I don’t eat breakfast and haven’t in many years. Occasionally a banana, and even more occasionally, a big breakfast out at a buffet or Denny’s. In general, I have found that I dislike “breakfast food”. I think part of that might be from living in Asia, where breakfast is “just another meal” … rather than “cereal, toast, eggs and bacon”.
In order to get enough protein, I started eating the Quest nutrition bars in the morning as my breakfast. I was already eating one in the afternoon and enjoyed the taste and what it provided.
It became an important part of my day - getting 20g protein, 4g net carbs in a 200 calorie very tasty bar. There is also a bar called “ONE”, that claims the same benefits, but has a different taste which I don’t find to be as good. “ONE” seems to be in more nutrition/muscle shops.
The 4-ct box runs about $8, or $2.00 per bar. The 12-ct box is available from Amazon with an estimated price of $23, bring the cost of each bar down slightly, to $1.92 each.
When I return to Asia, I pack enough bars to last 90 days - or half a suitcase!
My Mom takes “Ensure” every day. It was “prescribed” by her doctor. I thought the taste was disgusting.
But in Walgreen’s, I found the new “updated” Ensure, with 1g of sugar (versus 15g in the old product!). I also found the brand “Boost” which is equally as good and has a Vanilla flavor as well as Chocolate.
To be clear, this are called ENSURE MAX PROTEIN and BOOST MAX PROTEIN.
[WARNING: Both companies also make a “high protein” drink. I am only talking about MAX PROTEIN, a completely different line with 30-50% more protein, and substantially less sugar. Please be careful to read the package name]
This because my new breakfast (when I am in the USA). Each drink contains 30g (!) of protein and 4g net carbs in a 160 calorie “milkshake”. The drinks also add flavor to the tablespoon of nasty cacao nibs I am eating each morning.
Ensure is “an old person’s drink”. That was the comment I heard when talking about Ensure. Then I realized they were right. I am old now, and I am enjoying these perks of age. Who doesn’t want a chocolate milkshake for breakfast.
They are also filled with daily nutrients we all need
Both brands seem to be very similar in the contents; and I would be hard pressed to tell the two brands of chocolate apart. They are delicious, provided you understand that this isn’t a hand-scooped milkshake from Hardees. In a way they are better for me, because they do not affect my “lactose intolerance”. I do not need to take a lactaid pill with these drinks. The Ensure container actually discloses “suitable for lactose intolerance”.
The price has been $7-9 per four pack (up to $2.25 per bottle), depending on store and available discounts. Walgreen’s has been giving a discount coupon each time I purchased them.