I usually get the chocolate flavor one that is protein and greens. I mean, none of them taste amazing, but that could be in my head because I just want it to taste like a chocolate milkshake.
This is a whole giant essay about my journey over the past 18 months trying to find a protein shake or bar that I can tolerate. TLDR: Carnation instant breakfast powder plus a scoop of protein powder of choice, and Clif Builder bars.
I can't stand the way any of the ready to drink protein shakes taste and the thick texture of most of them gives me the ick. I cannot stand the way sucrolose/Splenda tastes. I also don't care for stevia or monk fruit as sweeteners because they both taste bitter to me, but I can tolerate in small amounts.
I have found that most protein powders, shakes, and bars aggravate my IBS and cause me belly pain and bloating.
Side note, whey protein and cow milk makes my hormonal acne flare up, so I have to put limits there.
The only flavored whey protein powders I can tolerate are the Clean Simple Eats brand, but they use xylitol and stevia/monk fruit. Also they are hella expensive.
I have no GI issues from the Garden of Life or Sunwarrior warrior blend vegan protein powders--they both have stevia but not too much, and the finished shakes do not taste overly sweet or bitter to me.
The only protein bar I will eat now is by Clif, the Builders protein bar sweetened with sugar. 20g of protein and no GI upset for me.
So, all that being said, I have been using good ol' Carnation chocolate instant breakfast powder blended with milk/soy milk/oat milk and a scoop of Garden of Life vegan vanilla protein + greens powder. Tastes like a chocolate malt. Sometimes I add a little Nescafe instant cold brew coffee powder to make it like a mocha. The GoL powder is gritty but it is tolerable if I use a milk frother or mini blender to mix and drink it with a straw. The amount of powdered milk in the Carnation instant breakfast doesn't trigger my hormonal acne when I use a vegan protein powder and soy or oat milk.
I use garden of life vanilla protein + greens, and I blend it with a banana, a smoothie cube (I like the blender bites brand), almond milk (or whatever other plant milk is on sale), chia seeds, and greens powder if I think about it. I blend it directly into a cup attachment so it’s a nice easy meal for me most mornings
Chokinchocobo23
