Orgain Organic ready to drink meal replacer

Likes:

• Made from organic ingredients
• Contains Omega-3 fatty acids
• Doesn’t contain any preservatives or artificial sweeteners
• Can be used as a post-workout or anytime/ anywhere snack
• Tastes great

Dislikes:

• Limited product distribution

A few months ago I suffered a 4-day bout with a flu virus.  It was not pleasant to say the least and I found eating among one of the many things that I was unable to do.  As I started my recovery, I found that although my body was suffering from starvation, I wasn’t ready for anything “foody”.  I discovered a ready-to-drink nutrition shake at Whole Foods called Orgain, and bought it and loved it.  I lived entirely on Orgain ready-to-drink shakes until I was ready for actual food.

I didn’t feel deprived; in fact, I was comforted that although I wasn’t eating food, I was providing my body with the nutrients it needed for health and recovery.

Not only are Orgain shakes tasty, they are packed with tons of nutrients and all for a reasonable 255 calories.  They were created by a physician/cancer survivor who after discovering that there wasn’t a high-quality, nutritious drink made from organic ingredients available anywhere, he went ahead and made his own.

Once I was able to get back in the gym, I found Orgain ready-to-drink shakes were ideal for my post workout snack.  The 11 oz. container easily fits inside a purse, gym bag, or even glove compartment (I recommend drinking them when they are cold but they can be stored at room temperature with no problem).  When it’s time to drink, just shake it, rip the tab at the top, and drink.  I love not having to deal with blenders, ice, shakers, and other tools necessary for some protein shakes.  And the ready-to-drinkness also eliminates any messiness from mixing your own powders (I always manage to get it all over everything).

Orgain shakes come in two flavors; Creamy Chocolate Fudge and Sweet Vanilla Bean.  The Chocolate is very creamy and delicious, unlike some pre-made shakes that can taste very chalky.  I like Creamy Chocolate Fudge the best, but the Sweet Vanilla Bean has a very pleasant taste without the artificial sweetness that can sometimes be found in vanilla-flavored drinks.  In only 255 calories you get antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, 16 grams of whey protein, and no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or gluten.  A serving of Orgain gives you the equivalent of 10 servings of fruits and vegetables and 24 vitamins and minerals.

The only drawback for me is that I recently discovered a soy allergy.  Orgain shakes unfortunately contain soy lecithin (I swear soy is in practically everything).  Each shake costs about $3, which isn’t bad in comparison to other ready-made drinks.  It’s also fair considering one of these drinks is a meal replacement.  But I found that when I was drinking 3 and 4 shakes a day in place of real food, the tab added up very quickly.   My major complaint is that the distribution is limited (probably because it’s a fairly new product).  I’ve only been able to find them at a couple Whole Food Stores in Nevada and California.  Hopefully, that will increase as time goes on.  They can be ordered online through their website, but the shakes are more expensive than if purchased at Whole Foods.

Orgain is a healthy way to replenish much-needed protein, carbohydrates, and fats after a tough workout, when battling an illness, or just when you’re on the go and need something quick, healthy, and nutritious.  And they taste really good!