Organic Nutritional Vegan Protein Shake, Smooth Chocolate - 16g Plant Based Protein, Meal Replacement, 22 Vitamins & Minerals, Fruits & Vegetables, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, 11 Fl Oz (Pack of 12)

Orgain Vegan Nutritional Shake is delicious and nutritious. The Sweet Vanilla Bean flavor tastes something like commercial vanilla flavored rice milk, but is a little thicker and sweeter. It's high-protein (16 grams per bottle) from all vegan sources like brown rice and chia seeds. It also contains vitamins and even fruits and vegetables. I think one of the photo views has all the nutritional info, so you can click on it to get a bigger view to see all the info. It really sticks to your ribs and keeps you going for a while between meals. The bottle is very handy; you can drink some and replace the top, and put it in the fridge for later. It's much more convenient than protein powders you have to mix with water yourself. I have a chronic health problem and a recent blood test showed I wasn't getting enough protein. I'm also not supposed to lose any more weight. Since I'm vegetarian and almost never eat eggs, this is a good way to get extra protein and other nutrients. It is sweetened with brown rice syrup and cane juice, so some people with diabetes may not be able to use it. Orgain was developed by a doctor who is a cancer survivor. When he was sick he needed to use those canned nutritional drinks, which not only tasted terrible, they were full of unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. Orgain is not inexpensive because of its high quality, but it is worth it to me. Be aware that Orgain also has a non-vegan version made with milk protein and whey protein. It is over 99% lactose-free, but contains considerably more potassium than the vegan version (not good for people with kidney disease). The bottle looks very similar except it's green and white instead of blue and white. Since making this purchase I bought more Orgain from the Orgain company, including one pack of the Chocolate flavor. I agree with the person who wrote the most helpful critical review that the Chocolate flavor doesn't taste very good, but it's not that bad, so I'll drink them up. It just doesn't taste much like chocolate. I'll stick with the Vanilla flavor. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2014: Actually the chocolate tastes OK when chilled. The main reason for this update is the effect I believe Orgain has had on my health. I have chronic kidney disease. The way the kidney function is measured is by a waste product in the blood called creatinine. The higher the number, the worse the kidney function. In April 2013, my creatinine had gone up to 5.34, so my kidney specialist said I needed to prepare for dialysis. I felt OK, but surgery must be done to put a vascular access in your arm, since it takes 3 months for the access to be ready to use. I had the surgery in August 2013. My creatinine was fluctuating up and down; it never got as bad as 5.34 again, but the really big improvement was in August of this year. In May of this year, I was at 4.20, and then in August I was way down to 3.38, which my doctor said was "astonishing." I was not doing anything different in terms of diet, exercise, or nutritional supplements EXCEPT I had started drinking an Orgain shake every day in the middle of July. I've continued to drink it every day. I just had another blood test, and I was down a tenth of a point to 3.28, which again my doctor said was "astonishing" and "amazing." I've never had a dramatic improvement like this before. Of course I can't prove it or make any medical claims, but I think it has to be the Orgain that had made the difference. UPDATE 2016: I still recommend this shake, but with a warning for people who can't resist sweets. These do have sugar (cane juice). The chocolate ones tasted so good, especially when chilled, I got to the point where I was downing four of them a day! My blood glucose went up to 101 which is very high for me; normally it's around 70. I had to give up my beloved Orgain shakes, and my blood glucose went back down to 70.

The Orgain Vegan Nutrition Shake is a clean, plant-based, ready-to-drink protein shake that’s designed as a meal supplement or on-the-go nutrition boost. It’s USDA Organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which appeals to health-minded consumers and those with dietary restrictions.

These shakes aren’t going to fool you into thinking they’re ice cream — but they’re a solid vegan choice. Sweetened with stevia (plant-based, zero calories, & slightly bitter). I like that it’s organic and has added vitamins, minerals, fruit, & veggie blends. No added sugar, so manage your expectations — it’s more health shake than dessert. Chocolate is my favorite, and I chug one every morning (with my pills) to start the day and help me reach my daily protein goal.

I bought both the vanilla bean and the chocolate flavors after going to the doctor and being told that I just generally need a much healthier diet. She suggested I look into gluten free products, and insisted I reduce my cholesterol intake. I'm not a vegan, or even a vegetarian. And I love flavor. So I wasn't real sure that this would do it for me... Just drink a little shake in the morning instead of breakfast, maybe even just drink a little shake instead of lunch. Well, I've got to say...after only a week and a half, this stuff is working really well for me. I drink one shake around 8 a.m. and it tides me over until well after noon. I really feel like I have more energy, and I've even lost about 10 pounds. As for flavor, the vanilla bean is definitely better. I've seen in other reviews for people say the taste is bitter, or chalky, or just plain nasty. Well, that all depends because everybody has different taste buds. In my estimation, the funky taste resembles cardboard. And it is definitely more prevalent in the chocolate drink. So much, that I call it my chocolate cardboard. But I'm only half joking about it. I don't think the chocolate is off too bad, but my ten-year-old son thinks it's horrible. And he really loves the vanilla bean. My son has been drinking these as well because he's overweight, and has lost about seven or eight pounds in the week and a half that we've been drinking it. For sure, we've made other changes to our diet too. Our evenings consists of organic, gluten-free, no cholesterol, anything that looks like it is probably healthier for us. So it can't all be chalked up to these drinks. But they got it started in the right direction. Overall, I'm ready to say 4.4 stars. I'm ordering some more, and will probably order about twice as much vanilla bean as I do the chocolate. But I will be ordering more of the chocolate, because it really isn't all that bad.