Are quest protein shakes good for you

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From the United States

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 5, 2019

I've had seven of the Quest flavors so far: Vanilla Milkshake, Chocolate Milkshake, Cinnamon Crunch, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter, Cold Brew Coffee Latte, and Banana Cream. My favorites are Cinnamon Crunch and Peanut Butter. I didn't care for the Cold Brew Coffee Latte, I found it too bitter (I admit I like my coffee so sweet and milky it's basically melted coffee ice cream), and Banana Cream tastes a little bit fake, like banana extract, but it's pretty good mixed with Chocolate Milkshake or Peanut Butter. I have a MAJOR sweet tooth so I'm happy with the level of sweetness but someone with less of a sweet tooth might find them too sweet.

The scoop holds a lot more than the 30 grams specified on the label so if you use the scoop to measure you may not get all the servings expected and your nutrition stats will be off. I weigh out my portion - I use 45 grams of powder (sometimes mixing two flavors, my favorite combination being Chocolate Milkshake and Peanut Butter) in 12 ounces of water for breakfast. This holds me the 5 hours until lunch, because of the casein in the blend, although I generally start getting a little peckish about 3 to 3-1/2 hours later. That's very good for 150-160 calories and low carbs/fat. There are lower carb protein powders but none that taste as good to me.

Quest mixes very well in a Blender Bottle shaker without excessive foaming, although it foams like crazy in the blender. (I've never used just a spoon, since I already had the shaker.) It does make an awesome milkshake buzzed up in a real blender with water and ice - the ice seems to help keep down the foaming - although sometimes I'll blend it with cashew milk and ice after dinner for a super creamy dessert shake. This was the best use for Salted Caramel, which was really too sweet for breakfast. If I want it extra thick like a Wendy's Frosty I'll add an additional generous pinch of xanthan gum.

The "cereal" pieces in the Cinnamon Crunch flavor were a bit disconcerting at first but after a week or so I got to looking forward to the little crunchy bits, although they have the irritating habit of sticking to the inside of the shaker and glass and have to be fished out with a spoon. Otherwise, the texture of all the flavors I've tried is excellent, not gritty or powdery after mixing, and not excessively thick or watery even when mixed with water.

Vanilla Milkshake is pretty bland on its own and best used for recipes. Here's my favorite easy dessert or snack:
1 package sugar-free Jello gelatin mix, any flavor (I like raspberry or cherry)
1/4 cup boiling water
1 cup cold water
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (I use Fage)
1/4 cup (30 grams) Quest Vanilla Milkshake protein powder
Dissolve the Jello powder in the boiling water, then stir in the cold water. Whisk in the Greek yogurt until smooth, followed by the protein powder. Pour into dishes and allow to set up in the refrigerator (about an hour).
(Credit to "Shelly Eggface" for the original recipe, I just added more water.)

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 16, 2016

This peanut butter protein powder is amazing! It sure hits the spot when I crave for peanut butter. It tastes just like peanut butter to me. The taste also reminds me of the PB2 peanut butter powder. I love it.

Another peanut butter (or rather chocolate peanut butter) flavored protein powder I've tried is O.N. Hydro Whey's and that didn't taste like peanut butter at all.

You won't regret this protein powder. I blend it in a Ninja blender with water and the texture comes out like a smoothie. I haven't tried stirring it yet, but even the label says to blend it for better texture. This is definitely going to be permanent in my household.

I haven't cooked with it yet, but I will try it out on the weekend and update the review.

-- Update 03/31/16 --
I've also bought the banana flavor. Banana flavor is just a tiny bit more sweeter than the peanut butter. The powder is lighter than the peanut butter powder. I've tried "Isopure's Banana Protein Powder" also and honestly, I like the taste of Isopure's banana flavor better. I'm not saying Quest's banana isn't good though; it's delicious! Just like the peanut butter flavor, if you whip it up in a blender, it'll be smooth and thick texture. I like added the banana powder into my breakfast (oat bran + egg whites + flax seed + baking powder = pancakes/waffles/scones) and it is DELICIOUS! In fact, I love adding the banana powder into my breakfast more than the peanut butter flavor because it reminds me of banana bread.

Both peanut butter and banana flavors are delicious with smooth/thick/creamy texture and they are perfect for cooking. I currently drink the peanut butter protein powder most of the time as it always hits the spot, and sometimes I switch off with the banana protein powder. For my breakfast, I am always adding the banana protein powder.

One more thing I have tried is blending one shot of espresso (Nespresso capsule) with the peanut butter protein powder. It is SUPER DELICIOUS. I love it! Forget Starbucks' frappuchino...this is way better. I need to order the salted caramel flavor to try that out.

