With as busy as we have become as a society, we always seem to be on the go. This can make life challenging, especially when it comes to wellness goals. In a perfect world, you could hit the gym hard, crush a workout, then immediately refuel with a balanced, home-cooked meal. But, since life happens and we are always on the go, it’s not always feasible to take the time to actually cook up a muscle-building meal right after your workout. Whether you’re on the go and short on time, or just can't stomach a full meal after exercising, having a quick and easy, protein-packed option that doesn’t require kitchen time, is a helpful alternative to refuel your body and maximize your results.
This is where protein shakes come in handy. Numerous ready-to-drink shakes are available that provide muscle-building protein, vitamins, minerals, and calories to fortify your body after a workout. They offer the benefits of protein powders with the convenience of eliminating the need for a shaker bottle, or high-speed blender, let alone making a mess with powders. Simply give the bottle a quick shake, pop the top, and you’re good to go.
The hard part is knowing which one to go with, as the market has become over-saturated. Protein shakes, like many products that are marketed as “healthy,” a lot of protein shakes on the market are loaded with added sugars, fillers, and processed ingredients. To help make sure you stock your fridge with the best of the best, we’ve compiled a list of the healthiest protein shakes for men.
Fairlife Core Power Elite
When it comes to putting on lean muscle, recovering, and getting the most out of every workout, and life in general, you need to make sure you're getting in enough protein. So many of us are on the go for most parts of our days and this can make it tricky to consume ample amounts of protein. This ready-to-go protein shake from Fairlife is about as maxed out as they come.
Packing a whopping 42g of protein per container, this shake only has 230 calories, has 9 essential amino acids, and has a nicely balanced 10g of carbs to help you refuel after a grueling workout. If you are a high-performing athlete, just get this one.
Slate Milk High Protein Shake
When you’re really in the mood for a protein shake that’s truly reminiscent of the chocolate milk you drank as a kid, Slate Milk is the way to go. Slate Milk’s Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Espresso Chocolate Milks are like the grown-up athlete’s version of the classic childhood treat. They’ve also removed the lactose and amped up the protein (to 20 grams per serving) and added chicory root, a prebiotic fiber, to boost the fiber to four grams.
Slate Milkshakes are more smooth, thin, and light like milk compared to a more sticky shake, and at only 120 calories per bottle, they feel like an indulgence without any of the guilt. The process by which the lactose is removed reduces the sugar content to just 1 gram of natural sugars found in milk, meaning you’re not pouring all sorts of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols into your body.
ALOHA Organic Plant Based Coconut Protein Shake with MCT Oil
The primary drawback of most prepared protein shakes is that most contain artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, or other unhealthy ingredients. Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Shakes contain only clean ingredients, so you can feel good about putting them in your body, especially after a hard workout. They contain 160 calories, 18 grams of plant-based protein (a blend of pea and brown rice), 3 grams of prebiotic fibers for gut health and digestive support, and organic MCT coconut oil for satiety and energy, and electrolytes.
The shakes are sweetened with organic coconut sugar and monk fruit instead of any sugar alcohols, stevia, or chemicals, saving you the bloating and gas aftermath commonly experienced with sugar substitutes. The shakes taste delicious, with a richer taste due to their coconut milk base instead of a water base. They drink smoothly and keep you energized and full for longer than you’d expect given the calorie count. Aloha plant-based protein shakes are certified organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and low sugar.
Powerful Foods Protein Shake
If you’re a Greek yogurt fan, or prefer to eat and drink things that are more “real foods” based rather than filled with protein isolates and powders, Powerful Foods Greek Yogurt Protein Drinks are a great option. They’re essentially a drinkable form of Greek yogurt, which is lauded as an excellent source of nutritious protein and calcium for your muscles, bones, and nerves. They earn the accolade of having the shortest, simplest ingredients list of all our favorite protein shakes, containing just filtered water, low-fat ultra-filtered milk, milk, greek yogurt, and cocoa.
Besides delicious chocolate, the Powerful Foods Greek Yogurt Protein Drinks also come in vanilla maple, coconut, and a mocha double espresso. Each bottle contains 20 grams of protein, 160 calories, 9 grams of sugar, and nothing artificial. You get to enjoy all the satiating benefits of Greek yogurt without needing a spoon.
OWYN 100% Vegan Plant-Based Protein Shake
True to their name, Owyn protein shakes, which stands for Only What You Need, are nutritious and delicious, without delivering excessive sugars, artificial flavorings, or other chemicals and fillers. Owyn are 100% certified gluten-free vegan shakes and made from a blend of pea protein, pumpkin seed protein, and flax, a combination that provides all of the essential amino acids and nearly 50% of the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to 20 grams of protein, the shakes have 7 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber, making them more satiating than many protein shakes.
Plus, at only 180 per bottle, you can indulge and replenish without derailing your diet goals. One thing we like about Owyn protein shakes is that they don’t have any artificial sweeteners, stevia, or sugar alcohols, which are common culprits of gastrointestinal distress, bloating, gas, and upset stomach. Instead, they sweeten with just 4 grams of organic cane sugar. Lastly, these protein shakes also deliver a hefty dose of antioxidants and phytonutrients because they contain a blend of broccoli, spinach, and kale. The best part? The greens are completely undetectable in their tasty flavors of dark chocolate, cookies and creamless, cold brew coffee, smooth vanilla, and strawberry banana.
Ripple Vegan Protein Shake
Ripple protein shakes are another smart plant-based option. Made from 20 grams of pea protein, these shakes are 100% dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, and non-GMO verified. They use real cane sugar for the sweetener, so they don’t have any of that artificial aftertaste or GI upset that you have to suffer through with a lot of ready-made protein shakes. They are a bit sweeter, however, with each serving providing 8 grams of added sugars and 200 calories. That said, they taste great and there’s a lot to be said health-wise about just sticking with natural sugar instead of fake stuff. Ripple protein shakes come in chocolate, vanilla, and coffee flavors.
Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shake
Evolve Protein Shakes are another sound vegan choice. They pack in 20 grams of pea protein and an impressive 10 grams of fiber to keep you feeling full for hours. The shakes taste rich and decadent, especially the double chocolate flavor. They also are fortified with calcium, iron, vitamin B12, and zinc, which are important for bones, nerves, metabolism, and immunity, yet are often deficient in vegan diets. Evolve protein shakes are free from artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, and don’t contain any gluten, dairy, soy, or fillers.
Pirq Indulgent Variety Pack
Pirq protein shakes give your body the good stuff without the additives, sugar, and chemicals found in many pre-made, commercial protein shakes. They are made with ingredients that are 100% non-GMO, vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and certified kosher. Pirq protein shakes are made with high-quality plant proteins (pea and brown rice), blended with the best superfoods like almonds, anti-inflammatory curcumin, and energizing maca. The flavors feel like coffee shop favorites gone healthy, with caramel coffee, golden vanilla, and decadent chocolate.
Pirq shakes are on the lighter side, providing 12 grams of protein and just 110 calories per serving, so they are ideal for refueling after lighter workouts or as an adjunct to a more complete post-workout meal. The calorie savings are mainly due to the fact that Pirq protein shakes are sweetened with stevia and erythritol, which means they are keto-friendly but may upset your stomach if you're sensitive to sugar alcohols.
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