Ready to Drink Protein
Although I don’t consider myself a lazy person, 
I do appreciate time saving things and convenience. This is especially true when I am pressed for time, on the go and hungry. Luckily for me there are a couple of choices in the protein drink department that can satisfy my need for ease as well as meet with my strict nutritional demands.
Although I use protein powders at home and like to mix my own drinks, it is nice to have other options when I am away from home and don’t want the hassle of mixing powders and drink container clean up. The problem is that most pre-made, ready to drink protein drinks are not up to my standards. Most of them fail in one criteria that I will not back down on. My protein drinks must not contain any artificial sweeteners.
Time and again I have found drinks that had good quality ingredients, great protein amounts and low carbohydrates, only to fail due to the additions of things like aspertame or acesulfame potassium. Some of the very same brand of protein powders that use the natural sweetener stevia will in their ready to drink version result to acesulfame potassium.
Orgain Ready-To-Drink Certified Organic Meal Replacement is one of the good guys having absolutely no artificial sweeteners. Here is its ingredients list:
Water, Orgain Organic Protein Blend (Organic Whey Protein Concentrate, Organic Milk Protein Concentrate), Orgain Organic Complex Carbohydrate Blend (Organic Brown Rice Dextrins, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup), Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Cocoa Powder, Organic Natural Flavors, Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Xanthan Gum, Soy Lecithin, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Phosphate, Inulin (from chicory root). Orgain Vitamin Blend: (Tocopherol Acetate, Sodium Ascorbate, Zinc Sulfate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Chromium Citrate, Biotin, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenate, Potassium Iodide, Cholecacalciferol, Cyanocobalamin. Orgain Organic Veggie Blend: ((Organic Kale, Organic Beet, Organic Spinach, Organic Carrot, Organic Tomato) 50mg). Orgain Organic Fruit Blend: ((Organic Blueberry, Organic Banana, Organic Acai, Organic Apple, Organic Raspberry) 50mg). Orgain Organic Antioxidant Blend: ((Organic Pomegranate Extract – 50% polyphenols and Organic Green Tea Extract – decaffeinated, 90% polyphenols, 45% ECEG) 30mg).
Yes, that is a lot of ingredients because this is a meal replacement as well as protein drink. The nutritional profile for one 11 ounce drink is 16 grams protein, 32 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams fiber, 13 grams sugar and 7 grams of fat. This combines to give you 247 calories which is very decent for a snack or very light meal. You can check out all the reviews on Amazon.
For those who do not want the carbohydrate calories and are looking to avoid artificial sweeteners, then like me you will be mixing your protein powders yourself. So far I have found no other alternative, but I am looking all the time and will update you if I find any good candidates. Meanwhile, here is something that can make the on the go mixing a little easier.
This blender shaker bottle is great for on the go mixing. It has this little wire ball, whisk thing that thoroughly mixes your powder and fluid together. The bottle is a BPA free plastic that has a screw on top that is water tight and a flip open drink spout. It easily fits into most car cup holders. Add your favorite protein powder, your mixing fluid of choice, shake and you will have your own ready to drink protein drink in no time. Clean up is easy especially since it is dishwasher safe.
