We Tested Over 100 Protein Shakes, Powders, and More — These Are the 9 Best for Seniors

This combination can make Orgain especially useful for older adults who want to add both protein and fiber to their diet without taking multiple supplements. We also like that the powder contains less than 1 gram of total sugar and no added sugar.

Brittany Scanniello, RD, a dietitian and food writer, gave us her thoughts after testing the beverage. “When I added this to my breakfast routine, I was very satisfied until lunch. The 25 g of protein [plus] 10 g of fiber aid in the satiety factor,” she explains. However, Scanniello commented that she found it quite sweet, with a lingering aftertaste from the stevia, and noticed a little chalkiness and grittiness when drinking it on its own. If you’re sensitive to the taste of noncaloric sweeteners, this may not be the best protein powder for you.

Amy Sowder van Erk, a food and health journalist, tested this supplement for us and loved it. “I could taste my drink’s original flavor before adding this collagen, so it was nice and tasteless. It dissolved so well, there was no texture; it disappeared,” she says. For us, that's completely ideal and exactly what we’re looking for in a collagen protein. “I like how this product combines the benefits of collagen to benefit my hair, skin, nails, joints, etc., but also has protein for my muscles,” says van Erk.

With its super-dissolving formula, Bubs Naturals Collagen Peptides can be added to everything from your morning coffee to a smoothie or even your favorite hot cocoa — and you’ll never know it's there while still enjoying the benefits.

Beale tasted this and gave us her perspective as a dietitian and health writer. “I didn’t taste it all when mixed into my smoothie and barely noticed it when mixed into plain water (a slight milky taste),” she explained. We love how it blended easily, even with a spoon for mixing. It was only slightly foamy at the top, with no powder clumps. We also appreciated that the protein powder didn’t have a chalky, grainy, or odd taste.

We love how the powder blended easily, even with a spoon for mixing. It was only slightly foamy at the top, with no powder clumps. We also appreciated that the protein powder didn’t have a chalky, grainy, or odd taste. In addition to being a champion in the flavor category, the Now Sports Whey Protein Isolate is Informed Sport Certified, meaning it has been tested for contaminants and ingredients that may be harmful or are banned by certain athletic organizations. 

Having tasted this myself, I can also vouch for its palatability. I especially liked the chocolate and vanilla flavors. And while the salted caramel was novel, it simply wasn’t my favorite. Drinking this was thoroughly enjoyable. It had a light yet slightly creamy texture and wasn’t overly filling. So it would work as a snack or an add-on to a meal without making you uninterested in regular food.

These shakes are a bit pricier than some others we tried, but none came close to their calcium content. For that reason, they earned a place on our list.

Not everyone needs, wants, or can tolerate dairy-based protein shakes or powders. That's why one of our favorite vegan formulas we tested is from Future Kind. Its vegan protein is a super-simple formula of pea protein isolate with a bit of flavor and sweetener, resulting in a supplement our testing team loved.

Brittany Vargas, a veteran health writer, tested Future Kind for us. “I really loved this powder. I'm a fan of vanilla in general, and this definitely hit the spot. It was soft and delicate, not overly sweet at all, and best of all, not chalky,” she says. We also appreciate how it mixed well to create a creamy texture with zero clumps.

Supplements often work best as their name dictates — as a supplement to real food, not a replacement. That said, it’s not realistic to expect to eat a well-rounded meal every time or even get a meal in at all.

If this is the case and you want a quick, high-protein meal replacement, the Ensure Max Protein Nutrition Shake is the option we’d recommend. Not only does it contain 30 g of protein (more than enough for a meal), it also contains a substantial serving of micronutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, and B12. Plus, it provides 4 g of fiber and 6 g of carbohydrates. That’s likely not enough to count as a full meal on its own, but it can easily fit into a day alongside other meals and snacks.

In testing, the shake performed well for flavor. Our own science and health writer, El Wilson, says it tastes “sweet and quite mild, like a less-sweet version of melted ice cream.” The shake offers a pleasant yet not-overwhelming sweetness. It comes in vanilla and chocolate, as well as fun flavors like cafe mocha, caramel, and birthday cake. Enjoy it for a meal in a pinch or to supplement your needs throughout the day. 

While it's important to be mindful of added sugars in your overall diet, not everyone enjoys the taste of substitutes like stevia, monk fruit, or sucralose. The Kate Farms Nutrition Shake includes 18 g of added sugar from agave syrup and other natural sweeteners. That's a substantial amount of the recommended 25 g per day. But the use of natural sweeteners comes through in a really pleasant flavor that might be more palatable to some. “I did really enjoy this taste,” Beale said. “There is no sign of artificial, chalky flavors. The sweetness feels appropriate without being shockingly sweet like some other protein drinks.”

While the protein content is on the lower end of our list at 16 grams per serving, it is more than enough for a snack or to supplement a lower-protein meal. Each shake also has 6 grams of fiber, and is vegan, gluten-free, and organic. The Kate Farms shake even comes in a coffee flavor that could also work as a fun, protein-rich creamer. Its more approachable flavor may coax some individuals to eat when they otherwise wouldn’t, and for that, it’s certainly worth trying.

If the thought of a creamy protein shake isn’t what the doctor ordered, then consider a newer class of protein beverages: clear proteins. The texture is much thinner, and it reads more like a juice than a protein shake. But it still provides a full 20 g of protein per serving. Clean Simple Eats offers more fruit-forward flavors than the typical chocolate and vanilla. The company has options like tropical orange, peach mango creme, and blackberry vanilla.

Simone Scully, editorial director at Everyday Health, tested this protein water and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. “It's smooth and watery, kind of like a fruity flat soda,” she says. “I liked the tropical orange flavor, and it had me wishing I could have tried another flavor to see if they're just as good.”

Protein water can be a great complement to a lower-protein meal. Or you can simply use it as a less-filling beverage option to keep your protein intake up, while leaving room for other nutrients through food. Clean Simple Eats also offers carbonated protein beverages and powders so you can mix them yourself. 

You may have heard of bodybuilders and athletes using creatine, but recent research shows it can be especially beneficial for postmenopausal women. We love that the Perelel Triple-Support Protein includes creatine in its protein-rich formula.

I was fortunate enough to test the Perelel Triple-Support Protein, and I found the flavor really enjoyable (especially for a pea protein). It reminded me of vanilla pudding, which I love, but with minimal aftertaste. The powder blended well with plant-based milk, but was especially creamy and smooth when blended into a frozen smoothie. It’s one of the better-tasting vegan proteins I’ve come across, and it works especially well for postmenopausal women looking to hit their protein goals with a bit of a boost.