Riddhi Rayekar ‧ Nutritionist & Health Coach
Riddhi is a certified nutritionist with more than a decade of experience of changing people's lives with nutrition and diet. She loves to help her clients achieve their personal goals.
Protein shakes are an easy way to get in your daily dose of protein with little fuss. Unfortunately, most people don't enjoy the taste.
To make things worse, these drinks are often thick and chalky. However, some solutions will make your shake tastes good while you're getting more protein in your diet.
This guide will show you the process of how to make your shake taste better, or at least tolerable.
Now, let's get started!
Why Do Some Protein Powders Taste Bad?
The most obvious reason you could have a protein powder that tastes bad is that its bad quality.
This means the protein powder you bought has been sitting on the shelf for a very long time and has lost its nutritional value. This is a big issue when you're using a high-quality powder, so be sure to order from a reputable source or check out your local health food store if you can.
Sometimes a protein powder can taste bad due to several different reasons, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the product is bad.
Even good-quality protein powders can have a bad aftertaste when added to something like fruit juice. This is because they already have so many flavors in them they cannot mix well with other foods and drinks.
If your protein shake has an incorrect proportion of protein powder, then you are guaranteed to get a bad-tasting drink. It's easy to make it right by measuring all ingredients and following the recipe as it's written.
How to Make Protein Shakes Taste Better?
If you’re like us and you enjoy a post-workout shake but wish it tasted better, then we have good news for you.
Protein shakes can taste great, if only we added some strategy and creativity with our ingredients:
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Sweeten things up a bit
If you have a protein shake and it needs a little sugar, try adding some honey or stevia.
It will give it a nice sweetness without being overpowering.
It's an easy, quick way to give your protein shakes a sweet taste without added sugars or other unnecessary ingredients.
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Make it a smoothie
Fruit is a natural way to sweeten up your protein shake.
Plus, sometimes the fruit will even add enough flavor on its own for you not to need any other changes!
Some fruits are better than others when they're consumed raw.
For example, citrus is great to use in a smoothie because it's low calorie and very low in sugar. [1]
To make sure your smoothie will be completely healthy, consider using only fruit for your shake. If you want to use berries, just be careful of how much because they can affect blood sugar and insulin spiking. [2]
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Create a milkshake
A great way to make your protein shake taste better is to add ice cream and milk.
With these ingredients, you can make the shake more drinkable and also give it a creamy texture. These also add extra calories, which can help you feel more satisfied after drinking them.
Just use it in moderation if you're trying to lose weight. Mixing protein powder into foods that are already high in sugar will only serve to increase the amount of sugar consumed.
You can also try substituting soy or rice milk in place of cow's milk for a little variety. It's also good to use skim in place of whole milk when you want fewer calories in your shake.
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Avoid the fancy-sounding flavors
Some protein powders have unusual flavors; this does not mean they will make your shake taste better.
When you want to make your protein shakes taste better, then you should look for flavors that go with what you're eating.
To make sure you're getting a healthy protein powder, it's always best to go for something clean and natural-tasting.
Many popular brands use flavors like chocolate protein powder, vanilla protein powder, and strawberry protein powder. These are all great on fruit but not as good on things like rice cakes and cottage cheese.
Try to find a protein powder with natural tasting flavors such as vanilla bean or natural chocolate. By making this switch, you'll be able to enjoy your higher quality shake more often because it will go with a larger variety of foods.
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Mix unflavored protein with cocoa powder
Cocoa powder is a great way to add a rich chocolate flavor to your shake without adding too many calories or any extra sugar.
You can even try adding a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder into the blender for a perfect treat.
The downside is that some people have problems with the flavor of cocoa powder.
In addition, be sure to read the nutrition label before buying any cocoa powder or other powdered drink mix as some brands include less healthy ingredients such as sugar and artificial flavors.
Related reading: Protein Powder Without Artificial Sweeteners
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Try adding more water or milk
Adding more water or milk can improve the flavor of a protein shake. This will dilute the flavor and make it taste milder.
You don't want to add too much or else your shake will taste watered down.
If you need to add more liquid, make sure to use cold water or skim milk for better health benefits. Milk will add extra calories and sugar while water will not, but both are better for you than using soda or fruit juice.
Another Ways to Make Protein Taste Better
1
Invest in a good blender
You should invest in a quality blender that has a good warranty and comes with some great features. If the blender is difficult to use or fits awkwardly into the kitchen, then you won't enjoy blending your shake every day.
Having a good blender will make a big difference in how smoothly protein shakes blend. If the blender doesn't even blend properly, then you could end up with problems like chunks of food in your drink.
You can also use a blender with a small amount of ice for better results, but it's not necessary.
2
Avoid the cheapest proteins
You should always avoid the cheapest proteins possible because they're not as healthy and can taste just as bad. You can pay a few more dollars and get a product that is much higher quality.
The difference will be obvious in your body and your shake!
Also, better quality products usually come with quicker shipping options and better customer service if you need help picking out the right products for you or need some advice on what to buy or do with them.
Invest in a good brand and you'll be happy with the results. If you have no idea which is the best protein powder, look here: Protein Powders for Smoothie Making
Conclusion
Now you should be able to make the best tasting protein shake with ease.
Try adding different fruits and vegetables to your shake and see how much flavor it has when blended with other ingredients. You will also want to add some natural sweeteners such as honey and fruit juice.
All it takes is some patience and practice to find what works best for your body and taste buds.
References:
1. The Hale Groves Team, Is Citrus High in Calories?, https://www.halegroves.com/blog/is-citrus-high-in-calories/
2. Christine Mikstas, RD, LD, Which Fruits Have the Most Sugar?, https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-fruit-sugar
