You probably don’t want to be carrying around too many bags of loose powder if you’re someone who takes your protein on the go.
Mostly for the questioning looks you’ll get measuring out various increments but also for the sheer effort it takes to measure everything properly. Throw day to day life into the equation and you can understand why upping your protein intake isn’t quite as easy as it seems.
“Just eat another chicken breast!” someone will no doubt suggest. But, if time is off the essence (and/or you have a sweet tooth) then a pre-mixed protein shake might just be your new BFF.
As the name suggests, these pre-mixed options come bolstered with everything you need to up your protein intake without any mess. Available in a huge variety of flavours, these delicious drinks are perfect for killing two birds with one stone: hitting your macro goals and curbing your dessert cravings at the same time.
Pre-mixed protein shakes also come with the added benefit of extra nutrients. While your protein powder probably just includes, well, protein powder, some of these pre-mixed shakes come with added vitamins, minerals, fibre and more body-boosting things.
Many of these protein shakes sit around the 20 gram per serving mark, although a few of them reach the sky high levels of 50 grams per serving. You’ll find a large range of flavours to suit all tastes, from chocolate milk through to Madagascan vanilla and fruity options, too. And, if you’re looking for the low calorie options, you’ll also find the one and only protein water.
We’ve rounded up all of the best pre-mixed protein shakes.
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Grenade Carb Killa Shake White Chocolate
Not only does Grenade’s Carb Killa Shake taste delicious but it also packs a protein punch with a huge 25 grams of protein per bottle. Perfect for ensuring you hit your daily protein intake without having to meticulously calculate your meals each day, these delicious bottles are easy to drink and come filled to the brim with all the good stuff.
Each low sugar bottle comes in a range of different flavours, so you’re free to jump between white chocolate, fudge, strawberries and cream and a few others, depending on your daily preferences.
Buy now £2.25, Holland & Barrett
MyProtein Clear Vegan Protein Water
MyProtein calls its Clear Vegan Protein Water “our game-changing ready-to-drink formula” and that’s certainly something that rings true. This lighter than light formula is a great choice for anyone looking to up their protein intake without extra calories or too much bulk.
More of a water-based drink than a shake, these low sugar, low fat bottles utilise high-quality pea protein with the added benefit of B vitamins, including pantothenic acid, which supports mental performance.
Buy now £7.79, MyProtein
UFIT 25g High Protein Drink Chocolate
UFIT is one of the most chocolatey pre-mixed protein shakes and tastes almost like a dessert rather than a drink. Ideal for post-workout when you need a sugar fix without too much sugar, each of these bottles contains a 25 gram serving of protein with no artificial flavours in sight. Its added fibre, vitamins and minerals makes this a perfect choice for not only adding extra protein to your diet but also ticking those extra nutrition boxes, too.
Buy now £2.20, Holland & Barrett
For Goodness Shakes Recovery Protein Drink
You’ll probably want to stock up on For Goodness Shakes’ Recovery Protein Drink because these are some of the most effective (and delicious) pre-mixed bottles around. Combining 17 grams of quality lean milk protein with vitamin B12 and niacin to reduce tiredness and fatigue and vitamin D and folic acid to support the functioning of the immune system, these protein shakes feature everything you could want from a post-workout drink and more.
Store in the fridge and reach for post-workout for a protein-filled chocolate milk equivalent.
Buy now £19.00, Amazon
USN Diet Fuel Ultralean Ready to Drink High Protein Shake
Not all protein shakes are created equally and USN’s come with a little extra power without any extra sugar or fat. The brand’s Diet Fuel Ultralean Ready to Drink High Protein Shake is entirely fat free, bringing together 25 grams of protein with no added sugar, either.
They’re a little thicker than your standard protein shake as these ones can be used as meal replacement shakes. But, if you’re heading back from the gym and need an extra protein boost, they do the job perfectly.
Buy now £13.29, Amazon
Huel Ready To Drink Vanilla
Gone are the days when Huel was limited to an unusual coloured powder to be consumed a few times a day. Now, the brand has branched out into the ready to drink world, complete with a few different flavours of protein packed goodness.
The Ready To Drink Vanilla is the best of the lot, impressively packed with everything Huel does best. Expect not only 20 grams of protein but also vitamins and minerals, slow release carbs, Omega-3 & 6, 6 grams of fibre and more.
Buy now £3.50, Tesco
EXALT Lean Machine Fresh Protein Shake Organic Madagascan Vanilla
Chocolate? No thanks. Today we’re opting for an Organic Madagascan Vanilla protein shake. Exalt steps things up a notch when it comes to protein, which is something you’ll admire after a first sip of this fancy premixed shake.
The first raw and cold-pressed whey protein shake out there, Exalt combines a deliciously creamy low-sugar, low-fat, fresh shake with organic overnight oats, almond butter and bananas. It also packs a huge 40 grams of protein. It’s maybe the best brand out there for delivering a powerful boost in one go with only 290 calories per bottle.
Buy now £5.50, Ocado
Barebells Protein Milkshake Vanilla
Barebells’ Protein Milkshake Vanilla famously tastes a little like vanilla ice cream. It’s also renowned as being one of the cleanest protein shakes on the market, which makes it ideal if you’re someone whose stomach can react to too much protein.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’ll love the silky smooth texture and natural flavours of this protein shake. It’s also lactose free (although it’s not vegan) with 24 grams of protein per bottle.
Buy now £2.50, Ocado
GROUNDED Milk Chocolate Plant-Protein Shake
Whoever said chocolate milk was just for kids clearly hadn’t tried Grounded’s Milk Chocolate Plant-Protein Shake. This vegan protein shake is one of the healthiest around, blending 20 grams of natural protein with all natural, dairy free, plant-based ingredients.
Made mostly from coconut milk with pea protein and coconut cream, it’s fair to say that this premixed shake definitely leans towards the dessert end of the spectrum.
Buy now £2.30, Ocado
Progo 53g Protein Shake Banana
Each ProGo drink contains 53 grams of protein, making it the undisputed champion when it comes to hitting your macro goals. This high-powered protein drink strips things back when it comes to ingredients, featuring nothing more than milk, a dash of sugar, a few flavourings and, of course, a heavy dose of milk protein.
The banana flavour is the most popular but, with a few different flavours around, you can branch out depending on daily preferences. The high protein content of these shakes means you can also spread them out across two servings if need be.
Buy now £28.99, Dolphin Fitness
Verdict
It almost feels wrong for Grenade’s Carb Killa Shake to taste as delicious as it does. A top choice for literally any time of day, you’ll be stocking up on all of these flavours as soon as you’ve sampled one.
