Protein powder, flavored whey and other staple ingredients of a healthy protein shake are not particularly tasty, especially when combined with skim milk and other fat-free items. The key to a tasty protein shake is your customization by adding foods that wake up your taste buds. Fresh fruits, flavor extracts such as almond, mint and licorice, and crushed nuts are additives that enliven a boring vanilla or chocolate protein powder. Add tang to your protein shake with freshly extracted juices such as orange and pineapple.
Step 1
Create the type of protein shake that meets your dietary objectives. If you're trying to lose weight, skip the whole milk and fatty ice creams in favor of skim milk, yogurt and low-fat ice cream. Make up the missing flavor by blending in spices and flavor extracts.
Step 2
Use as many natural ingredients as possible. These are usually tastier, have better protein content with less processing, and have fewer additives. You can choose natural peanut butter over processed peanut butter, or vanilla bean over imitation vanilla flavoring. Extract juices from oranges, limes and pineapples just before you add them to your shake.
Step 3
Use the freshest fruits and vegetables for the best flavor and highest protein content. Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, plums and other fruits in season. In the off-season, shop regularly, several times a week, for fresh foods for your protein shakes.
Step 4
Experiment with tastes and flavor mixtures that provide tang or interest to your protein shake. Coconut milk and cinnamon, almond and honey, mint extract and anise seed or licorice are just a few combinations that can flavor-up a drab protein shake.
Step 5
Vary your protein shake textures. Add a handful of crushed nuts and some chopped cherries to a vanilla shake. Pureed raspberries add protein, complex sugars and fiber to a chocolate protein shake. Reduce the liquid to make a spoonable shake. Diversity helps fend off food boredom.
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