how do you use Protein shakes

[doreen T]

Hi everybody,


Some of the protein shakes are not very low in carbs, or so it seems to me. Anyone else notice this?? Especially the soy-based ones, often 8 to 14 carbs per serving. Maybe we could get folks to post the carb counts along with the name brand and location. Gee, you really have to be a detective just to find something to eat.

BTW, how do most folks use these shakes?? What I mean is, do you whip up one for a snack to stave off the hungries, or do you use it as a meal-replacement, like breakfast or lunch? Do you just add water, or embellish it with some cream or berries or what??

thanks,
Doreen

[IslandGirl]

Instant Breakfast. Sometimes made ahead, sometimes I whip out the blender in the morning (what a racket!). Big sport cup and take it along in the car (I'm always running late).

Composition changes everytime I make it, but basically, it's usually a cup of a plain natural yogurt (a la GO-Diet), some Greens powder (if it's lowish-carb), some whey protein isolate (Dynawhey, e.g.), some soy protein isolate (SuPro, e.g.), a little stevia and water (filtered) to keep it fluid !8-]

A note on the protein powders; there's a lot of them out there, but they can be loosely categorized as Mass Gainers (keep away! VERY high carb), Meal Replacements (keep away! DARN high carb) and Low to Low-ish Carb. I tend to read every single Nutrition Info/Facts label AND the Ingredients list, on my personal Avoid-Caution List are fructose, maltodextrin ("a sugar by any other name...") and aspartame.

[deelight_99]

I use them for meal replacements, too. Usually I just mix it up and drink it fast :D because I really haven't found one that I like.

The one that I use is from Sci-Fit, I got it at my local Nutrition House. It is sweetened with Stevia and one scoop contains: 22g protein & 3g carbs

Deanna

[tamarian]

Cool, I love stevia, and didn't know of any products using them!

Wa'il

[Sarah]

I have recently found an excellent, reasonably priced protein shake sweetened with SPLENDA in the pharmacy section the new mega Loblaws that just opened up here in Kingston.

It's called Dynawhey protein beverage mix - it has 111cal, 23g protein, 1.3g fat & 1.8g carbs per 30g scoop.

Comes in chocolate banana (the one I got - tastes pretty good), strawberry & orange. The package is a big resealable bag - 908g for $29.99 - about half the price of the Protein Power shake, which comes is a container with half the quantity.

I'm pretty impressed!

Sarah

[doreen T]

That chocolate-banana flavour sounds yummy. I drove past the Kingston Center, there wasn't a single vacant parking spot :p (I forgot about the Santa Claus parade today). I will definitely check it out next week, when it's less crowded.

thanks again,
Doreen

[IslandGirl]

I posted some information about the Dynawhey in the Shopping section on the webpage just a little while back. Out here in BC (Vancouver Island) where the Real Canadian Superstore (the Western version of Loblaws, I believe) are those same 3 flavours of a good quality Whey-Protein-Isolate protein powder: Chocolate-Banana, Strawberry-Kiwi and Orange-Vanilla-Cream. I'm very fond of the first two flavours, the Orange is their newest flavour and (in my opinion) needs a little work...

The *REALLY* good bits about this brand is that it's the only (and first) to come in the reduced-packaging resealable bag instead of that giant plastic "drum" cannister, it's only $29.99 for 908g (2 full pounds!) *AND* it's sweetened with Sucralose/Splenda *and* it's Canadian-made!

Very low carb and environmentally friendlier and well-priced (so far). Tough to beat.

Now if I could only convince them of the need for an unflavoured unsweetened version for my recipe R&C, preferably at wholesale! ;)

[Lois]

Here are some options I've been experimenting with.......
Depending on the flavour, addd the following:
Coconut milk ice cubes - NOT the low fat variety, H2O cubes,
whipping cream/water combo, 10%MF yogurt, psyllium husk powder, cocoa powder, instant coffee, SF syrups, extracts ie: vanilla, peppermint, root beer, cinnamon, ginger, coconut, citrus, maple etc. Frozen berries or other fruit (instead of ice cubes), nut butters, your favorite alcohol beverage ie: Rum. Enjoy..you're only limited by your own taste buds and your imagination!! Lois