Protein shake without sucralose or stevia?

tungsten93
tungsten93 Posts: 76 Member
in Food and Nutrition
The title says it all. I'm having a hard time meeting my protein goals and would like to supplement with a shake that doesn't contain sucralose (Splenda) or stevia.

I went to The Vitamin Shoppe and the woman there was useless. From doing some online research it looks like Optimum Nutrition has a "natural" line that doesn't contain these ingredients but I'd like some other recommendations as well. Comments on taste/texture would also be very welcome.

I've tried Isagenix and while it tasted pretty good I'd rather buy something locally than have to use mail order.

Thanks for you help!
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Replies

  • SurfinBird1981
    SurfinBird1981 Posts: 517 Member
    If you find out please let me know too :laugh: I have the same issue.
  • lauren3382
    lauren3382 Posts: 372 Member
    I'd also like to know! I'm using MRM right now because I specifically try to avoid sucralose. It does have stevia though, so that doesn't help you.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    The title says it all. I'm having a hard time meeting my protein goals and would like to supplement with a shake that doesn't contain sucralose (Splenda) or stevia.

    I went to The Vitamin Shoppe and the woman there was useless. From doing some online research it looks like Optimum Nutrition has a "natural" line that doesn't contain these ingredients but I'd like some other recommendations as well. Comments on taste/texture would also be very welcome.

    I've tried Isagenix and while it tasted pretty good I'd rather buy something locally than have to use mail order.

    Thanks for you help!

    The store Sprouts has plain ol whey protein you can buy by the lb. Granted its just plain whey you can fix it up any way you like.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    ..opps double post
  • jskaggs1971
    jskaggs1971 Posts: 371 Member
    Vitamin Cottage (locations at the link below) carries its own line of unsweetened New Zealand whey powder that has, like the label says, no sweeteners. I find it goes great in fruit smoothies, as the fruit has plenty of sweetness already.

    http://www.naturalgrocers.com/store-info/store-locations
  • tungsten93
    tungsten93 Posts: 76 Member
    Thanks. I'll check these out and maybe try GNC and another Vitamin Shoppe location. I just hate that everything's loaded with sucralose and stevia these days. I've thrown so many protein shakes and powders away because they're too sweet and artificial tasting.

    Thanks again. :smile:
  • kalynn06
    kalynn06 Posts: 368 Member
    I use the ON 100% Whey Gold Standard Natural Whey Vanilla (with the goldish label rather than the red) doesn't have sucralose or other artificial sweeteners. It does have natural sweeteners but not stevia . I searched for a while to find something without sucralose, because I sometimes have very nasty reactions to splenda. I didn't have luck finding much else.

    I'm going to keep an eye on this thread for other ideas to add variety.
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    i can see why you don't want splenda, but why not stevia?
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    My suggestion is to just do hemp protein powders or whey powders and make your own shake. Many "protein shakes" are designed for people trying to bulk up.
  • carld256
    carld256 Posts: 855 Member
    I blend brown rice powder, PB2 and either soy or almond milk.
  • tungsten93
    tungsten93 Posts: 76 Member
    I use the ON 100% Whey Gold Standard Natural Whey Vanilla (with the goldish label rather than the red) doesn't have sucralose or other artificial sweeteners. It does have natural sweeteners but not stevia . I searched for a while to find something without sucralose, because I sometimes have very nasty reactions to splenda. I didn't have luck finding much else.

    I'm going to keep an eye on this thread for other ideas to add variety.

    This is the one I was considering. ON seems to be a popular brand here and it's easy to find. I wish it came in more flavors but I'll be happy to find just one good tasting protein powder and vanilla is pretty versatile!
  • tungsten93
    tungsten93 Posts: 76 Member
    i can see why you don't want splenda, but why not stevia?

    I just don't like the odd taste and it's not something I'd want to ingest on a regular basis anyway. I have a few protein bars with stevia and I just can't bring myself to eat them.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    ON is a good company. They actually manufacture their own product instead of rely on a 3rd party to manufacture it for them (Shakeology and Body by Vi come to mind).

