Protein shakes mightn’t be as healthy as a balanced home-cooked meal, but there are many times where they can be a powerful choice. The challenge is the sheer number of products on the market. How do you decide which ones to go with?
We’ve talked about some of the options before, like in our post on Boost vs Ensure. This time, we’re looking at the best protein shakes for specific caregiving challenges. After all, needs vary from one situation to another.
You can choose whether to read through the full post or jump to a specific area using the list below:
- Senior Who Refuse to Eat
- Diabetic Seniors
- Seniors Who Need to Lose Weight
- Seniors Who Need to Gain Weight
- For Seniors Who Need More Protein
- For Picky Seniors Who Need More Protein
- Seniors Focused on Healthy Living
The Best Protein Shakes for Caregiving
If you’re looking for general shakes, the following three are our top recommendations.
#1 – Premier Protein
- 30 grams of protein per serving with only 1 gram of sugar.
- Comes in a variety of different flavors.
- Avoids soy and artificial flavors.
- Can be purchased in bulk and in a variety of locations.
- Receives consistently good reviews.
- Is lower in price than many other brands, particularly those that are organic.
#2 – Grass Fed Iconic Protein
- 20 grams of protein per serving, with 3 grams of sugar.
- The presence of some sugar and only 20 grams of protein should give the shake an appealing flavor, while it still provides nutritional value.
- Uses a blend of whey and casein for protein, giving a complete amino acid profile.
- Avoids artificial flavors, sweeteners and other concerning ingredients.
#3 – Orgain Grass Fed Protein Shake
- This well-reviewed shake relies on natural ingredients, including grass fed milk.
- The shake is free from gluten, soy, preservatives and a variety of other concerning ingredients.
- This is another shake that offers 20 grams of protein, which is a good amount for many situations.
Shakes that Address Caregiving Challenges
For each of these sections, we have focused on a single recommended product. To do so, we’ve spent time examining the various options out there and customer experiences.
Seniors Who Refuse to Eat
Protein shakes often work well for seniors who do not want to eat or who don’t have much appetite. But, finding the right shake is important.
When I was caregiving, I found that the healthiest shakes did not work too well, as they often have a chalky taste. The ones that were lower in protein and contained more sugar tended to be more popular, like our recommended shake below.
Choosing a ‘less healthy’ protein shake might seem like a poor choice, but the shakes are still a good source of nutrients. The higher sugar content isn’t as relevant if the senior isn’t getting enough to eat.
Diabetic Seniors
Most low sugar shakes will be a good choice for diabetic seniors. The brand Glucerna is often recommended too, as their products focus on the slow release of carbs.
Even so, Glucerna is not our personal recommendation. The shakes tend to be too high in sugar for a diabetic product.
That being said, it’s important to talk to your physician about the best balance of nutrients. This may be different from person-to-person.
Seniors Who Need to Lose Weight
Most protein shakes can be used for weight loss, if they’re eaten instead of a meal. Still, weight loss is easier when the shake is low in sugar, but remains satisfying.
The recommended shake below is one good example. It contains 30 grams of protein per serving, along with just 1 gram of sugar.
The shake also gets good reviews, especially for the flavor. This aspect is impressive, as many shakes with 30 grams of protein don’t have a nice flavor.
Seniors Who Need to Gain Weight
Promoting weight loss with shakes is as simple as using them in addition to meals, rather than instead of a meal. High calorie shakes can be helpful too.
Interestingly, keeping the protein content low may also help with weight gain. This helps to ensure that the shake isn’t too filling. The effect is especially important for seniors who have little appetite.
Our recommend shake is Boost Plus, which contains 360 calories and 14 grams of protein per serving. The combination of ingredients means that the product tastes good too, similar to a chocolate milkshake.
For Seniors Who Need More Protein
It’s hard to go wrong with Premier Protein if protein is your goal. The brand is excellent at providing high protein content in shakes that still taste good.
This particular version gets consistently good reviews. That’s very impressive for a shake that contains 30 grams of protein per serving and hardly any sugar.
The shake also contains 25% of the recommended daily amount for many key vitamins and minerals.
For Picky Seniors Who Need More Protein
While the previous shakes are popular, some people struggle with the combination of high protein and low sugar. A higher sugar product can help ensure that the smoothie gets consumed.
Our top pick is Boost Optimum. This shake contains 22 grams of protein per serving, along with 12 grams of sugar.
While the shake isn’t as healthy as the previous example, the balance of protein to sugar is better than many other products. This should be enough to make the shake an enjoyable choice.
Seniors Focused on Healthy Living
Pre-packaged shakes tend to rely on artificial ingredients, as they need to be shelf stable. Still, some brands focus on making their shakes as natural as they possibly can.
The shake below is an especially good choice. It gets consistently positive reviews and uses few ingredients compared to other shakes on this list.
The main limitation is that this is not a ‘complete’ shake, which means it doesn’t contain vitamins and minerals. Leaving these out isn’t as bad thing, as long as your family member is getting enough nutrients through their diet.
Final Thoughts
As you’ve probably noticed, we focused on ready-made protein shakes for this list.
Ready-made shakes mightn’t be the healthiest option, but they are incredibly convenient. This feature can make all the difference for situations where you are short on time.
If you’re looking for more nutritious alternatives, check out our other food-related posts:
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