It's getting really expensive buying Protein drinks and I'm looking for suggestions on less expensive ways to get my protein in. Please share your knowledge

Thanks,

Sue

The drinks ARE pricy, and to tell you the truth, I got tired of them. But they ARE a great source of Protein for the calories (I get the ones from costco that are 160 calories and are 30 grams of protein each). So maybe drink them a few times a week instead of daily. Also, Protein powder is undoubtedly cheaper, but I just wasn't creative enough to make yummy shakes etc with them.

So instead, I make a lot of quiche with egg beaters and low and non fat cheeses, and liquid "Can't Believe it's not Butter." And I also make up a wonderful 3-bean Soup (with cut up zucchini and butter squash) that also adds a lot of protein for cheap. I also eat a lot of tuna, and other frozen pieces of fish from Costco or Trader Joe's. It is all tastier, and all of these protein sources provide a lot of protein. I found that very low fat ground hamburger (like a minimum of 93% fat free) when on sale is a good deal, and is actually less calories and more protein than ground turkey. So when it is on sale, I get several pounds and freeze it in one-lb packages.

Super good luck to you. It really is worth it!!!

I use Jillian Michaels from Walmart. It is about $10 but so far it has lasted a while.

I order Unjury Powder (all the flavors are great) it is not to expensive and its cheaper when you do auto ship. I have experimented a lot and found that chocolate and vanilla go great with international delights instant coffee. Also you can make great shakes with it I got a $20 drink mixer to make shakes and smoothies. Pick any ingredient and mix with the ice first then dissolve the protein powder in a little water, juice, or milk and pulse in the mixer. You can combine yoghourts with juice, frozen fruit and juice, chocolate mocha coffee with milk, fruit cups and water. You can come up with all kids of combos to keep things mixed up. After a while the premade drinks just are to sweet and boring after you start tryin new things.

I only drank them pre-op and for the week after surgery. I track my protein daily and am always over. Use myfitnesspal.com it is free and a good tool.

www.allstarhealth.com has the musclemilk lite for 19.95. 100 cal per scoop and 12.5 gms of protein. Its a large 1.65 pound container and has lots of vitamins and minerals. Has great flavors too, chocolate, peanutbutter chocolate, cookies and cream, cake batter, etc. and the best thing is that you pay $5 for shipping whether you buy one or 7. I just ordered 3 of them. the cookies and cream was delicious! I got this website from another bander on the forum. So glad to have it.Good luck!

I still drink a Protein shake 4-5 times per week. I don't have time during the regular week to eat a real Breakfast before teaching my class.

If you're not into buying protein but still want to drink a drink, take milk and add 1/3 cup powdered dry milk to it and make double milk. Gives it more protein. My nutritionist told me this. I would mix that with a carnation instant breakfast for a cheaper version of a Protein Drink. Sometimes I use the double milk plus half a packet of the carnation instant breakfast to save calories. I also use the no sugar added instant breakfast.

For other protein sources, consider eating eggs, boiled, poached, in a quiche (I found a recipe for an egg "puff" that's like a crust less quiche, I made it in a large pan and it makes 12 servings that are very filling and full of protein!). Sometimes I break my routine and eat Tuna salad or chicken salad as breakfast. Greek yogurt has also become a staple in my fridge, as it is good at keeping me full.

Even with buying protein powder, I'm still spending less on food, since now it's hard for me to find breakfast choices at fast food places that I can eat without issue AND that have enough protein. My mind wants an egg mcmuffin, but my band and food journal say its not worth it.

I buy either Ideal chocolate Milk protein powder or unjury powder and add to skim milk to get almost 30 grams protein for breakfast. I hear lots of people go to costco but there's not one near me. I tried the brand at Walmart and while it's cheap, I didn't care for the taste.

Some people drink coffee and add their protein powder to it. I'm not a java fan though. Geez I sound picky! Lol

Good luck!!

Thanks to all that have commented. I'm definitely going to check some of these ideas out. Keep them coming if you think of more

Sue

In the UK there is very little emphasis placed on protien shakes, mostly we get the protien we need from fresh food like fish and chicken, turkey even frozen peas have a good source, milk products with 0 fat like yoghurt, cottage cheese, I am sure you can hit your daily protien intake without the need for suppliments. If you do need to use additional products to boost your intake maybe get the protien powders, over here we can get pea protien from Amazon, its not expensive like the shakes.

Protien does not get stored in the body like other enzymes do that is why we need to make sure our daily intake is maintained.

Good luck with it

Just eat normal food. That is what we do in Aus and the band still works for us. The only time I used protein shakes was the preop diet.

I know that they are expensive I buy the premeir protein from Costco, $25 for a box of 18, but I drink one every morning so I have to buy two cases since I'm not going every 2 weeks to Costco. I can get my protein from food but when I had my one and only tiny fill after that every time I ate breakfast my stomach would feel awful. So I decided to just have a protein drink for breakfast. I think now I'd probably be able to eat breakfast but I just don't want to most of the time. Most days I wake up around 8:30 and go to kickboxing for a 10 am class so it's not worth it for me to eat and then have my stomach feel like crap during my workout. I do have some Unjury in the house but it sounds stupid but I hate buying milk because it always ends up going bad

Beans are probably the cheapest food ever and the highest source of protein...but if you want them really cheap you cant be lazy because you have to soak them and actually cook! The big giant pillow-size bag is like 5 bucks and you could live on it for months! 2 words: crock pot!

I am pre op and went to GNC today looking to buy some protiens to try, knowing the shakes would gross me out. So some options I found were these little 3ounce juices with 45g protien in each drink. So it's way less liquid and a juice, in many flavors. You would probably only need one a day because you will get the rest in your food. This is what I plan to use. 3.50 each, so I don't know if that helps. Costs less than all the soda and food I will be doing without! LOL.

I am pre op and went to GNC today looking to buy some protiens to try, knowing the shakes would gross me out. So some options I found were these little 3ounce juices with 45g protien in each drink. So it's way less liquid and a juice, in many flavors. You would probably only need one a day because you will get the rest in your food. This is what I plan to use. 3.50 each, so I don't know if that helps. Costs less than all the soda and food I will be doing without! LOL.

You may want to try them first. I tried those and other of the "clear proteins" and they all made me want to vomit. But everyone has different tastes.

My Dr told me it ok to do Carnation instant breakfast. Very good and not expansive.

Shop around. Prices can vary greatly! Lean Dessert can be very reasonable on Amazon. Premier Protein has a great price at Sam's Club and Costco.