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • inkandsheep
    inkandsheep Posts: 101 Member
    Try a raw hemp or pea protein powder. You can have them just with water or milk, or mix into a homemade smoothie. I use frozen banana and berries to sweeten my smoothies.
  • Ahluvly
    Ahluvly Posts: 389 Member
    Hi there,

    Google Solgar, that's the one I was using! I've just swapped onto MyProtein and it's so much sweeter, but half the cost *sigh*!!!!

    The title says it all. I'm having a hard time meeting my protein goals and would like to supplement with a shake that doesn't contain sucralose (Splenda) or stevia.

    I went to The Vitamin Shoppe and the woman there was useless. From doing some online research it looks like Optimum Nutrition has a "natural" line that doesn't contain these ingredients but I'd like some other recommendations as well. Comments on taste/texture would also be very welcome.

    I've tried Isagenix and while it tasted pretty good I'd rather buy something locally than have to use mail order.

    Thanks for you help!
  • tungsten93
    tungsten93 Posts: 76 Member
    I'm going to look into all of these suggestions. I just don't understand why companies feel the need to load their products with stevia. I just tried to eat a protein bar with stevia (one of the ones I mentioned I was avoiding in my earlier post) and it was so sickeningly sweet and artificial tasting I had to throw it out.

    Back when I used to go to Bally's they sold a great tasting protein powder but sadly I no longer have a Bally's near me and it probably wasn't high-quality protein anyway.

    So frustrating. I can only eat so much chicken and yogurt.
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
    I completely understand where you're coming from. I too dislike the taste of stevia. I searched for proteins without sucralose because of the reactions I was having from it, the worst of which was the rashes.

    I use these.....

    Optimum Nutrition - Gold Standard 100% Natural Whey Protein - Chocolate (I picked it up at the local grocery store, but you can find it at GNC, or on line)

    Now Sports - Whey Protein Isolate - Natural Unflavored (purchased on Amazon)

    And for protein bars I found these at Sam's Club, Walmart & Whole foods
    Cliff builders bars
    Think Thin bars
  • jbenfo
    jbenfo Posts: 8 Member
    I also avoid both of these sweeteners, and have been using Life's Basics unsweetened plant protein (vanilla). I do buy it online though, so I'm not sure about local availability. We blend it with bananas or other fruit to add a bit of sweetness.
  • KANSASGIRL69
    KANSASGIRL69 Posts: 28 Member
    isonatural, garden of life raw protein, bobs red mill whey protein
  • juliejones9846
    juliejones9846 Posts: 2 Member
    I avoid sucralose and stevia as well... I cannot stand the 3 hours of stevia aftertaste, even though it starts out as natural - who knows what happens when they process it!

    Anyway, I purchase custom formulas from truenutrition.com and am currently opting for no sweetener at all. You can select any type of protein (whey, pea, egg white, milk, etc) in increments of 5 percent points. You choose your carbs (choice of whole food carbs, simple or complex), and select the flavor system including no sugar, stevia, sucralose). The nutrition panel is generated as you select your formula. You can opt for additives such as vitamins/minerals and other nutrients.

    To get you started, they have a number of standard formulations (I start with one of their meal replacement formulas, but you may have other goals in mind) that you can tweak to your hearts content. For example, I switch the soy protein in favor of milk protein... but you do what you want. Just be sure to read the product descriptions so that you don't select something that has a funky flavor or texture.

    The last caveat is that prices are VERY fair compared with what you can pay at retail. I like the fact that I can eliminate unknown fillers and junk. But you do pay for shipping which can add a dollar or two to the price. I always order over $50 at a time so that I can get a discount on UPS shipping. I'm very happy with this company and would recommend them to anyone.
  • must_deflate
    must_deflate Posts: 183 Member
    I use Nature's Plus Spiru-tein unsweetened vanilla protein powder. I get it at my local health food store, but they sell it on Amazon, too.

    I really like it-- It tastes fine to me. I mix it up in a blender with 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup plain yogurt or kefir, and 4 ice cubes.
    I don't need my shakes to taste sweet and I sure don't need that artificial stuff.
  • cwsreddy
    cwsreddy Posts: 998 Member
    Why don't you folks make your own........? Seems way simpler and cheaper.
  • juliejones9846
    juliejones9846 Posts: 2 Member
    Well, for me it could be cheaper, but not simpler. My coach says to eat 4-5 small meals a day... A wake-up meal replacement, early lunch, mid afternoon meal replacement and dinner seems to be what works, given my work and family commitments.

