Protein Shakes and Bars?

Check that the sugar stays low because many of these products load it in. Look for something like classic whey protein instead.

For me I pick either a drink with 30 grams or a bar with 20 grams at least once a day. It helps me reach my total protein goal on days when eating enough food feels tough. The medication really cuts appetite so these items make it easier.

I keep shakes in the fridge and bars in the cupboard all the time. I grab the drinks from a big-box store and like the bars because they taste like candy. I also keep some protein chips around when I want something crunchy.

They work okay but they are not actual food. I relied on them a lot in the past and appreciated how easy the shakes were. The bars never satisfied me much and I would eat several at once. Now that I work from home I like making my own smoothies with whey and frozen fruit or greens instead.

Real food is better of course, but it is handy to have a cold shake ready when I am busy or tired and a proper meal is hours away. At only 160 calories it feels worth it. I also like the bars that do not fill me up as a dessert and can use part of my daily calories to add more protein at night.

They are fine and if they help with cravings that is a plus. The ready-to-drink versions cost more, so a tub of whey powder is cheaper if money matters, though it will not taste the same. The bigger question is the rest of what you eat. Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals, or would a more complete meal replacement be better to cover those needs?

My overall diet is already solid. The shakes and bars are not every day because the ready versions are not cheap even on sale, but having them a few times a week lets me add protein without overdoing it.

I mix whey protein powder, collagen peptides, and oat bran with water for lunch every day.

Keep sugar low. Some brands are decent choices. I aim for whole foods most of the time but still add protein powder to things like parfaits or baked goods when I can. A multivitamin helps too.

I buy the store brand version that has 32 grams of protein and 160 calories.

In general they are completely fine and the ones you listed are all good quality. Some other bars and drinks are junk but these are solid. The real issue is total calories and macros. These options are low calorie so if they replace meals you might not be eating enough overall. Very large deficits can mean losing a lot of muscle along with fat. One or two pounds a week is better unless you have hundreds of pounds to lose. You still need some fat and carbs plus other nutrients, and these products are low on those. I aim for roughly half protein and a quarter each of carbs and fat.

Big-box store versions of the drinks and bars are both excellent and cheap especially on sale.

It is a very convenient way to hit your protein numbers. Base the diet on real food and use shakes, not bars, to fill the gaps. Two servings can give 50 grams of protein for only 200 calories. Casein at night digests slower and helps with recovery. I prefer clear whey because I do not tolerate lactose well and do not like milky textures. Protein from whole food is still best because it brings micronutrients along with it.

I mostly use ready-made shakes to mix collagen and creatine into. Sometimes I drink another brand plain if I have not eaten enough. I never eat bars because I dislike the texture. I have been trying to get more protein from plant sources to lower fat intake a bit and might go back to almond milk or add beans again.

I use a plant-based shake brand but have not found any bar with low sugar that tastes good to me. It does not help that I dislike peanut butter and many bars include it.

What matters most is how complete and usable the protein is, not the source. About 60 of my 200 grams daily comes from shakes and I have lost around 50 pounds in five months with almost no strength loss. The only medication I take is the one mentioned. The only change I notice is being able to bench less reps, but that is expected after dropping from 215 to 165 pounds.

They are fine and count as real food. I am tired of the constant push to eat only whole foods. You could get all your protein from shakes and be perfectly okay. A big bowl of vegetables plus a shake sounds good to me.

Supplements do the job and I use plenty of them to reach my numbers without adding many extra calories or carbs. I keep a large stock at home. I like premade shakes that stay at or under 160 calories and deliver 30 grams or more of protein. For bars I am strict: they must have at least as many grams of protein as total carbs or they are basically candy, and I prefer ones with two grams of protein per ten calories. I cut them up and stir into yogurt or cottage cheese mixed with powder. Among powders I go through a lot of one particular flavor.

A basic whey powder works well if you want something that mixes easily.

I use both shakes and bars. As long as the bars are not chewy they make a good swap for chocolate or other sweets.

I bought a few large tubs of a whey powder because I liked the ready version from stores. The powder itself I dislike. It takes two big scoops to reach 32 grams of protein, feels chalky, and sometimes sits heavy in my stomach. I will finish what I have and then switch back to another brand I prefer that mixes smooth and tastes better.

There is a brand of cereal some of my lifting friends eat. They might also make powders for drinks.