Making Bad-Tasting Protein Bearable?

Bamma · 06-14-2009, 10:16 AM

For the last several months I have been using some okay tasting protein, Metabolic Drive, Grow, and the GNC brand stuff (not great, but okay if you get the right flavor). However, for economic reasons, I had to skimp on my last purchase. I bought the deal-a-day stuff from wheycheap.com ,which was the LG Sciences Lipotropic Protein in chocolate flavor. I have to say, this stuff tastes horrible. It may just be that all chocolate flavored protein tastes horrible, but when I drink this, the bad taste seems to hang out there for quite some time (read: hours). My first try was straight with water, and that was just about undrinkable. Next was with a little PB. Better going down, but the after taste was quite bad and lingered forever. Tried with skim milk, not any better, and I prefer to not add milk right now anyway.

So, what recipes do you guys use that goes well in spicing up your protein drinks without defeating the whole purpose of having the shake in the first place(I mean, I could melt a few Hersheys bars and I am sure that would help the taste, but what would be the point?)? If I had Vanilla or some unflavored brand, I could think of a lot of things to help, but I am not sure what will cover up a bad chocolate taste.

Thanks in advance.

plaskowski2002 · 06-14-2009, 10:29 AM

get some better quality protein next time out. allmax isoflex is one of the best isolates out there and peanutbutter chocolate tastes great.

boodog · 06-14-2009, 10:40 AM

I add a teaspoon of "Hersheys unsweet Dark Choc." to whey shakes...works for me....

jsmircich · 06-14-2009, 10:47 AM

Fat free- no sugar added pudding mix (@1TBSP), I also will sometimes use some vanilla extract or almond extract (be careful with almond a little goes a long way)

JLB001 · 06-14-2009, 11:35 AM

I would recommend switching protein powders if it tastes that bad!
If GNC is the only place you can get it...try the Gaspari Myofusion in Dutch Choc. The stuff is the bomb! Even when mixed with water it tastes like choc milk. Don't do the vanilla...that one tastes like ass! When GNC runs first of the month discounts you can get the 5lb tub for around $45/$47 which is still a great price.

plmb1 · 06-14-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamma

For the last several months I have been using some okay tasting protein, Metabolic Drive, Grow, and the GNC brand stuff (not great, but okay if you get the right flavor). However, for economic reasons, I had to skimp on my last purchase. I bought the deal-a-day stuff from wheycheap.com ,which was the LG Sciences Lipotropic Protein in chocolate flavor. I have to say, this stuff tastes horrible. It may just be that all chocolate flavored protein tastes horrible, but when I drink this, the bad taste seems to hang out there for quite some time (read: hours). My first try was straight with water, and that was just about undrinkable. Next was with a little PB. Better going down, but the after taste was quite bad and lingered forever. Tried with skim milk, not any better, and I prefer to not add milk right now anyway.

So, what recipes do you guys use that goes well in spicing up your protein drinks without defeating the whole purpose of having the shake in the first place(I mean, I could melt a few Hersheys bars and I am sure that would help the taste, but what would be the point?)? If I had Vanilla or some unflavored brand, I could think of a lot of things to help, but I am not sure what will cover up a bad chocolate taste.

Thanks in advance.

A few days ago I posted a thread about how I thought supps (for the biggest part) are a waste of my/your money. I'm going back to nothing but food......lots of it.

If you are gonna take protein powder.......its hard to beat bb.com's price on ONwhey. At gnc your paying $45 to $50 a piece for 5lbs (thats when u catch it on sale) of a IMO less than quality product. On here you can get the ON brand for around $40 (same size) and it mixes and taste much better.

Good luck...

SR800 · 06-14-2009, 11:58 AM

I agree with just buying some better tasting cheap protein, wally world body fortress strawberry is tasty, mixes easily, and is just $14 for 2 lbs.

TDetroit · 06-14-2009, 12:19 PM

honey. this stuff covers up a lot of errors in judgement

espresso. nothing overpwers espresso

blueberries. expensive, that's what got you here in the first place, maybe you can cut expenses elsewhere in your life, but not the diet

Rising_Phoenix · 06-14-2009, 12:36 PM

Not worth to save some bucks if it makes it so unpleasant to have your protein. I got a 5.3 lb tub of ON Gold Standard 100% Natural Whey (Natural Chocolate) and it is actually quite good tasting. With water it is quite good, but with milk it brings it close to the level of regular chocolate milk. It cost me $39 at Amazon, which is about $7.75 per lb. Well worth it. It also doesn't have any artificial sweeteners or colors.