    At first I scoffed at the protein shakes, because I believe that eating "real food" is more desirable. But I found that these quick alternatives offer nutrient control that really helps. Before that I was a big-time meal skipper, and was starving myself of much-needed nourishment.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    I'd also like to know! I'm using MRM right now because I specifically try to avoid sucralose. It does have stevia though, so that doesn't help you.

    I use the MRM unflavored. I don't believe it has stevia. It also does not have much of a flavor on its own so I like mixing it in smoothies with fruit or cocoa powder.
  • delkfn
    delkfn Posts: 1
    I'm allergic to sucralose and I just purchased Fitness Labs 100% Whey Protein. It has no artificial sweeteners, its unflavored (something I tend to look for because I can mix it with anything), and it also doesn't contain thickeners. I chose this one because I can mix it into a shake or just mix it in with water/flavored water. It just arrived today and I've only tried it once (in flavored water) and it seems like it is going to be a winner in my book. I ordered it from Nutrition Express and it was like $25 for 2 lbs/28 servings. Hope this helps!
  • mariannawonder
    mariannawonder Posts: 4 Member
    I use Nature's Plus Spiru-tein unsweetened vanilla protein powder. I get it at my local health food store, but they sell it on Amazon, too.

    I really like it-- It tastes fine to me. I mix it up in a blender with 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup plain yogurt or kefir, and 4 ice cubes.
    I don't need my shakes to taste sweet and I sure don't need that artificial stuff.

    I use this one too! I usually have it plain with water or I've tried it with some coconut milk. I actually only just bought it a week ago. I've been very apprehensive to buy shakes because I hate the taste of sweeteners and I'm really not a big sweets person in general. Its really good, really filling - I have been replacing breakfast with it because I'm always in a rush out the door anyway and I've been told I'm not eating nearly enough protein (despite the fact that I try so hard). It tastes kind of like oatmeal. I think it would be really good with peanut butter mixed in but I'm afraid to buy it because I have a bit of a peanut butter problem.
  • BastPriestess
    BastPriestess Posts: 1 Member
    tungsten93 wrote: »
    i can see why you don't want splenda, but why not stevia?

    I just don't like the odd taste and it's not something I'd want to ingest on a regular basis anyway. I have a few protein bars with stevia and I just can't bring myself to eat them.

    I am extremely allergic to all artificial sweeteners, so I have these issues as well with finding shake/replacement options that I can actually have - that don't taste completely awful. But I avoid Stevia as well, because for me...it creates terrible digestive issues. It treats me like Olean does or like how dairy does for people who have a Lactose intolerance, so it's best to completely avoid it for me too. If it has zero calorie value, even if it's from a plant, I have to ask myself if I should be eating it at all. But that's me. :)
  • loulamb7
    loulamb7 Posts: 801 Member
    I use Optimum Nutrition 100% Natural Chocolate and Strawberry because I hate the aftertaste of artificial sweeteners.
  • Funkiratz13
    Funkiratz13 Posts: 1 Member
    edited May 2017
    tungsten93 wrote: »
    From doing some online research it looks like Optimum Nutrition has a "natural" line that doesn't contain these ingredients

    The ON 100% Natural series has stevia. It's just listed in the ingredients as "rebaudioside A". I could taste it as soon as I tried it. I'm so ready for a protein powder that just uses straight sugar or even dehydrated honey or corn sugar or ANYTHING that doesn't leave that lingering over-sweet aftertaste. It's driving me nuts. I can work regular sugar into my macros easy enough and I'd much rather do that than put up with these sweeteners.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Funkiratz13 wrote: »
    tungsten93 wrote: »
    From doing some online research it looks like Optimum Nutrition has a "natural" line that doesn't contain these ingredients

    The ON 100% Natural series has stevia. It's just listed in the ingredients as "rebaudioside A". I could taste it as soon as I tried it. I'm so ready for a protein powder that just uses straight sugar or even dehydrated honey or corn sugar or ANYTHING that doesn't leave that lingering over-sweet aftertaste. It's driving me nuts. I can work regular sugar into my macros easy enough and I'd much rather do that than put up with these sweeteners.

    Why not just buy unflavoured and add your own flavour and sweetener of choice?

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