Momentous Whey Protein Isolate
Quince Organic Plant Protein Powder
Quince Organic Plant Protein Powder is a solid plant-based protein powder option. The USDA Organic blend combines pea, brown rice, chia seed, and pumpkin proteins. The formula is free of gluten, dairy, soy, and added sugar, and it includes probiotics and digestive enzymes to support digestion — a nice benefit if your stomach is feeling more sensitive than usual. In testing, writer Raki Swanson found the vanilla flavor (sweetened with monk fruit) genuinely enjoyable, saying it reminded her of vanilla ice cream. “This product really shines in a smoothie,” she says. “With fruit, the flavors balanced beautifully, and the grit was hardly noticeable.”
On its own with water, it was slightly gritty (typical of plant proteins), but when blended, it turned noticeably creamier. There were minor downsides (some foam after shaking, a little residue in a shaker bottle, and a zip-close bag that’s slightly messier than a tub), but the combination of taste and price makes it a good option if you’re looking for an organic, plant-based powder.
Bubs Naturals Collagen Peptides
REBBL Protein Shake
Nutrition writer SaVanna Shoemaker, RDN, tested REBBL and found the texture slightly thick, smooth, and creamy, without being chalky. “These were some of the best-tasting and best-textured shakes I tried,” she says. Shoemaker also notes that “REBBL’s functional ingredients, including botanicals and adaptogens such as ashwagandha and maca, help differentiate the drinks, even if the per-serving amounts may be too small to produce noticeable effects on their own.”
Slate High Protein Iced Coffee
If you are looking to make the most of your morning coffee, Slate High Protein Iced Coffee is our top pick. The drink delivers 175 milligrams of caffeine, plus 20 grams of dairy-based protein, in a format that’s easy to sip when a full breakfast feels like too much. Swanson, who tested this product, says that the Mocha Latte tastes like chocolate milk: “It’s very chocolatey ... I honestly couldn’t tell you the difference between an iced latte from Starbucks and this drink.” She also appreciated the smooth texture and notes, “I liked that it didn’t taste like a protein drink,” which matters if typical shakes feel too thick, too sweet, or too chalky, all of which can be common turnoffs.
That said, it’s best to think of Slate as a coffee replacement or protein-forward snack, not a full meal. It is also important to note the caffeine content. Even as a regular coffee drinker, Swanson describes the effect as intense: “I had a caffeine buzz for about five hours after this drink was finished.” For GLP-1 users who are sensitive to caffeine or who already struggle with nausea, reflux, or jitters, starting with half a can may be the more comfortable move.
Iconic Protein Shake
Iconic Protein Shakes are a great pick if you want a grass-fed, cow’s milk–based protein drink. Each bottle provides 140 calories, 20 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber, making it a protein-forward option that can still fit into a lower-calorie day. The formula is free of gums, thickeners, soy, gluten, and artificial additives, which may be helpful if you’re trying to avoid ingredients that can aggravate GI symptoms.
Swanson says she loved the Vanilla Bean: “If you want to drink vanilla ice cream, this is it!” While she noticed mild chalkiness and a slight protein aftertaste, she calls it “very bearable,” and she found that the thinner, easy-to-drink texture still helped her stay full until her next meal. She also says she appreciated the variety of flavors (including Chocolate Truffle and Café Latte), noting that they weren’t overpowering. One caveat: This isn’t meant to be a full meal replacement. Because of its low calorie and carb content, it works best as a quick, on-the-go snack or “protein bridge” between smaller meals, which can be a useful strategy when you’d rather sip something versus force down a full plate.
Oath Nutrition Clear Protein Powder
Oath Nutrition Clear Protein Powder is a great fit for GLP-1 users who want a lighter, juice-like protein option but still prefer the flexibility (and cost savings) of mixing at home. Oath Nutrition’s Clear Protein offers 20 grams of whey protein per serving in fruit-forward flavors (including Brazilian Limeade, Raspberry Lemonade, Coconut Colada, and Icy Blue Razz, to name a few).
