Make the Best Protein Shake You’ve Ever Had With These Tips

When you think of protein shakes, the idea of this tasteless, off-putting drink with the texture of wet sand is the first thing that comes to mind, and it’s what many settle for.

A high-protein diet is simply too beneficial not to sacrifice at least something for the long-term gains you’ll have, but things don’t have to be that way.

Sure, weight training and strenuous physical activity demand a high-protein diet, and growing your muscles will require a daily intake of amino acids, but flavorless shakes are not the answer.

It takes a lot of dedication to maintain your diet to such a high degree, and most of us simply can’t keep eating rice and chicken or tuna and brussel sprouts day in and day out.

Variety is key, and we’re here to show you that a protein shake can be so much more than what you know it as, and you may finally find one that is fit for your tastebuds.

Switch up your protein.

Due to how fast it makes its way into our bloodstream, whey is the most commonly used protein in commercial protein shakes, and that’s perfectly justified.

Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of being absolutely unpalatable for most people, and even if the shake is flavored, getting past the texture is what makes most give up.

In order to shake things up, try switching the protein source in your shakes, starting with something like a 50/50 mix of egg whites and casein.

If you’re on a plant-based diet, be sure to check out options that are safe for you such as soy, chickpeas, rice, and even hemp.

All of these offer a wide array of health benefits that can add to the overall nutritional profile of the shake you’re having.

To top off your shake, consider adding some nut butter and seeds for that final push toward your goals.

Add a bit of spice

Nothing masks flavors better than strong, aromatic spices.

Naturally, this doesn’t mean that you should dump just about anything you find in your spice rack into your protein shake, but a bit won’t hurt.

Spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and anything else that you can relate to christmas are always the right choice, as they generate a warm feeling when consumed.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous though, try the cayenne pepper and chocolate combo, which is a staple in Mexican cuisine.

It’s not just the spices that can make your protein shake taste better either, as syrups and extracts can make great contributions to the drink’s taste.

Keep in mind that these substances are incredibly potent, and when adding something like coffee extract, remember that a little goes a long way.

Copy your favorite snacks and sweets.

Originality is great and all, but it’s hard to replicate the euphoric feeling of biting into a Snickers bar after a long day.

With this in mind, you probably already know there’s nothing stopping you from flavoring your protein shakes to mimic your favorite foods.

Peanut butter and caramel are both ingredients with strong, overpowering flavors that will easily cancel out the taste of whey, or any protein source for that matter.

Don’t just stop at chocolate bars though, the protein shake is your oyster, and if you can imagine it, it can probably be done.

From PB&J shakes to chocolate chip cookies, anything can be broken down into a flavor profile and deposited into your protein shake.

On top of this all, experimenting is fun, and you’ll soon find that making your pre-workout shake has become a fun activity instead of this boring process of dumping powder into a container and rehydrating it. 

Back to basics

Finally, there’s the addition of fresh fruit to your daily protein shakes, something that should’ve been self-explanatory from the get-go.

Fruits are full of vitamins and antioxidants, which pair incredibly well with the protein in your shake, giving you a balanced drink that one could even consider part of a meal.

While most fruits will do the trick, and you should definitely opt for the ones you like the most, berries are a common pick because of their low sugar content.

If you really want to take your shakes to the next level, freeze the berries before blending them in for that extra creamy texture.

Bananas are also a great choice due to their high potassium content, which is great for restoring salts lost through sweating during your workout.

Final word

At the end of the day, it’s up to you what kind of protein shake you’ll be making, and if the bland, tasteless, sawdust-textured stuff works for you, keep doing it.

Sometimes, devoting an extra 15 minutes to your shake just doesn’t feel worth it, and that’s perfectly reasonable, but remember who you’re doing this for.

Keeping your body healthy is the main goal of your journey, and who’s to say that you can’t do it while also having a fun time?

Everyone loves tasty food, and even if it’s gonna cost you an extra minute or two to make it, you’ll be thanking yourself in the long run.

Investing in a better blender may also help if you’re not looking to experiment too much with your shakes, as it’ll help you fix the consistency of the drink, making for a more enjoyable experience.