*** Update 04/08/16 *** Sea Salt Caramel ***

Sea salt caramel tastes good, and could be a little too sweet. The smell of caramel is definitely there. It has an after taste that lingers in my mouth for a while. I don't like the after taste. Drinking the protein powder tastes good--texture is thick and creamy, but still an aftertaste. The powder mixes well with my oat bran breakfast, but again, it has an aftertaste.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 27, 2018

This is great protein powder. I'll do the negatives first - taste: It is sweetened with Stevia, some people find it bitter or that it gives an aftertaste like artificial sweeteners give. I admit there is a different taste to stevia and it might be an acquired taste, also stevia has a sort of "tipping point" where if you add just a little too much the taste moves from sweet to bitter. Having used stevia for years now I like the taste and am used to it so I don't have a problem with the taste or after taste. I find the product to actually be very sweet compared to others but to me that just means I don't have to add extra fruit or other sweeteners to make it palatable.
Other than that I don't have any negatives to it, I never use the full scoop unless it's for a recipe, even a half scoop is plenty filling and keeps me going all morning in a standard shake. And the uses seem endless, besides shakes I've made waffles (1 scoop powder mixed with 1 tsp baking soda. Beat an egg and add to the powder and mix well. Add milk of choice or water slowly until batter like consistency. Can also add a little extract, cinnamon etc to taste. Cook in waffle iron, I use the mini and get 3-4 out of one recipe) I've made fruit dip and icing by mixing it with milk or cream cheese or both and various extracts depending on my mood, a little less liquid and you get a thick dip mixture, a little more and it's a pour able spread for pancakes, mug cakes, whatever (or for a splurge cut a quest bar in half, flatten into rounds and bake or microwave, put rounds together with frosting in the middle and you have a high protein whoopie pie).
I would highly recommend this as a "go to" protein powder. If you're unsure though go to the store and buy a couple individual packets in different flavors, give them a chance....then come back here and buy the large container!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 5, 2019

I have been looking for a protein powder to add to my diet for a while in order to get more protein in. I really wanted one that was relatively low calories, carbs and sugar. I decided on Quest based on the reviews. I was originally going to order the coffee latte flavor as I love all things coffee, and figured it would mix well with coffee but I went with the Salted Caramel flavor based on others reviews and I don't regret it (I am also generally a fan of all things caramel or salted caramel flavor so it's a win-win). It definitely has that caramel flavor, so if you like that you will enjoy this.

I originally mixed it with 8 oz of Silk Almond milk, and although I did find it sweet it was not overly so. It satisfied my sweet tooth which was nice. I have to say it mixed up super frothy without having to throw it in a blender which made it taste like a healthy milkshake. In subsequent versions, I made it with 4 oz almond milk and 4-6 oz cold water and it was even better! It cut a little bit of the sweetness, added volume without extra calories and still mixed up super smooth and creamy. I look forward to trying it with some ice and maybe some fruit for a healthy smoothie. I would buy this again and will definitely be trying other flavors soon!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 14, 2016

This is a very versatile protein powder. After a little trial and error...I have come to really like it!

-If you crave a milkshake, use an entire scoop, lots of ice, milk, and whatever else you need to make the flavor you wish, and boom, a thick creamy shake that you can drink everyday without a sugar crash.

-If you're desiring a healthy smoothie with lots of whole foods just use about half a scoop and add your fruits and greens, nut butters, seeds, etc It'll be a great smoothie consistency (if you use the entire scoop for this it'll turn into a milkshake fyi) and you'll still plenty of protein with the powder + whole fruits and vegetables and other add ins.

-If you want icecream just take out your food processor, throw some frozen bananas in (and another fruit of your choice if you wish) and a scoop of protein powder + a little bit of liquid and you have icecream.

-You can also use this to make some quick mug cakes, pancakes, cookies, etc. You can also add this to your oatmeal for a protein & flavor boost, etc. The options are pretty much endless!

The main reason I'm giving this 4/5 stars is because of the fluctuation in price. I understand that Quest is a quality brand but I do wish it was a little more affordable.. Right now this flavor is at a decent price on Amazon and I'm grateful for that. In a local supermarket I go to, they have Quest protein powders at a whopping $60.00 and I have no idea who could justify buying a 2lb tub of protein powder for that kind of money.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 27, 2017

I'm a huge chocolate lover and Quest Double Chocolate Chunk protein bars are among my favorite things. That being said, I have to agree with the reviewer who said this was bland and the several who said it's clumpy. My husband's favorite Quest protein powder was the strawberry, and it mixes up much more smoothly, while this one often has tons of tiny chocolate powder-filled bubbles on the top after shaking or very vigorous stirring.

While I like the nutritional profile in this powder, I find it just isn't very chocolatey, and I'm surprised how many people love it. It improves it if you throw it in a blender with non-fat milk and an ounce of fudgy or chocolate ice cream. It's actually on the thick side, so you might want to either add some cold water if mixing it with 2% milk or use non-fat.