In testing, Swanson was especially impressed with the taste: “These are the perfect amount of sweet, no chalky texture, just solid flavor. It tastes like juice, not a protein drink.” Swanson also found that it blended easily in a shaker bottle, with no clumps or residue, which makes it practical for travel, the office, or “I can’t deal with a blender” mornings. The main trade-offs: It’s sweetened with stevia and sucralose (not everyone loves or tolerates these), and it’s not meant to be a full meal replacement. It’s more of a convenient “protein top-up” you can sip slowly when a heavier shake feels like too much.
Clean Simple Eats Clear Protein Water
If you’re looking for a canned, clear protein option, Clean Simple Eats Clear Protein Water is a solid choice. As one of the best-tasting protein waters we tested, thanks to its fun, fruity lineup (nine flavors, including Coconut Créme, Blue Razz, Prickly Pear, Tropical Orange, and Dragon Fruit), it provides a flavored-water-like texture that’s easier to sip slowly. Each serving delivers 20 grams of grass-fed whey protein isolate for 90 calories, with no artificial ingredients or GMOs, making it a straightforward protein boost without added fillers. All flavors are sweetened with stevia and third-party tested.
Editorial director Simone Scully, who tested this product, describes it as surprisingly enjoyable: “It is sweet, but it kind of tastes like a fruity soda. I was actually very pleasantly surprised by how good this was. For a quick protein top-up on a warm day, it’s not bad.”
Wonderslim Protein Fruit Drink
For a lower-protein, lower-calorie option, you may want to consider Wonderslim Protein Fruit Drink. Each serving provides 12 grams of protein from a blend of hydrolyzed collagen and whey protein isolate, with just 1 to 3 grams of carbs and 60 calories, plus 100 percent of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C. Shoemaker, who tested this product, describes it as “fruity, mild, and not overly sweet,” with a pleasantly thin consistency once fully dissolved, making it an easy pick for people who prefer a lighter protein drink.
The trade-off is a more processed ingredient profile. Wonderslim includes artificial flavors and colors, sucralose, and additives such as guar gum and soy lecithin (which can improve texture and mixability but may be a drawback if you are seeking a simpler nutrition label).
Why Trust Everyday Health
Brittany Scanniello, RD
Author
Brittany Scanniello is a freelance writer, registered dietitian-nutritionist, and owner of Eat Simply Nutrition, a Colorado-based integrative nutrition company and private practice.
As a lifelong and collegiate athlete, Brittany has always kept fitness and nutrition a top priority. Her expertise lies in pediatrics, sports, and functional nutrition, though she is experienced in all nutrition-related matters. She strongly believes that food has the power to reduce the risk of chronic disease and help people feel energized so she works hard to make nutrition information accessible and easy to understand for all.
Brittany received her undergraduate degree in human nutrition and dietetics from University of North Carolina in Greensboro. She also completed a dietetic internship to become a registered dietitian at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California.
As a freelance nutrition and fitness writer, her work has been published in Eat This Not That, PopSugar, and other outlets. She is the author of The Complete Macro Cookbook.
When Brittany is not counseling clients or writing, she enjoys working on her family's farm, golfing, playing with her three kids, and baking.
Julie Cunningham, MPH, RDN, LDN, CDCES
Medical Reviewer
Julie Cunningham is a registered dietitian-nutritionist and a certified diabetes care and education specialist.
Cunningham received a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. She subsequently completed a master's degree in public health nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Cunningham has worked in women's and children's health, cardiology, and diabetes. She has written for Abbott Nutrition News, Edgepark Medical HealthInsights, diaTribe, Babylist, and others. She is also the author of 30 Days to Tame Type 2 Diabetes.
A resident of beautiful western North Carolina, Cunningham is an avid reader who enjoys yoga, travel, and all things chocolate.
Daniel Oakley
Fact-Checker
Daniel Oakley is a journalist, editor, and fact-checker. He has written, edited, taught, and produced media for Dow Jones, S&P Global, IHS Markit, Third Coast Studios Magazine, and 826 National.
Oakley's path has always been a health-and-wellness-focused one. A competitive triathlete and racing fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, he also spends summer weekends as an ISA-certified surf instructor and Red Cross professional water rescuer with Laru Beya Collective in Rockaway Beach, which helps kids master and delight in their own backyard — the ocean. It has taught Oakley that “optimizing body and mind” flourishes precisely at the wellspring of community.
