We don’t blame you for wanting to learn how to makeyour protein shakes taste better—while they’re great for helping you hit yourdaily nutritional goals, drinking them every day can become mundane.
Here are 7 ways to make your protein shakes taste better, so you can boost your protein intake without getting a mouth full of lumpy powder.
1. Try different protein powders
Not all protein powders are created equal. If youwant to learn how to make your protein shakes taste better, it’s a good idea toexperiment with different types of powder to understand your preferred tastes.
Even unflavoured protein powders have a slighttaste, as it’s impossible to eradicate this.
While it may not be a strong flavour, it can still affect the overall taste of your drink, so be sure to get to know each type before experimenting with different bases and flavour enhancers.
The main types of protein powder available on themarket include:
- whey powder—perfect for a smooth texture and allows your body to absorb protein swiftly to begin the muscle reparation process as soon as possible
- casein powder—thicker than whey but provides a slow-release source of protein and essential amino acids
- hemp powder—a good plant-based source of antioxidants and minerals (namely iron and magnesium), with an earthy taste that blends well in most bases excluding water
- pea powder—a good plant-based source of protein for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, has an extremely smooth texture
- collagen powder—has a range of health benefits on the skin, joints and bones and is easy to blend with most bases
Try a few different types and see what tickles your fancy. You might find it useful to order sample packs, such as this£1.62 bag from Myprotein, so you can have a taster session without breaking the bank.
2. Purchase unflavoured protein powder
Assuming you’re used to purchasing flavoured proteinpowder and only mixing it with milk or water to find it tastes sub-par, we’dsuggest ditching the pre-flavoured kind altogether.
This gives you more control over your shakes’flavour, giving them a less processed taste.
Natural sweeteners likestevia,honey, oragave syrupare great to experiment with alongside fresh fruit or juice if you’re making a protein smoothie.
3. Switch up the base liquid
Building a delicious protein shake or smoothie isbest done if you start with the foundations. It’s a good idea to try differentpowders and bases to find a combination that suits your taste buds.
The most popular bases for protein shakes include:
- whole milk—great for adding a creamier texture to your protein shake or getting rid of chalkiness
- semi-skimmed milk—works well with powders that produce shakes that are too thick when mixed with whole milk
- plant-based milks—almond, oat, soy, coconut or cashew milk can transform the flavour and texture of your shakes
- fruit juice—perfect for sweet and nutrient-boosting protein smoothies
- kombucha—an interesting way to change up your protein shake recipes, as there aremany different flavours
- water—ideal for adding to shakes that are too thick, but doesn’t usually taste great used in isolation (it can create chalky textures)
Once you find a base and powder combination (or multiple) that excites you, you can elevate your recipes in a few simple ways and learn how to make your protein shakes taste better.
4. Experiment with flavours and textures
Now is when things get exciting. You can enhance theflavours and texture of your shakes or smoothies in a variety of ways by addingingredients such as:
- extracts like vanilla or mint
- nut butters like peanut, almond, or cashew
- powders and spices like cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, or cocoa
- sugar-freeflavoured syrupsordrops
- shot of espresso
- nuts and seeds
- yoghurt
- low-calorie ice cream
Hopefully, this list demonstrates that there areendless possibilities for creating delicious concoctions to match your tastes.
Ingredients like ice cream, yoghurt, and nut butterswill make a creamier and more filling drink. However, adding nuts and seeds toa lighter juice-based protein smoothie will add earthier flavours to tone downthe sweetness.
Whether you’re in the mood for aStarbucks-inspired coffee shakeor afragrant turmeric smoothie, experimenting with differentonline recipesor even yourintuition is the best way to make your protein shakes taste better.
Remember to write down your recipes if you’re winging it to ensure your next shake tastes just as good!
5. Don’t be afraid to add more ingredients
Want to make your protein shakes more filling andflavourful without adding a ton of extra calories? The best way to do so is byadding fruits and vegetables that go well together with your other ingredients.
They will provide a flavour boost and add a range ofnutritional benefits depending on the combination you use.
Popularfruitsto add to protein shakes include:
- frozen berries
- bananas
- mango
- pineapple
- apples
Popularvegetablesto add to protein shakes include:
- kale
- spinach
- pumpkin
- celery
- avocado
Just check that your ingredients (including the drink’s base liquid) mix well, and you’re ready to go.
6. Blend your shakes to improve the texture
While shaker cups are convenient, they aren’t themost effective way to mix your protein shakes—we’ve all taken a sip prematurelyand gotten a mouth full of powder.
Protein shakes taste better when blended, even ifyou only use powder and a base liquid.
It’s the only way to guarantee a smooth texture,especially since most are transparent, so you can easily see when the mixtureis ready. It takes slightly longer, but avoiding gritty or lumpy shakes isworth it.
If you don’t already have one, check out thesebudget-friendly blendersto get you started.
7. Remember to add ice
Finally, this is one of the most important stepswhen learning how to make protein shakes taste better. A shake that is room temperature,or even worse—lukewarm—willnever taste good.
Protein shakes left sitting out for a time can evencongeal and taste off, which isn’t great when the goal is to make them tasteenjoyable.
Adding ice to your shakes and storing them in an insulating bottle to keep them cool if you’re drinking them on the go can eradicate this problem and ensure they always taste fresh.
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