolate milk.
Another advantage of this one was its sweetness. While the artificial sweeteners in many of the chocolate protein drinks left a distinct aftertaste, Premier Protein’s sucralose was pleasant. Indeed, our testers frequently used terms like “delicious,” with one even indicating they would buy it for themselves.
Premier Protein Chocolate Protein Shake
nutrition facts per 1 shake serving (11 fl. oz.)
160 calories, 3 grams total fat, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 180 milligrams sodium, 5 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar (0 grams added sugars), 30 grams protein
Best Dairy-Free Vanilla Protein Powder: Dymatize ISO 100 Gourmet Vanilla *
The finest dairy-based protein powder we tried was Dymatize, which stood out for its nice flavor and texture. Dymatize, according to one tester, “has the traditional powdered milk flavor,” which the tester appreciates. Its vanilla flavor and sweetness were prominent at first but quickly faded.
While some believed it was too sweet, it did outperform the competition in this category. (Dymatize sweetens with a combination of sucralose and stevia.)
The texture is an important factor when assessing protein powders in general, and Dymatize delivered with a pleasing one. While some powders may not dissolve entirely or may cause a chalky, dry mouth sensation, Dymatize’s vanilla powder did neither. Its smooth texture stood out in a category of powders that were described as clumpy, frothy, and sludge-like (who wants to drink that?).
Dymatize ISO 100 Gourmet nutrition facts 1 scoop vanilla per serving (30 g)
110 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 100 milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrate, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar (0 grams of added sweeteners), 25 grams of protein
Plant-Based Vanilla Protein Powder: Very Vanilla Protein Essential Elements *
Our favorite plant-based powder was Essential Elements’ Very Vanilla Protein Powder. The protein is derived from a combination of foods such as yellow peas, brown rice, sacha inchi seed, and pumpkin seed.
A serving has 15 grams of protein and is free of key allergens such as dairy, peanuts, and soy, as well as being gluten-free.
When it comes to flavor, the vanilla flavor is mild but noticeable on the palate. While our testers’ evaluations of its texture differed, they all agreed that it was more pleasant than others in the category, which were heavily criticized. Stevia leaf provides mild sweetness.
One tester thinks this powder would be delicious in a smoothie (note: each powder was tested with water).
Nutritional information for 1 scoop of Essential Elements Very Vanilla Protein (29 g)
80 calories, 1 gram total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 170 milligrams sodium, 3 gram carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 0 gram sugar (0 gram added sugars), 15 gram protein
To Conclude
Fairlife Core Power, available in chocolate and vanilla flavors, is a delightful ready-to-drink protein smoothie. Alternatively, if you like to add some protein powder to your beverage of choice, Dymatize’s ISO 100 protein powder is ideal.
Gourmet Vanilla contains a lot of dairy protein.
Protein drinks and powders are frequently used as meal replacements, but nutritionists do not endorse this practice.
Instead, we recommend drinking protein shakes or protein powders as part of a meal. This is why we adjusted our nutrition standards for calories and sodium to match our nutritional guidelines for a side dish. Furthermore, we looked for goods that included at least 15 grams of protein per serving.
We avoided testing any product that had added sugars because sugar-sweetened beverages are one of the leading sources of added sugar in the United States. The current Dietary Guidelines advocate ingesting less than 10% of calories from added sugar, which equates to around 12.5 teaspoons of sugar per day on a 2,000-calorie diet; the average daily intake in the United States is closer to 16 teaspoons.
Too much sugar consumption can result in tooth problems, obesity, high blood pressure, and other problems. We also avoided foods containing sugar alcohols such as erythritol, xylitol, or mannitol, which can sometimes cause digestive problems.