Take Your Protein on the Go With These Shakes

I’m well aware that I don’t get enough protein in the morning. My typical breakfast is pretty carb-heavy, and I know I would benefit from a little more protein in my mornings. Old Cheerios habits die hard, though, so when I heard that you could throw these CalNaturale svelte protein shakes in your morning coffee as creamer, I was certainly willing to give them a try. Anything that can make my coffee healthier, I’m all for because I’m certainly not giving it up.

I tried this line of organic protein shakes (as Jenn did over on FBG), both in my morning coffee and on their own. While they may not be the perfect cure for your creamer, they do add sweetness and creaminess that, if you’re not a black coffee drinker, can make coffee go down much more smoothly. They taste great on their own, too, although the texture of the chocolate shake was a little grainier than the others. The cappuccino? Well, I’ll just kiss my fingertips and say yum. It was smooth and delicious. All of the shakes did have a bit of an aftertaste, presumably from the Stevia sweetener, but the Stevia pays off nutritionally, as each serving has only only 6 grams of sugar and provides 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein.

Whether you sip them in the morning in your coffee, guzzle one after a workout for a kick of protein, or drink one as a snack — I imagine the chocolate would be killer in a smoothie — they’re non-dairy and gluten-free for anyone with concerns there. With 180 calories for 11 ounces, they’re great as post-workout fuel.

Do you struggle to get protein in the morning? Ever tried any alternatives to your standard creamer? —Erin