Protein shakes are the powerhouse breakfast and after-workout solutions, boosting your nutrient intake and muscle recovery in one tasty meal replacement beverage. The only downside is that so many brands are on the market, making it challenging to decide between your options.
The good news is they usually only come in two main choices: chocolate or vanilla protein shake flavors. The next question is, is one flavor better than the other? Here, we’ll take a glance at vanilla and chocolate protein to help you decide which type to use for your protein shakes.
Flavor First
As with any food or beverage item you buy, your shake flavor of choice has to taste good, or you won’t stick with it. When it comes to things like ice cream, cookies, or milkshakes, do you prefer vanilla or chocolate? That preference will likely apply to your protein powder, but (here’s the catch) not always.
If possible, try to get each sample before investing in a full container and blend the powder the same way you plan to make your regular shakes. Even if you’re Team Chocolate, the taste of the brand you want to use might not be what you’re looking for, or the vanilla could be fantastic when paired with your other ingredients, although you usually don’t like it alone.
The Texture
If you’ve every used a protein powder before, you know they’re not all the same when it comes to texture. Some blend well with liquids, while others stay clumpy and thick no matter how finely you puree your mixture. This texture issue matters for most of us. If the powder stays clumpy, it can be difficult to force yourself to drink it, even if it tastes delicious. When you’re sampling the protein powder, be sure to mix it the same way you plan to drink it daily to check for texture issues.
Your Base of Choice
Speaking of mixing the powder and bases, how do you plan to drink your protein? If time is short and you want something that you can pour into a mixer cup and blend easily with water or milk, chocolate has a more flavorful appeal.
But if you plan to “shake it up” and use a blender to create smoothies, vanilla’s neutral base pairs well with fruits for a banana, kiwi, strawberry, blueberry, or acai favorite! Switch up your spices, like using cinnamon and nutmeg in the fall, and you have a smoothie recipe for all seasons.
Powder Ingredients
Protein powder is sources from different origins, so you can find yours with an animal, plant, or collagen base. Once you decide which kind of powder you prefer to use, keep in mind that the protein content should be the same, regardless of the flavor. However, there may be a difference in the ingredients due to the added flavoring.
Some manufacturers add sweeteners and flavoring for extra taste, and may include more vitamins to boost the nutrient quality. If you’re concerned about the ingredients in your powder, compare the nutrition labels. It’s common for vanilla and chocolate flavors to stem from added sugar or other flavoring agents.
Stick To a Daily Protein Powder Routin
Protein is the building block of the human body. By adding it to your daily routine, you’ll reap benefits like increased bone health and muscle strength, boosted metabolism, and weight management. Whether you choose to use vanilla or chocolate protein powder doesn’t matter — as long as you enjoy your beverage and stick with it, the final flavor preference is up to you!