Review of Atkins Advantage Protein Shakes

I discovered the wide world of protein shakes when I was preparing for gastric bypass surgery a few years ago. I was advised to do a liquid diet for several days before my operation and told I needed to use protein shakes during that time to ensure I got enough protein. I was told I would need protein shakes for a while after surgery, too, since I would be on a liquid diet for a while and then only able to eat very small amounts of food at a time.

There are many, many different protein shakes out there. I wanted something that tasted good, of course, but also wanted something I could buy locally instead of ordering shake online. I also wanted something I could buy in a small quantity first to see how I liked it. I did not want to be stuck with a huge, expensive tub of protein powder only to find I could not stand the taste.

Atkins Advantage protein shakes come in a variety of flavors, including vanilla, strawberry, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, mocha latte and café caramel. They are thicker than milk but not as thick as a milkshake. They are creamy and smooth. You can buy individual shakes in some stores but usually they come in packs of four.

These are not the best tasting protein shakes I've found but they are convenient since you don't have to mix them up. They are readily available in many stores and are not too expensive.

Each shakes has about 160 calories, 15 grams of protein and only one gram of sugar, making them suitable for diabetics, gastric bypass patients and other that must limit their sugar intake. And even if you don't need to limit your sugar intake, these are yummy and good for you. Many other protein shakes are available that contain more protein per serving but again, these are convenient and affordable so I'm willing to go with the lesser amount of protein sometimes.

These shakes taste considerably better when very cold. You do not have to refrigerate them before opening them, but I like to chill them overnight before drinking them because they taste so much better. You can also serve them over ice.