Btw, I found it makes a decent mush sort of like a cross between pudding and frosting if you add 28 grams of this powder with 1 oz of greek yogurt, 1 1/2 ounces of milk, 1 1/2 ounces of light sour cream, then a little more milk if it's too thick. And sometimes I add a teaspoon of xylitol or 2 teaspoons of sugar free chocolate syrup. That makes a nice protein snack you can eat with a spoon rather than drinking.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 15, 2017

The flavor with no sugar (does have sucralose) really puts this protein powder way over the top for me in regards to flavor. While I am not a fan of artificial sweeteners, I do not have an issue with them as long as I am not ingesting them on a regular basis. Depending on your goals, this may work out for you.

I have been using this in my spinach smoothies. Basically a blender full of spinach leaves, some blueberries, a bit of Greek yogurt, some water, and a scoop of this peanut butter flavored protein powder. The taste is great this way. The smoothie is thick and filling, and works out great as an in between source of food in the hours between my main meals.

Using it as I do is not too bad. My goals are mainly strength and performance based. If I was going for fat loss I might not use this as sucralose/Splenda causes a 20% rise in insulin, so I would stay away from anything that increases insulin resistance. For hypertrophy this is probably a decent addition to my diet, as it does have a good ingredient profile, which would be even better with the sucralose. Overall its a decent powder with a flavor that I like and adding it into my rotation one to three times a week seems to be a good choice for me.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 25, 2018

Normally chocolate is my go to; but, lately this vanilla is my new favorite. I’m usually mixing it with diet root beer or Clear American peach or cherry limeade... oh, peach is excellent too with a splash of half & half. Clear American is a sugar free flavored sparkling water available at Walmart. I use the larger size blender bottle and am careful not to let too much carbonation build up.

I hate that amazon lumps all the flavors together for reviews. I love the salted caramel with peach Or Fuji apple Clear American.

Cold Brew flavor: I saw some reviews that said it was the best and others, the worst. I like it. It does have a bit of a chemical taste to it; but, it’s not awful. I’ll likely order it again. I don’t like that it was more expensive. I like it blended with ice and a splash of cream or half & half. I would rate this flavor only 4 stars.

I have mixed feelings about the formula change. I’m pretty sure Quest used to be just whey, now it contains cases also. I like that it has less carbs. It’s really confusing on the amazon listings, it’s not always clear which version you’re getting and they appear to lump all the reviews together as well.

Two amazon cautions for this product. The price per serving here on amazon, it’s not always correct. At the time I’m writing this it’s listed as $1.13 per oz; but, it’s really $1.32 per oz. There is an older and newer version of this product the new one has less servings and less carbs than the older one for the same volume and the descriptions, details, and pictures don’t seem to be consistent. They are both good; but, it can be annoying if you’re not getting what the description states.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 9, 2018

I needed to get the same day shipping so i decided to try this powder instead. normally I get the organic plants based protein in peanut butter flavor. but i decided "what the heck" might as well try and compare.
I like the quest powder a lot. Its not for me yet, The ingredients on the bottle scream "gym time" and im still trying to lose 10 more pounds before I start that journey.
the texture is really good, protein powder has always had a reputation for being kinda gritty in texture.
but on a scale 1 for rough and 10 for smooth I would give the quest a 7.5/10
Flavor is also really good, iv had powders that just taste gross and "healthy". However the quest powder honestly felt like the flavor was on the edge of cheating. the flavor was so good that I never felt like i was forcing myself to drink it. I Wouldn't be surprised if half the tub was the skippy peanut butter(it isnt). but thats how good the flavor was. Id give the flavor an 8/10

This was a great product to try, but until i lose these last 10 pounds I will be sticking with the organic plant based protein I currently use. i was 250 pounds last year and am at 200 right now. I would like to get to 190 and start hitting the gym with the quest powder in the future.
depending on your needs i would say the organic powder I keep bringing up is a tiny bit smoother and the flavor is more closer to peanut butter. its not really "better" than the quest. its just that the quest is more focused on protein.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 11, 2016

I have now ordered three different flavors of the Quest protein powders, cookies and cream, salted caramel and now the chocolate milkshake. I really like the consistency of these Quest protein powders. I have only mixed them with water so far and some ice cubes in my Nutribullet and it's like drinking a thick milkshake. I haven't tried a flavor that I didn't like yet. I will admit that chocolate is my favorite but I love chocolate. The salted caramel is super yummy too and the cookies in cream can either be shaken in a shaker bottle if you want the cookie chunks to stay chunky or they can be blended up. I have tried both and depending on my mood, I will blend or shake it up. These powders mix with water very nicely and taste great. I love that you can make it like an ice cream with lots of ice cubes too. I haven't tried any of their Quest recipes but I plan to. There are so many on Pinterest. Their protein bars are also awesome and you can make things with those too along with the protein powders. This is now my favorite brand and I will pick up the vanilla next.

Not only do they keep you full, they can help with weight loss. Since I have been using these for the last 4 weeks. I have lost a full 7 lbs and have 10 more to go. I drink on between breakfast and lunch, lunch and dinner and then one after dinner. It helps me to eat less for my meals too. Give these a try if you are looking for a new protein shake to try. I can't wait to try some of their other flavors.

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