C5VetteLS1 · 06-14-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bamma

For the last several months I have been using some okay tasting protein, Metabolic Drive, Grow, and the GNC brand stuff (not great, but okay if you get the right flavor). However, for economic reasons, I had to skimp on my last purchase. I bought the deal-a-day stuff from wheycheap.com ,which was the LG Sciences Lipotropic Protein in chocolate flavor. I have to say, this stuff tastes horrible. It may just be that all chocolate flavored protein tastes horrible, but when I drink this, the bad taste seems to hang out there for quite some time (read: hours)

Quote:

Originally Posted by plmb1

If you are gonna take protein powder.......its hard to beat bb.com's price on ONwhey. At gnc your paying $45 to $50 a piece for 5lbs (thats when u catch it on sale) of a IMO less than quality product. On here you can get the ON brand for around $40 (same size) and it mixes and taste much better.

Good luck...

X2 ^^^ I always get my ON 100% Whey Protein from the bb.com store. Great prices, excellent service, very quick shipping and quality products. BTW: ON's Double Rich Chocolate is great right out of the tub ... so is the Mocha Cappuccino!

Bamma · 06-14-2009, 05:59 PM

Of course, you guys are all right. Chunking this stuff and buying better protein would be my first choice. However, when I said the economy was tight, that meant I am currently unemployed and so being frugal was at least a decent thought going into the purchase. And the stuff did have some good reviews on taste (and some not so good as well). So, I can not afford to waste what I have. I will try some of the ideas for makng this stuff drinkable until it runs out, then go to some better protein.

Inthegrass · 06-14-2009, 06:13 PM

Reading the title, I just assumed this thread was going to be about tuna!!

dungeonmistress · 06-14-2009, 06:20 PM

i don't think i've ever seen the words "bad" and "chocolate" used in the same sentence before! i usually add a banana in my protein drink. perhaps some chocolate syrup might enhance the flavor a bit, and it's fat free if you are concerned about such things. also, someone mentioned flavored extracts - those work really well.

BankWalker · 06-14-2009, 06:25 PM

I concur. Buy something that tastes better. And if you want to save some bucks..stop buying from GNC. They are nearly double the price that you can find online. There are many sites that sell for nearly half their prices.

Do_Somethin · 06-14-2009, 06:59 PM

Have you tried adding pure cocoa?
Maybe an artificial sweetener like Sweet 'N Low on top of that if need be.

06-14-2009, 07:55 PM

I love my syntha six. Dont use anything else anymore.

LiveFast23 · 06-14-2009, 08:15 PM

Did you but the stuff that was made from Soy? I went through 5.2 lbs of that stuff over the winter. Worst tasting stuff I have ever had. Nothing I could do but just hit it hard and then get something else in my mouth to get the taste outta it. But I went through it all. Made the GNC/Wal-mart stuff taste good.

OutOfStep · 06-14-2009, 08:40 PM

Personally, taste is the least of my concerns when it comes to supplements. I'd drink cup fulls of gasoline all day if I thought it would burn body fat or build muscle.

dungeonmistress · 06-14-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfStep

Personally, taste is the least of my concerns when it comes to supplements. I'd drink cup fulls of gasoline all day if I thought it would burn body fat or build muscle.

LMAO!! i was pretty much thinking the same thing.

Old_Swole · 06-14-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfStep

Personally, taste is the least of my concerns when it comes to supplements. I'd drink cup fulls of gasoline all day if I thought it would burn body fat or build muscle.

Gotta agree with this! Remember your not drinking those protein drinks cuz they taste good...but it sure makes it nice when they do. I dont think you can go wrong with any of the Optimum Nutrition (ON) products. Just my .02

StressMonkey · 06-14-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aneas

I love my syntha six. Dont use anything else anymore.

What flavor?

Zyn · 06-15-2009, 10:53 AM

I remember back in the 80's when most of the whey protein was absolutely disgusting. Back in those days I had to hold my nose, drink up, then chase it down with juice. The market has changed quite a bit since then, but every once in awhile you run into a brand that isn't so good.

Lately I've been getting the cheap 6 star whey protein at Wal-Mart, and it tastes pretty good.

DerAlta · 06-15-2009, 11:24 AM

It may sound odd, but try a 4oz of yogurt mixed with it in the blender. Same as before, with Water and Ice, but the yogurt should help the taste and it'll thicken it.

I've done the banana, OJ and Milk. But I've never been able to get a good chocolate tasting mix.

rdowww · 06-15-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StressMonkey

What flavor?

All Syntha 6 Flavors are great...

Bamma · 06-15-2009, 11:41 PM

Okay guys (and gals) thanks again for all the advice. Yeah, I know, I messed up trying to save a few bucks, but at $21.99 for 5 pounds, and with decent reviews, I thought it was worth a shot.

Special thanks go out to C5Vette who graciously offered to send me some protein he had no intention of using.

Through trial and error (and using some of the advice I received here), I did find two solutions that work out alright with this stuff. First is cold coffee. I just use that in place of water. Not ideal, I know, but kinda tasty. I would not recommend it for a late night protein drink at all though. You might be bouncing off the walls of your gym is you use it pre-workout though :-). Second, adding a banana plus almond extract does make these taste pretty good. I think in the future, I will be avoiding any chocolate-flavored shakes. The fake banana, vanilla, etc., seem to go down better than the nasty chocolate.

Thanks once again to all.