Katie Tuttle
Editor
Katie Tuttle is an editor and writer specializing in food, nutrition, and product testing. Her work has appeared in EatingWell, Food & Wine, The Spruce Eats, and Real Simple. She has written about meal kits, kitchen tools, fitness, and wellness, and has tested and reviewed a wide range of products, with a particular focus on meal delivery services and their impact on nutrition and convenience.
Beyond food, Katie has covered fitness and wellness topics, drawing from her own experience as a powerlifter and an occasional runner. She’s always interested in how products and services can make healthy living more accessible and practical.
When she’s not researching or writing, Katie is usually surrounded by houseplants or spending time with a foster dog. She firmly believes there’s no such thing as too many books or too much coffee.
Raki Swanson
Tester
Raki Swanson is a Minnesota-based freelance health writer and married mother to two adult children. She has experience covering mental health, fitness, food, and lifestyle topics, as well as significant experience reviewing and testing products for the Marketplace team, including online therapy, fitness gear, and food.
She received a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from St. Cloud University in Minnesota. She has also worked as a business development manager at a Fortune 500 company in Minnesota, and spent several years living in the south of France while growing up, which inspired her love of travel and food.
When she's not writing, you can find her reading, blogging, and enjoying being an empty nester with her husband, two dogs, and tabby cat named Kevin.
Amy Sowder
Tester
For more than two decades, Amy Sowder has dedicated her journalism career to covering food, fitness, health, and lifestyle topics. Her work has been published in Bon Appétit, Women's Health, Men's Health, USA Today and its regional newspapers, Farm Journal, The Packer, Greatist, Chowhound, Verywell Fit, Eat This, Not That, and Brooklyn Magazine.
Prior to this, she worked as managing editor at Westchester Magazine in the greater New York metropolitan area, covered the national fresh produce industry as a magazine and newspaper editor, worked as an associate editor at Chowhound, a food trends consultant with Food Network, and as an editorial assistant at the award-winning blog and two-time bestselling cookbook Smitten Kitchen.
In addition, she's completed courses at the International Culinary Center in New York City and worked in numerous restaurants. She's run two New York City marathons and countless half-marathons, 10Ks, 5-milers, and 5Ks, as well as mud and obstacle course runs.
SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD
Tester
SaVanna Shoemaker is a registered dietitian and health writer. As a registered dietitian, SaVanna has worked with pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children, people with chronic kidney disease, and people who are critically ill. She is particularly interested in culinary and functional nutrition for weight loss and female hormone health.
She's currently a contributor for Everyday Health and Yahoo Life, and her work has also appeared in Forbes Vetted, Healthline, Greatist, mindbodygreen, and Bicycling magazine, among other outlets.
SaVanna lives with her husband and three kids in Little Rock, Arkansas. She enjoys cooking, reading, writing fiction, and weightlifting.
Simone Scully
Tester
Simone Scully is the editorial director for service commerce and marketplace content at Everyday Health. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a professional health and science journalist, covering topics such as the psychological impacts of living with chronic conditions, nationwide gaps in menopause healthcare, grief, neonatal loss, and the latest wellness trends over her career. Her byline has been published by over 35 publications, including Healthline, Well+Good, InStyle, Psych Central, Romper, Narratively, Nautilus magazine, and more.
Before joining Everyday Health, Simone was an editorial director of health and parenting commerce and service content at Dotdash Meredith. She oversaw a team of editors and writers that published content across nine different sites, including the Verywells, Parents, Health, and Shape. Prior to this, she also worked as an editor at The Weather Channel's Weather.com, Upworthy, theSkimm, and Business Insider. A project Simone oversaw at Weather.com on the health and environmental impacts of global water shortages won several awards in 2020, including the CMA award for Best Series of Articles, an IAC award, and an Eppy award, among others.
Simone received a master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she focused on science and health long-form reporting and photojournalism. Her master's thesis explored the treatment of prolonged grief disorder following a miscarriage or the loss of a child. She was also awarded the John Horgan Award for Critical Science and Health Journalism at graduation.
Born in Minnesota, Simone lived 14 years in France until she graduated high school, then three years in London to get her bachelor's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She currently lives in the Hudson Valley of New York with her husband, son, dog, and cats. When she's not working, you can find her writing fiction or plays, hiking in national parks, or tending to her garden and indoor plants.