OK, I think I'm going to have to supplement, but the problem is I can't tolerate any dairy products right now due to breastfeeding. (Protein in milk, not a lactose issue.) So.. I need some recommendations for GOOD tasting Protein drinks that do not have dairy...

Any ideas? I've heard nectar is good. Also, those little protein test tubes. Anything else?

Well, the test tubes are very bad quality Protein, so I wouldn't go that route unless you had no other option. You don't want anything that's made with collagenic protein or Calcium caseinate (both are extremely low quality protein sources). The best is whey protein or soy (if you don't like whey).

These are my favorites right now:

• 
  
• nectar Fuzzy Navel (tastes a little like Welch's orange/pineapple/peach mixed juice, IMO)
  
• Matrix chocolate (good when mixed with sugar-free or full-sugar flavored syrup or powdered peanut butter)
  
• IDS Multi-Pro Whey Vanilla-Cinnamon (a little sweet on its own for me, but I've seen recommendations to mix it with coffee or a low-carb spiced chai mix)
  
• Whey Gourmet Chocolate Peanut Butter (yummy!)

Whilst breastfeeding I would defnintely not go chugging down a ton of soy products, the dangers of soy are by no means a proven thing but there's enough research done to suggest that basing our entire diet on it is not a good thing. And its never recommended to feed infants (particularly boys) soy products such as soy milk without medical approval. So that would go triple for breastfeeding.

Whilst breastfeeding I would defnintely not go chugging down a ton of soy products, the dangers of soy are by no means a proven thing but there's enough research done to suggest that basing our entire diet on it is not a good thing. And its never recommended to feed infants (particularly boys) soy products such as soy milk without medical approval. So that would go triple for breastfeeding.

Very true. I didn't even think about the estrogen in soy.

OK, I think I'm going to have to supplement, but the problem is I can't tolerate any dairy products right now due to breastfeeding. (Protein in milk, not a lactose issue.) So.. I need some recommendations for GOOD tasting protein drinks that do not have dairy...

Any ideas? I've heard nectar is good. Also, those little protein test tubes. Anything else?

You've been banded for... more than 6 years. Why do you need a protein drink? Can you not tolerate solids, e.g. supplement with a Protein Bar vs. a Protein Drink?

How much protein do you need to supplement?

There are protein waters out there, like the Special K Water. They don't have ginormous amounts of protein... but they have some.

OK, I think I'm going to have to supplement, but the problem is I can't tolerate any dairy products right now due to breastfeeding. (Protein in milk, not a lactose issue.) So.. I need some recommendations for GOOD tasting protein drinks that do not have dairy...

Any ideas? I've heard nectar is good. Also, those little protein test tubes. Anything else?

Nectar is a good quality protein but I haven't found one I like yet. I think they smell like dirty socks but others really like them. Problem is, they are whey and whey is a byproduct of cheese.

I think you'd have to stick to soy. But isn't soy loaded with estrogen? Honestly, I don't know much about it. I forgot most of what I used to know about soy.

I would avoid the veggie Proteins (stuff made from peas, for example) as they do not include all the essential amino acids for a full protein chain.

Just avoid those test tubes, the protein is collagen and not a quality source of protein. New Whey is a test tube and it has whey and collagen.

You've been banded for... more than 6 years. Why do you need a Protein drink? Can you not tolerate solids, e.g. supplement with a protein bar vs. a protein drink?

How much protein do you need to supplement?

There are protein waters out there, like the Special K Water. They don't have ginormous amounts of protein... but they have some.

I've been banded for six years, yes... but I was recently unfilled after pregnancy. I am not getting in enough protein through food, even with a very small fill. So, I need to supplement. In the past, I got a lot of my protein from dairy sources... milk, cottage cheese, low-fat cheese sticks, etc. That's all out now for me for the next few months.

I probably need to supplement at least 20-30 grams/day.

I'm not so concerned about soy from the phytoestrogen standpoint. The fears regarding soy products and boys are linked to one small study in the UK regarding pregnant Moms whose sons developed hypospadias. The study itself never showed a link between soy-intake and hypospadias... but the authors of the study hypothesized that consumption of soy, and thus phytoestrogens, could be the cause. A subsequent study in Japan showed no relation between the consumption of soy and hypospadias.

Regardless, I'm breastfeeding a girl... but still.... my bigger issue is that babies who have problem with milk Protein often have it with soy protein as well. I guess I'll just need to bite the bullet and order some samples and see how she reacts.

pumpkin smoothie

It tastes like pie in a glass, and each 8-ounce cup offers 100% of the daily value for beta-carotene, an antioxidant that fights cancer. Whip one up: Blend 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup crushed ice, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Pour and drink!

Nutritional info per smoothie: 162 cal, 5 g pro, 34 g carb, 2 g fat, 0.5 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 4 g Fiber, 55 mg sodium