How to Make Protein Shakes Taste Better

how to make protein shakes taste better

Let’s face it, protein shakes are pretty beneficial; however, a lot of them, usually the ones made from the healthier protein powders without artificial sweeteners, are not so good tasting.

Some of them are plain unflavored protein powder, and whether whey protein or plant-based, sometimes they just need a bit of touching up to make protein shakes taste better.

In contrast, some of these protein powders with many artificial sweeteners taste bad because of those additives.

So, in this post, we will explore the top 10 ways you can make protein shakes taste better.

If you’d like to get the ready-made protein shakes that taste so good and helps with weight loss, you’re in the right place. 

10 Ways to Make Your Protein Shakes Taste Better

1) Add Some Greens

greens

Many people don’t eat as many vegetables as they should, especially those dark green leafy veggies.

Adding them to your protein shakes is one way to get enough while adding more flavor to your protein shakes.

Also, vegetables can turn your protein shakes into super shakes because they contain many essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin A.

Try using these veggies in your next couple of protein shakes:

  • spinach
  • kale
  • pumpkin
  • beetroot
  • sweet potato
  • celery
  • cucumber

2) Add something sweet

Unlike those artificial sweeteners, sugar and honey, which are natural, are far healthier options that add flavor to your protein shakes without having to worry about health risks once you have them in moderation.

Honey is one of nature’s healthiest energy sources; as such, it adds an extra kick of energy to help boost your muscles before or after a workout session.

Try adding only a teaspoon of honey or a little sugar and water mixture to your shake, and you will notice a significant difference in the flavor of your shake.

Just be sure to watch your sugar intake. We advise that you try using other methods as well and only use a sweetener once or so per week.

3) Use cocoa powder

Who doesn’t love a classic chocolate-flavored protein shake?

You can create your own chocolate powder-flavored protein shake using plain cocoa powder.

Almost every protein powder brand sells a chocolate flavor; however, you may find that these are typically filled with sugar.

Consuming too much sugar will undo all you have done in the gym, set you up for diseases, and hinder weight loss.

Creating your own using cocoa powder and unflavored protein powder means you can manipulate it to your taste without worrying about sweetness and extra calories.

Additionally, cocoa powder or chocolate powder contains polyphenols and antioxidants that may aid with regulating cholesterol and blood sugar levels and decreasing your risk of heart disease.

4) Use milk instead of water

Milk

If you mix your protein shakes like most people, then you always use water. This contributes in no way to improving the shake’s taste.

However, you can try adding milk or a milk substitute to make a tasty protein shake. You can use cow’s milk or something plant-based, like almond or soy.

Although these do not have an extremely strong flavor, they can do wonders for covering up a less-than-pleasant protein powder taste.

Furthermore, almond milk and others are rich in vitamin E, an important antioxidant.

5) Get creative and make smoothies

The possibilities with smoothies are endless. You can use frozen fruit or fresh fruit and vegetables to make your protein shakes taste better.

All you need is a good blender and creativity, or you can find a lot of protein powder smoothie recipes online.

It doesn’t take much time or effort, especially if you are accustomed to making smoothies.

As you know, berries tend to have lots of seeds, and even with a really good blender, they will give your protein shake a gritty texture, so be mindful of that when choosing fruits.

Using a banana is a great option. Fruits are filled with lots of nutrients instrumental in your body’s functioning. Pop some ice cubes in there too.

6) Add some yogurt

Yogurt

Yogurt is one of the most delicious and versatile dairy products. It can be added to a series of dishes and recipes, including your protein shake or smoothie.

We highly recommend that you use greek yogurt, as it is high in protein (so that’s extra protein for you) and other nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin B12, and selenium.

You can blend the yogurt into your smoothie with some ice and your favorite fruit.

7) Try adding additional water or milk

Mixing your protein powder with more water or milk may just solve the problem, as often, the issue is simply that 8 ounces of water or milk is too small an amount to dilute the taste of the protein powder.

Usually, when you follow that directive, the mixture is quite thick, so thinning it out a bit with 10 to 12 ounces of water or milk instead can really improve its taste.

This tip works particularly well for plant protein powder, as it tends to have a stronger taste than whey protein shakes.

You can also try a few different protein powder brands, as the taste and mixing directives may vary with different brands.

8) Add vanilla powder and extracts

Depending on your flavor preference, you can enhance the taste of your protein shakes by adding flavorings like vanilla powder, mint, almond extract, coffee, and cinnamon.

There are many other natural extracts and flavorings that you can use with unflavored powder.

These are much healthier alternatives to some of the already flavored protein shakes.

9) Add nut butter

Peanut butter and almond butter are both delicious and healthy additions that you can make to improve your protein shake’s flavor profile.

You can include them in a smoothies recipe or just add them with a little milk.

Almond and peanut butter contribute natural sweetness and protein. Plus, they add to the texture by making it smoother and thicker.

10) Experiment with brands

Rule number one, especially if this is your first time using protein powder, never buy a giant tub unless you are confident that you are comfortable with that protein powder.

Do not be afraid to test out several brands and flavors.

Remember, this is something that you will be consuming for a long time for muscle growth and other gains, so it makes sense that you get something that tastes great.

Try different types, too, like whey protein and plant protein.

Final Thoughts

Protein powders are typically healthy but not delicious, so it can be hard to use them consistently as you should.

There are many ways to spruce up their taste and ensure maximum benefits.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match different ingredients and flavors to get something you like.