Orgain 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)

This was a godsend after I had my daughter, who I was breastfeeding. She had severe CMPA (cow’s milk protein allergy) to the point of major internal inflammation and bleeding from micro tears in her intestines & stomach. It was awful and heartbreaking, and we only discovered what was wrong after a lactation consultant (nursing/breastfeeding specialist) urged us to get her stools checked for blood and to explore the possibility of an allergy. When a child has CMPA like mine did, it can take up to 4 weeks to heal. It’s painful, and the baby has what seems like extreme colic for months. That may be TMI for some, but I share it to give context on how much my diet impacted that of my child. Sure, we could have switched to a prescription formula, but that wouldn’t change the time it took her insides to heal, and it wasn’t the absolute best way to provide her with the nutrition and antibodies I wanted to give her. I was committed to BFing. It was a MAJOR sacrifice and made my life extremely difficult (do you have any idea HOW MUCH milk, whey, casein, and dairy in general there is in our foods, and even some toothpastes?!?!?) Dairy is everywhere so I needed some staples I could really rely on. This was my go-to. I was a dairy-aholic: yogurt, kefir, milk, cheese... so it was a big change. Even eating out is difficult. You have to talk to the chef, explain the allergy and insist everything be prepared separate from all other foods and that they use oil instead of butter. So stressful! When you’re a new mom, and especially if you’re nursing for ~12 hours (on and off) every day/night, you need nutrition and fluids. This shake is not nearly as tasty as its dairy counterpart, but you get used to it. It’s best when really cold. It’s not disgusting; it didn’t make me gag. But, it was bland, sort of like chalky dirty water with a hint of cocoa. While that’s the truth, from my POV, it’s REALLY not unbearable. Also, after a while, you come to enjoy it. It’s like anything else, it’s an acquired taste. Now, as others said, when they changed the ingredients, it did go down a good bit in taste. I’ve had both versions, and the original is way better. But whatever the current option (ingredients) is for you as you read this, if you need a dairy-free and clean nutritious RTD shake, this is your go-to — get the chocolate! I also tried the powder (non-RTD), and this (RTD) is substantially tastier and more convenient; albeit much more expensive. I’m no longer dairy free so I’ve switched to the dairy version, which I love. I’ve tried all flavors and all brands, I think... Net, if you’re not adverse to dairy, get Orgain’s RTD (with dairy) in chocolate. If you’re vegan or dairy-free, get the light blue one (dairy free) in chocolate from Orgain. I spent a crazy amount of time (researching, reading reviews, and testing) and money, and am sharing my experience in the hopes it helps someone else.

Great vegan source of protein.

I love drinking these for lunch. They have a smooth texture without the bad aftertaste. Highly recommend. I have been drinking these for years and they don’t upset my stomach. I’m also a vegetarian.

very grateful that this product exists and i feel like it has saved my life and kept me alive but my god do NOT get the vanilla one, i accidentally bought it instead of the chocolate one once, and i literally gagged every time i drank it, and i had to add chocolate or strawberry syrup to it to make it palatable. the chocolate one made me feel fine and supported and whatever, but the vanilla one had like a physical reaction in my body, and when i was already at a point where i didn’t want to eat anything, and then i tasted this disgusting taste that was very much like “yeah this is fake fuel juice” it just made me feel like great, i’m drinking this as a last resort bc i can’t stomach the taste of anything else, and now i can’t even drink this. anyway just get the chocolate one!!!

*For the chocolate flavor, I don't like the vanilla, don't blame the product though, just not a vanilla fan for beverages in general I really don't understand a lot of these reviews. I've been drinking one of these a day for months and purchased them at random before that and haven't noticed any change in flavor. I've never run into a bad one (aka chunky) and I really like the flavor. I don't find them chalky at all. They are sweet without being overly so - and in general I find them less sweet than using the dairy free orgain protein powder and making a smoothie with that and fruit/almond milk. I also like the protein powder but I find it just a bit too sweet. I have had a low appetite for about six months due to stress/general mental health and these have been somewhat of a lifesaver since most days I don't have much energy to make my own smoothies and shakes. It's been a part of my daily calorie intake and it helps with the vitamins/protein too - since I am vegan. I actually wish these were MORE calories and/or offered in larger sizes but I know that's not what most people are looking for. I started ordering online and it's saving me a lot of money - They are around $3.00 each at the grocers near me and they run a lot closer to $2.10 each by ordering this way (with prime). I can't believe I'm still not sick of the flavor since I drink one nearly every day. They are relatively small (11 oz) and even when my appetite is non-existent I can easily drink one of these for a couple hundred calories. I'd recommend these especially if you are struggling with a reduced appetite for any reason.

A great supplement to your diet, especially for vegans and vegetarians who want an organic plant-based alternative. And it's tasty too!

These shakes are a game changer. ORGANIC label because of all vegan, fruit/vegetables/spices/seeds. These are a great value for money with the healthiness on the side. The taste is great, though not as strong as the other companies because they don't use fake chemicals or manufactured flavors. These shakes are REAL ingredients made to go into our bodies. The flavor is good for being all real ingredients. So give it a try. The shakes are great on the go and are very versatile. We use them for breakfast before school. Why fill up on sugary breakfast when you can have real ingredients and protein on the go. Long days or kids sports. In-between games, you get a shake in my family while waiting for the double header. Though my kids ask for the chicken tenders and burgers as they see some of their teammates eating, they know that health is far more superior these days and what goes into our bodies. So shake it up and drink they do. Great for appetite control. Can easily swap out a big fast-food meal and just have a shake for a healthier lifestyle. Around $2 per shake you can't go wrong.

I like that the shake is plant based and a good price. It tastes too fruity which is not a good mix with chocolate. Not sure if I will buy again.